At very least Hartwig Is Cheap

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After seeing two games of Justin Hartwig, it's hard to get as well enthused about the Steelers big offseason costless agent proceed to solidify the offensive line.

Here's the great news. Hartwig can hold out both shield and center. He's new england patriots jersey experienced and he seems capable of making shotgun snaps cleanly. And at two years, $4 million, he's affordable enough getting a backup with out ruining the Steelers wage cap.

There is just one other item of great news. when the Steelers draft a center, or if Darnell Stapleton wins the commencing process Hartwig's inclusion may make the Steelers cozy slicing Sean Mahan are available August, which would conserve $2,150,000 on this year's wage cap. Hartwig may even be only a tiny much better than Mahan, even although he is cheaper.

That's most in all likelihood about the extent within of the great news. The patriots jersey worst appropriate after outcomes of the proceed will be when the Steelers believe that adding Hartwig fixes the team's problems at center. maybe Darnell Stapleton can turn into an common to above-average center, but adding Hartwig most in all likelihood eliminates any chance that Kendall Simmons will obtain a try at the position, also it may sustain the set from drafting a middle or guard. even although depth is good, receiving a complete large amount of mediocre lineman is no much better than receiving a few mediocre lineman, as we found out when Oliver Ross and Todd Fordham battled to a everyone loses tie at appropriate tackle through the 2003 preseason.

Right now, assuming Max Starks returns, the Steelers have nine veterans under contract: 4 tackles (Marvel Smith, Willie Colon, Max Starks and Trai Essex), two guards (Chris Kemoeatu and Simmons) and three centers (Stapleton, Mahan and Hartwig). Hartwig and Mahan could also hold out shield in a pinch, although it's hard to see why Mahan, who is as well typically overpowered at center, would enhance at shield where he would confront defensive tackles lined up much more than him over a frequent basis.

There's many experience on that line: Stapleton could be the only just one who hasn't started out at some phase even although in the NFL, but there's also a complete large amount of mediocre players. Starks gave up a five-sack day time in 2006, Simmons and Mahan were treated like site site visitors cones last year, Hartwig experienced a three-sack film game last yr and Kemoeatu hasn't patriots throwback jersey been in a location to create a commencing process in 4 years. In other words, there's no induce if you desire to avoid drafting linemen just given that it will include slicing some within of the veterans.

The Steelers nevertheless need a complete large amount of work to fix this line, especially as we glimpse to 2009 and beyond. Signing Hartwig seems getting comparable to repainting your den when your roofing has caved in. It's nice, however it doesn't do a complete lot fix the larger problems.