View topic - O-Line

[fabber Profile]

Do you think we can get Marvel at a discount. Left tackles are very expensive and I think he is very good when healthy.

[darthsteel Profile]

Do you think we can get Marvel at a discount. Left tackles are very expensive and I think he is very good when healthy.

the steelers dont keep damaged good, greg lloyed, rod woodson, barry foster ect....
rooney needs to spend money on a elite left tackle and rebuild that line quickley.

[PGHeaven Profile]

This off season the FO and the coaching staff need to make a list of the top 100 offensive lineman available in the draft. Then at each turn to pick, we merely take the best available from the list. That simple

When draft weekend is over, we should have 7 OLineman

LOL!!

The one and only adjustment to this may be to grab a few defensive tackles

[ibleedBLACKandGOLD81 Profile]

If Tyson Jackson were to fall to us, which he won't, we need to take him in the first round...

We currently have 9 Offensive Linemen on this team and 4 of them are UFA and another one is the highly paid Kendall Simmons(averaging almost $6 million per year)...here are our UFAs:

LT Marvel Smith
LT/RT Max Starks
T/G Trai Essex
LG Chris Kemoeatu

I look at this group and I definitely try to sign at least 3 of the 4 with this being the part of the team with the least depth as it is. I think we should definitely try to sign Kemo, he still has a lot of upside. I have no idea what Kemo and Starks will command on the open market but I would offer Kemo a contract in the range of $3.5 - $4 million per year. If Marvel Smith will sign for under $2 million per year I would resign him because he is really good but he is ALWAYS INJURED. He might even retire who knows. We should be able to resign Trai Essex as a backup for $1 - $1.5 million a year. That would be a good investment in my opinion. With him being able to play both Tackle or Guard they should maybe try to resign him first to give them more leverage in the negotiations with Starks and Kemo. The problem with Starks is where does he fit on this team? Neither he nor Willie Colon are true LTs. If I were the Steelers I would resign Trai Essex to a 4 year deal worth $6 million. I would sign Kemo to a 5 year deal worth $17.5 - $20 million. I would probably go after LT Jordan Gross, the problem is he will probably command about a 5 year, $40 million deal on the open market. A great plus about signing Gross is that he and Hartwig played together for the past 2 years before 2008. Starks will be a starter somewhere in 2009 so if we cannot offer him a starting spot he will probably go elsewhere.

[Jeemie Profile]

O-line, D-line, and at least one more WR.

Or a blocking TE, if Miller and Spaeth don't get their blocking shit together.

[steeltank99 Profile]

Aside from all this, where do we stand with D-Line? Big Snack has been so-so this year, and is getting up there in age (and useless weight)

[Snockered Pedestrian Profile]

MSmith should retire....back too fragile; do not re-sign. The FO will not pay Starks top OL money. Kemo must channel his alleged aggression in other ways since he does not do it on the field; do not re-sign. Essex should be re-signed at a reasonable rate and allowed to challenge for the RT job. Draft 3 OL and take a serious look at FA OLs (not to neglect DL, DB, WR).

Ahhhh.......the joy of six.

[thesteelhammer Profile]

I think LT Marvel Smith will retire. If not we have to let him walk because he isn't reliable.

T/G Trai Essex can be signed on the cheap. No one else wants him.

LG Chris Kemoeatu gets an offer, but nothing Crazy.

LT/RT Max Starks depends on our draft. We could tag him again if needed. I agree he needs to be at RT, but his ability to plat LT makes him a guy we shouldn't just let walk.

I would love to sign LT Jordan Gross, but other teams (like the cards) have more money to spend under the cap than us. We can't count on signing him.

I think we need to daft a LT that can start from day one. That means moving up in the draft.
I'd package our 1st round pick with our 4, 5, 6, & 7 to move up to get that LT.

Go with a Center or Guard in 2

and probably DE in 3.

2009 starting O-line looks like:

LT = 1st round rookie
LG = Hartwig / 2nd round rookie
C = 2nd round rookie/ Hartwig
RG = winner of Kemo/ Simmons/ Stapleton
RG = Winner of Starks / Colon

[mikeyg Profile]

I think LT Marvel Smith will retire. If not we have to let him walk because he isn't reliable.

T/G Trai Essex can be signed on the cheap. No one else wants him.

LG Chris Kemoeatu gets an offer, but nothing Crazy.

LT/RT Max Starks depends on our draft. We could tag him again if needed. I agree he needs to be at RT, but his ability to plat LT makes him a guy we shouldn't just let walk.

I would love to sign LT Jordan Gross, but other teams (like the cards) have more money to spend under the cap than us. We can't count on signing him.

I think we need to daft a LT that can start from day one. That means moving up in the draft.
I'd package our 1st round pick with our 4, 5, 6, & 7 to move up to get that LT.

Go with a Center or Guard in 2

and probably DE in 3.

2009 starting O-line looks like:

LT = 1st round rookie
LG = Hartwig / 2nd round rookie
C = 2nd round rookie/ Hartwig
RG = winner of Kemo/ Simmons/ Stapleton
RG = Winner of Starks / Colon

There will be no winner of Starks / Colon - Starks will get a big cash out this year.

leave HW at C, find a LT / LG in FA, draft for depth, FUTURE

Too many rooks in your scenario - SPEND SOME $$$ on a FA - we have it.

[McLovin Profile]

McLovin' has been critical of Colbert and HIS OL for a few years now. McLovin NOT critical of Colbert for standing pat and taking Mendenhall and Sweed last year as the run on OT's was fast and furious. However, the retirement of Hartings, the FA loss of Faneca, and the Marvel injury has the Steelers starved for OL talent. A few weeks back McLovin wondered aloud if the OL isn't getting the coaching they need to develop into quality starters the way their counterparts on defense seem to have been developed through COACHING. McLovin's mantra has been to FIRE LARRY PORN!. In light of the Steelers winning the Super Bowl the question lingers if Tomlin will rest on his laurels or make changes to his offensive staff. Whether changes occur or not with coaches. Talent issues will need to be addressed on the OL in light of their SUBPAR performance throughout the season and most importantly the playoffs.

McLovin will do his part and study draft prospects in great detail but as of now McLovin only sees 4 maybe 5 elite OTs in the draft: Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe, Andre Smith, Michael Oher, and Eben Britton. Picking 32nd will not make it easy to land an OT capable of starting in his senior year. Most of you will clamor for a trade up, but Colbert didn't make such a move last year to get the coveted OT. Center deep this year with Alex Mack, Max Unger, Eric Wood, Antoine Caldwell, and some dude from Arkansas (name escapes McLovin) who impressed Mayock at the Senior Bowl.

The FA's on the Steelers line are numerous and their subpar performance will allow the Rooneys to save money and not re-sign them. Marvel will not be re-signed and Simmons SHOULD be cut. Colon and Stapleton can sit on the bench. A strategy that has upset fans in the past, but should not in the present. Long post short, McLovin sees a couple of the lineman getting signed on the cheap in Starks and Kemo. Colbert the wild-card here. Will he do as he did after Super Bowl XL and trade up (Santonio Holmes) to get a player of need? McLovin an optomist... lets say Colbert gives up couple picks and moves up as he did for Holmes from the 32nd spot. Here's your OL next year. It's not pretty, but it's do-able and an upgrade on this years unit.

LT-Starks--signs another 1 yr tendor--Michael Oher #1 pick in waiting
LG-Kemo--signed CHEAPLY--McLovin wants him gone but Colbert can't let them all go
C-Hartwig--keeping seat warm for Eric Wood...Steelers not the Steelers without a GREAT center
RG-Eric Wood--2nd round pick center of future...played some RG in senior bowl
RT Jon Stincomb--an average RT from Saints...average a HUGE upgrade over Willie Colonoscopy
Now who's going to coach this group....Fire Lary PORN!

[thesteelhammer Profile]

LT-Starks--signs another 1 yr tendor--Michael Oher #1 pick in waiting
LG-Kemo--signed CHEAPLY--McLovin wants him gone but Colbert can't let them all go
C-Hartwig--keeping seat warm for Eric Wood...Steelers not the Steelers without a GREAT center
RG-Eric Wood--2nd round pick center of future...played some RG in senior bowl
RT Jon Stincomb--an average RT from Saints...average a HUGE upgrade over Willie Colonoscopy
Now who's going to coach this group....Fire Lary PORN!

MikeyG, you can scream to sign free agents all you want, but reality is we usually get out-bid. The entire league seems to have needs on the O-lines, and the crop of UA o-lineman is never that great. Jordan Gross will be rossly overpaid this year.
Starks will only "cash out" if we don't tag him again. I think we will.


I do agree with Mclovin that Stinchcomb is a realistic possibility. Problem is he is a RT, and I don't see Colon being cut. If we tag Starks and draft a LT #1, then we really would have 3 RTs.
So I don't think we'll see that signing, but here is hoping.

In order for Simmons to be cut, I think it would have to make cap sense, or he'd have to be beat out of the 2 deep in camp.

I could definatley live with McLovin's O-line, but think Starks would be the back up at LT by mid-season.

[McLovin Profile]

Hammer don't be surprised if Colon gets demoted to the bench if not cut. He is a restricted FA and in McLovin's humble opinion not worth considering giving a contract extension not matter what the bargain. What is he now a 3 yr starter? Where is the progress? One jerkoff penalty after another is all McLovin sees. At least with Kemo he's only a one year starter and has room to improve and given the reputation of our line no team will give Kemo a decent contract. He'll be back for sure.

[thesteelhammer Profile]

I agree that Colon sucks, which is why I had projected a rookie starting at LT and Stark moving back to RT to compete for the job he never should have lost. (though Stinchcolmb could be a possibility at RT also).

Colon will get a tender offer from the Steelers though.
He'd be OK as a back up given the lack of depth around the league.

I won't be crying if someone signs him and we get a draft pick though.

[Iron Gut Profile]

I agree that Colon sucks, which is why I had projected a rookie starting at LT and Stark moving back to RT to compete for the job he never should have lost. (though Stinchcolmb could be a possibility at RT also).

Colon will get a tender offer from the Steelers though.
He'd be OK as a back up given the lack of depth around the league.

I won't be crying if someone signs him and we get a draft pick though.

Colon will get a RFA tender. No doubt. Starks is the wild card. If Starks will sign for reasonable money $5 mil/year, then he stays a Steeler. Otherwise, look for Pgh to make a big move in the draft. They have 9 picks this year including an extra 3rd (Thanks for making pro bowl Big Red).
2 positions on the line are set in stone right now (like it or not) Hartwig - C, Simmons - RG (an upgrade over Stapler).

The Steelers like Colon. They see potential in him and I fully expect him to sign a new deal. Rumor has it that he may be considered for a move to guard. For this to work, I would expect Simmons to move to LG (he actually pulls well and hits people in space).

Kemo is an enigma. The Steelers love his mean streak but have found him to be unreliable. He will be signed only if it is on the cheap.

Don't forget about Tony Hills. The Steelers stashed him on the 53 man roster for a reason. He was drafted as a project and may show some promise.

Stapleton will be backup center/guard. Essex will be backup guard/tackle.

another Wildcard is Smith. If he is willing to sign for backup money with an incentive loaded contract, then he will be a Steeler in 2009.

Don't be shocked on draft day if the Steelers package their 1st with a 3rd and perhaps a 4th to move up to get a lineman. This is a SB team that will not sign 9 rookies. I would not be shocked to see them trade away 3-4 picks.

Then again, we will know more in about 2 weeks when they start signing people. (bear in mind that some cap space will be gobbled up by incentives and Silverback).

[McLovin Profile]

I agree that Colon sucks, which is why I had projected a rookie starting at LT and Stark moving back to RT to compete for the job he never should have lost. (though Stinchcolmb could be a possibility at RT also).

Colon will get a tender offer from the Steelers though.
He'd be OK as a back up given the lack of depth around the league.

I won't be crying if someone signs him and we get a draft pick though.

Colon will get a RFA tender. No doubt. Starks is the wild card. If Starks will sign for reasonable money $5 mil/year, then he stays a Steeler. Otherwise, look for Pgh to make a big move in the draft. They have 9 picks this year including an extra 3rd (Thanks for making pro bowl Big Red).
2 positions on the line are set in stone right now (like it or not) Hartwig - C, Simmons - RG (an upgrade over Stapler).

The Steelers like Colon. They see potential in him and I fully expect him to sign a new deal. Rumor has it that he may be considered for a move to guard. For this to work, I would expect Simmons to move to LG (he actually pulls well and hits people in space).

Kemo is an enigma. The Steelers love his mean streak but have found him to be unreliable. He will be signed only if it is on the cheap.

Don't forget about Tony Hills. The Steelers stashed him on the 53 man roster for a reason. He was drafted as a project and may show some promise.

Stapleton will be backup center/guard. Essex will be backup guard/tackle.

another Wildcard is Smith. If he is willing to sign for backup money with an incentive loaded contract, then he will be a Steeler in 2009.

Don't be shocked on draft day if the Steelers package their 1st with a 3rd and perhaps a 4th to move up to get a lineman. This is a SB team that will not sign 9 rookies. I would not be shocked to see them trade away 3-4 picks.

Then again, we will know more in about 2 weeks when they start signing people. (bear in mind that some cap space will be gobbled up by incentives and Silverback).

You both got one thing right...Colon DOES suck...in 3 yrs he's shown zero improvement just one dumbass penalty after another. Could be worst RT in the league. McLovin up to date on all newspapers and sites devoted to Steelers..NEVER once read Colon is going to guard. Larry Porn dimissed the idea in camp saying he's an OT. Colon WILL NOT have his contract extended. He'll either compete with Tony Hills in camp or HOPEFULLY be outright replaced by an AVERAGE, cost effective, FA RT such as Jon Stincomb as McLovin not impressed with Larry Porn's ability to develop projects like Tony Hills or any other mid-round lineman drafted by Colbert.

No way SHOULD Simmons be back on this team. Simmons may be permitted to battle for a roster spot in camp, but Steelers would be wise to cut this guy...bad re-signing beyond belief by Colbert...use the injury as excuse to cut him.

Essex another prospect not developed by Larry Porn he won't be re-signed as he's never shown anything and Stapleton showed in the playoffs that he just can't hold off the big boys like Ngata and Dockett. He'll be on the bench.

Kemo will be re-signed...can't get rid of all the OLmen. And he's only a one year starter unlike Starks and Colon who have had 3+ years to prove they suck

No way Hartwig set in stone. He is an average center. Steelers can do better and with a deep class led by Alex Mack and Eric Wood (McLovins 2nd rd pick) his days as starting center are numbered.

As MCLOVIN has been saying all along...Steelers will target one of the top 4-5 OTs and try to trade up to get him just like they targeted holmes after last Super Bowl. If that happens sign Starks to keep the position warm until the rookie is ready.

Again, McLovin's OL some of it not pretty, some of it a pipe-dream!:

LT Starks--keeping warm for Oher or Britton
LG Kemo-can't get rid of everybody
C Hartwig--stop gap for Wood (Unger, Luigis, Caldwell, Shipley, take your pick they'll all be better than Hartwig)
RG Wood--played some RG at senior bowl to show his versatility
RT Jon Stincomb--McLovin will puke if Colon a starter on this line ever again