Steelers’ offensive line shuffle continues

By Alan Robinson

Published: Sunday, August 26, 2012, 8:12 p.m.
Updated 2 hours ago


Here we go again, Steelers.

This is the offensive line as of the moment, with one game left in a preseason that, given all the injuries, can’t end soon enough: left tackle Max Starks, left guard Willie Colon, center Maurkice Pouncey, right guard Ramon Foster and right tackle Marcus Gilbert.

It’s not the line they envisioned when training camp began one month and two days ago, but not much goes by plan when it comes to protecting Ben Roethlisberger.

The Steelers anticipated that David DeCastro, the 316-pound right guard from Stanford who unexpectedly fell into their laps with the No. 24 overall pick in the NFL Draft, would help anchor their line for a decade or so.

Now, even before he could make it out of his first preseason, DeCastro has sustained a serious right knee injury that could end his season. Fullback David Johnson was lost for the season with a knee injury in the first preseason game Aug. 9, and linebackers James Harrison (knee) and Jason Worilds (wrist) haven’t practiced yet, much less played.

An MRI, scheduled for Sunday, will determine the extent of damage caused to DeCastro’s right knee — specifically whether the anterior cruciate ligament was torn — when Gilbert fell onto it Saturday night as DeCastro blocked Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus. Results could be revealed Monday. There could be damage to the medial collateral ligament and kneecap that could keep him out for months even if the ACL isn’t torn. He was in a brace after the game, teammates said.

“I was trying to push the pile that way, and I fell and saw him grabbing his knee,” Colon said. “It’s definitely not good.”

“I didn’t even want to look at it,” said Foster, the man-of-many-positions lineman who will replace DeCastro.

Colon, a former tackle, was moved to left guard in hopes of forming a tandem with DeCastro that could give Roethlisberger the protection that has been so lacking. He has been sacked an average of 431⁄2 times each of the past six seasons.

After using an NFL-high 25 line combinations and nine starters last season, the Steelers attempted to strengthen the offensive line by drafting DeCastro and left tackle Mike Adams in the first two rounds. Counting Pouncey and Gilbert, they’ve devoted four picks in the first two rounds since 2010 to offensive linemen.

“Guys are used to these situations,” Starks said. “We’ve been through this before. It’s not like this is something brand new and you’ve had the same five starters for three years and nobody (else) has had any reps. Our group is used to turnover and position flexibility.”

Still, it seems the line changes not just from week to week but also from quarter by quarter. And Roethlisberger especially was angry about this injury.

Roethlisberger blamed it, in part, on the artificial turf in Ralph Wilson Stadium. Before the game, Starks — playing for the first time since tearing an ACL in January — said he was wary of being on turf again, but he managed to not get hurt.

“FieldTurf is just killing guys because they can’t get their feet out of the ground,” Roethlisberger told the NFL Network. “It’s another reason why we should get rid of FieldTurf.”


Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/2480266-85/decastro-steelers-season-roethlisberger-game-guard-injury-knee-tackle-offensive#ixzz24m9aHFHN
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as the players on the Steelers offensive line turn so do the days of are lifes.

I'm really not as concerned about our O-line this year. Haley will have Ben getting the ball out quickly. Unlike Arians, who allowed Ben to be a human tackling dummy.

Starks-Colon-a healthy Pouncey-Legursky-Gilbert beats the crap out of Scott-Kemo-an injured Pouncey-Foster-Colon.

can Starks play 16 games tho? or you think they're gonna alternate him and Adams

adams will have to improve leaps and bounds for him to get on the field

Blitzburghfan wrote:

adams will have to improve leaps and bounds for him to get on the field

He's shown improvement with each week, and I think he's a capable backup at this point. By next year i'm thinking capable starter.

hope your right, his run blocking was very serviceable, but his pass protection was horrid

but on that note, Gilbert didn't play that well against the Bill's either

Blitzburghfan wrote:

but on that note, Gilbert didn't play that well against the Bill's either

Gilbert has ended David Johnson and (possibly) DeCastro's season by stepping on legs.

bayz101 wrote:

Blitzburghfan wrote:

but on that note, Gilbert didn't play that well against the Bill's either

Gilbert has ended David Johnson and (possibly) DeCastro's season by stepping on legs.

we should cut his ass before he kills somebody

fer69 wrote:

bayz101 wrote:

Blitzburghfan wrote:

but on that note, Gilbert didn't play that well against the Bill's either

Gilbert has ended David Johnson and (possibly) DeCastro's season by stepping on legs.

we should cut his ass before he kills somebody

Or even worse, ends their season!

Blitzburghfan wrote:

hope your right, his run blocking was very serviceable, but his pass protection was horrid

Not in the last game.

Adams will get it together and I predict he will take over THIS season at LT or RT. If Gilbert keeps regressing and crippling our other players in the process, he may even get sat down for a bit.