View topic - Interesting opinion on young O-lineman

[thesteelhammer Profile]

Anyone else find Tribune-Review Steelers writer Scott Brown's opinion of some of the Steelers younger O-lineman interesting?

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_535828.html

Q: Coach Tomlin said he wants big, young bodies on both sides of the line. I haven't seen much written about three big, relatively young OL -- Jason Capizzi, Matt Lentz and Jeremy Parquet (all listed as tackles). What is the inside scoop on these guys regarding their chances to make the team? And any chance that Lentz, who played guard for Michigan in college, could compete for the recent left guard vacancy? He certainly has the size at 6-6 and 320 pounds.

-- Reese Bang of Richland, Wash.

A: Not a lot has been written about the three players you mentioned because all are long shots to make the team at this point and don't figure into the battles for starting positions along the offensive line.

Capizzi and Parquet are really going to have impress during offseason practices and training camp just to have a chance to make the team since the Steelers have a glut at offensive tackle, especially since it doesn't look like, at least right now, that Willie Colon will be moved to guard.

That leaves Colon, Marvel Smith, Max Starks, Trai Essex and rookie Tony Hills, a fourth-round pick, at tackle. The math obviously isn't very good for Capizzi and Parquet.

Lentz may have the best chance of making the team since, as you pointed out, he can play guard and tackle.

Whether he can put himself into the mix at left guard, I think it will be tough. Offensive line coach Larry Zierlein recently raved about Chris Kemoeatu and the progress he has made. It sounds like the starting job at left guard will be his to lose going into training camp. If he falters the Steelers could give Mahan or even Colon a look there.

That is not to say any of these three don't have a chance to making the 53-man roster since injuries are always an X-factor and since center Darnell Stapleton made enough of an impression on the coaches last year to stick with the team even though he was an undrafted free agent and missed a lot of time during training camp because of an injury.

Nice to hear good things about Kemo.

[Still The Champions Profile]

That leaves Colon, Marvel Smith, Max Starks, Trai Essex and rookie Tony Hills, a fourth-round pick, at tackle. The math obviously isn't very good for Capizzi and Parquet.

Capizzi, Lentz and Parquet are clearly longshots; but who knows? Nobody could have predicted that Darnell Stapleton would make it last year, and it's hard to believe that Trai Essex is a lock especially since he will be a UFA at the end of the season. Don't know if it will happen, but a bigger, stronger OL would be nice to see.

Speaking of size, the resigning of 6'8", 264 lb, TE Cody Boyd is intriguing. With the departure of Jermane Tuman, the door is open for a new TE. Imagine a three TE set with 6'5" Miller, 6'7" Spaeth and 6'8' Boyd! Add in 6'4' WR Sweed, and it's quite a goal line package.

[Hi5Steeler Profile]

who is cody boyd and what is his pedigree?

[4nic8 Profile]

Cody is a big, corn fed, country bumpkin out of Washington State.

Pretty athletic for his size. Multi-sport star in College.

Mark Bruener in the making.

[Hi5Steeler Profile]

oh god......................

[Todd Profile]

Cody Boyd is camp fodder and he's the worst TE in camp. But he's tall, so everyone who doesnt know dick about football is blowing their load over him when they read the roster heights.