Faneca's Not What He utilized to Be

There's no query that Alan Faneca could be the Steelers best offensive lineman, and that his deprivation will leave a massive hole using the Steelers offensive line, but that doesn't signify he's heading to acquire worth the cash he'll make in his subsequent deal.

Faneca will likely acreage a offer which will make him the greatest compensated shield using the NFL, with a offer which will most likely start at $8 million or very much more every year. however the big query is regardless of whether a shield who will turn 32 turning the 2008 period of your time is worth that sort of cash for just about any long-term deal.

In seeing the Steelers offensive collection in depth over the previous two years, what stands out could be the simple fact that Faneca is mostly a really great run blocker who occasionally struggles a tiny in pass blocking. He's also experienced some concerns with staying on his feet, although he showed much better harmony in 2007 than he do in 2006. He may possibly have played a tiny much better this year than last year, but in neither year was he consistently a dominant force.

And I'm not the only one seeing a slow decline in Faneca's play. using the exception of maybe Ron Jaworski and Merrill Hoge, there is most likely not really a non-coach using the united states who timepieces very much more film than Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z. for a lot of years Faneca was a fixture on Dr. Z's All-Pro team, but he rated sixth among guards this year as Dr. Z called him "not as youthful nor as well-balanced as he utilized to be." last year Dr. Z said:

"You won't arrive throughout a past option of mine, Alan Faneca, inside the list, since I just didn't see the identical punch and precision in his satisfy this year."

Faneca's even now really good. But do understand that once the Steelers do determine a way to lock him up prolonged term, you're heading to acquire having to pay for prime money for just about any dude who's currently supplied you his best years.