Summary
Tribune-Review Steelers writer Scott Brown answers questions about the Pittsburgh Steelers. The following are archived questions and answers.
Check out Scott's View from the Press Box blog entry for his latest take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.See the full content of this document
Extract
Steelers Q & a Archives
Q: I'm very happy about the recent attention towards the O-line. I think Hartwig at center and Mahan back to guard is a step in the right direction. Keeping Essex and Kemoeatu is a good insurance policy. At worst, it gives
them some options to look at in camp this summer. That being said, do these recent moves push us towards the D-line with the 23rd pick? What does this mean for Max Starks?Appreciate your column!-- William P. Kokos of Mechanicsburg, Pa.A: Yes, the situation along the offensive line looks better with the signing of Hartwig and the anticipated move of Mahan to guard. The Steelers have said all along that they will take the best player available (other than a quarterback or tight end) with their first- round pick, and the moves they have made give them the flexibility to go in another direction with that pick if there is not an offensive lineman available that they really like at that spot (No. 23 overall). That said, I still think they need to address their offensive line early in the draft, especially since tackle is one of the strengths of the draft.Speaking of tackles, I'm not sure what the Hartwig signing means for Max Starks. I have to think both Starks and the Steelers are still interested in working out a long-term deal and working toward that. If some agreement cannot be reached it would not surprise me if the Steelers pull the transition tag from Starks since there is no way they're going to pay him $7 million next season when he may not even start.The Hartwig signing all but guarantees that Kendall Simmons will stay put at right guard and that Kemoeatu and Mahan will battle for the starting job at left guard. For all of the speculation that the Steelers would look at Willie Colon at guard, thus making it necessary to keep Starks, it looks like Colon will stay at right tackle. If that is the case I don't see Starks starting and again serving as a backup and insurance for left tackle Marvel Smith's back. That is a valuable role, if Starks indeed reprises, it but one that is not worth paying someone $7 million to do.Q: Branden Albert, a guard from Virginia, is becoming a popular pick for the Steelers in many mock drafts. The offensive guard position normally isn't a high-value position. If the Steelers pass on him in the first round do you think he will be available in the second? If not who do you think the Steelers will be looking at in the second and third rounds? I'd like to see Sam Baker, OT USC, and Simeon Castille, CB Alabama.-- Tom Sedlacko of Rocky River, OhioA: Yeah, it seems like most mock drafts, at least right now, have the Steelers taking Albert. I'm not sure whether that can be attributed more to Albert's credentials or the Steelers' need along the offensive line and particularly at guard with the departure of Alan Faneca. It's probably a little bit of each. I doubt that the Steelers will have a chance to take Albert in the second round if they pass on him with their first pick, simply given the high regard in which he is held and the fact that he has the ability to play guard or tackle in the NFL.I'm not sure Sam Baker will be there either in the second round for the Steelers unless they make a trade to move up in it. I don't profess to be a draft expert but I'd guess that Baker will be taken in the latter part of the first round or the early part of the second round.I do like where you are going with your thinking. This draft is deep in offensive linemen, particularly at tackle, and cornerbacks. The Steelers would be wise to take advantage of this early in the draft since they could use help along the offensive line and in the secondary.Q: Very few OL taken in the draft have a major impact on their teams during their rookie year. I think the Steelers would be better off finding cap room to sign a free-agent OL and then picking up OL in later rounds of the draft. This would allow us the flexibility to select the best impact player available for the team at No. 23, hopefully a great CB like Taqib-Talib or Rogers-Cromartie. Your thoughts?-- Brian Leslie of Baton RougeA: I agree that, at least more oft...See the full content of this document
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