Grading The O-Line: The Midseason Update

Every few days I rewatch the Steelers match to concentrate concerning the offensive line. Now that we're eight games in to the season, here's a glimpse at how the offensive collection has looked throughout the very first half from the season. Here's the traditional disclaimer: I'm not really a coach, but I have covered football as a sports activities author for nearly twenty years and in the celebration you concentrate concerning the offensive collection a amazing offer from the strengths and weaknesses are quite apparent.

The Steelers offensive collection this yr has each not been as amazing as the continent wide advertising thinks, and never as bad as numerous Steelers fans believe. The Steelers rank 15th inside league in run blocking (according to Football Outsiders) and 20th in sack rate, although people rankings do not consist of the Steelers succeed against the Ravens. With that in mind, here's a glimpse at every member from the offensive line.
Player + - Alan Faneca 44 39 Willie Colon
37 33 Sean Mahan
28 41 Kendall Simmons
25 57 Heath Miller
25 16 Marvel Smith
19 28 Hines Ward
13 1 Carey Davis
9 6 Matt Spaeth
7 16 Dan Kreider
7 1 Max Starks
5 2 Nate Washington
3 four Najeh Davenport
2 2 Santonio Holmes
2 2 Willie Parker
2 0 Chris Kemoeatu
1 0

If you're a regular Grading The O-Line reader you understand that Kendall SImmons may be the weak website link from the offensive collection over the very first half from the season. He also takes place becoming the shield the Steelers have signed to some four-year, $23-million contract extension throughout the preseason. Optimistically there's a possibility that Simmons will blossom after he slides over to Alan Faneca's left shield spot subsequent season. inside Steelers offense the left shield placement does loads of pulling, even although the right shield is further of the blocking inside of a cellular booth position, which just takes place becoming Simmons' biggest weakness. Simmons is amazingly best concerning the move. He has amazingly amazing agility for just about any guard, so he's at ease pulling or firing out to obstruct linebackers. Pessimistically Simmons' weaknesses are quite glaring wherever he lines up concerning the line. He struggles to stay minimal to obtain below the pads of the defensive tackle and producing him away the line. Frequently Simmons could possibly be the 1 lineman who gets no push on operating plays. He also has shown a frightening trouble at latching on to defensive linemen and keeping his block. numerous from the sacks Simmons has allowed have come when his man merely grabs him, rips him toward facet and discards Simmons like a tackling dummy earlier to sprinting unblocked in to the backfield.

Sean Mahan is not nearly the trouble that Simmons has been, but he's also never steering becoming Mike Webster either. Mahan may well be a amazingly satisfactory center. He sometimes struggles with minimal shotgun snaps, but otherwise he's been good at the center-quarterback exchange. even although SImmons is amazingly best against 3-4 clubs that leave him uncovered, Mahan is amazingly best against 4-3 clubs that leave him uncovered. He does a decent duty of obtaining out to obstruct linebackers, although he sometimes struggles to sort his way through traffic. He's shown improvement at obtaining some push on defensive tackles, although he nevertheless is at amazingly best satisfactory and generally desires some double-team help.

He may well be a person concerning the incorrect facet of 30 who's looking for to break the bank, but make no mistake, Pittsburgh will miss Alan Faneca a amazing offer subsequent yr when he leaves for cost-free agency. Faneca may well be a notch below in which he was a few years ago, but he's nevertheless among the the league's amazingly best guards along using the Steelers amazingly best offensive lineman. He has quantity of weaknesses, as he's equally at ease producing a 330-pound defensive tackle away the collection or pulling to blow up an unwary protection 5 yards downfield. He exhibits great mobility for just about any 300-pounder and is also nevertheless possibly the league's amazingly best pulling guard. The Steelers operating match is fueled in huge element by pulling Faneca toward corner, in which he lays crushing blocks on one, and sometimes two, defenders. If Faneca has a weakness it's pass blocking, although he's nevertheless relatively satisfactory at it and has shown an enhanced ability to sustain his mind on a swivel, permitting him to slide over to pick up a blitzer soon after becoming engaged by one more lineman on a stunt, a specific thing he struggled with at instances last year.

The Steelers have provided up 19 sacks this period of your time in comparison to 26 at this time last year. The biggest objective for that improvement could possibly be the inclusion of Willie Colon toward lineup (plus some protected coaching by Larry Zierlein, who appears becoming executing a much better duty than Russ Grimm). Colon isn't among the the league's amazingly best right tackles, but he's previously average, which tends to make him a considerable improvement concerning the 2006 edition of Max Starks. Unlike Starks, Colon doesn't have the power to drive a lineman 10 yards away the ball, but he also will never quit four sacks in 1 match like Starks do either. He's a quite amazing run blocker, even if he isn't in Starks' class. He does a protected duty of sealing the corner and exhibits decent leg drive. His ability to seal the corner (and Faneca's pulling ability) factors out why the Steelers rank No. 1 inside league in outside runs toward right.
Sacks/Hurries Allowed Sacks Hurries Coverage Sacks
9 -- Kendall Simmons
4 20.5 Willie Colon
3 twelve Marvel Smith
2.5 9 Alan Faneca 1.5 8 Sean Mahan
0 9.5

Marvel Smith had a pair of bad games, but frequently he's been a amazingly protected left tackle. His quantity of problems have come against amount rushers, I've however to determine a defensive finish off or linebacker beat him getting a bull rush this season. He doesn't have as numerous good plays as some from one other linemen, but that's a purpose of what he's enquired to do inside operating game. He's a protected run blocker who exhibits amazing mobility with one another with decent push inside operating game.
Because of amazing wellbeing neither Chris Kemoeatu or Max Starks has performed adequate to definitely judge their performances. Starks has looked amazing as a 3rd tight end. Heath Miller has gotten much better and much better as a blocking tight finish off toward stage in which he's an property inside operating game. precisely the same can't be stated about Matt Spaeth. possibly he'll build but at the instant he's a decent pass receiver but a liability as a blocker. He doesn't have the power to sustain blocks and with his height it is difficult for him to obtain minimal adequate to drive a linebacker away the collection on a operating play.