Mike Adams Vs. Marcus Gilbert: The Battle for Left and Right Tackle

November 12, 2012; Pittsburgh , PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a pass as he is protected by offensive tackle Mike Adams (76) against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

When you have a franchise quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger, you need to make sure you put the five best offensive lineman on the field at all times. Right now, the interior of the Steelers offensive line seems to be fairly set in stone. Ramon Foster will be the LG, Maurkice Pouncey will be the center, and David DeCastro will play RG. Even though the Steelers seem to have the two tackles on the roster, there seems to be a level of uncertainty on whether Mike Adams or Marcus Gilbert will play left or right tackle. I am not convinced that the Steelers coaching staff has made up their mind quite yet, so I have decided to look at the game film, because as they say “the eye in the sky will never lie.”

To start off, we will look at their measurables. *This information is taken from the official team site, Steelers.com

Mike Adams

Ht: 6-7

Wt: 323

Age: 23

Marcus Gilbert

Ht: 6-6

Wt: 330

Age: 25

Both of these tackles were drafted in the second round, Gilbert in 2011, Adams in 2012. Both of them have only played on the right side since being drafted, both only getting time at left tackle in the preseason of their rookie year. Mike Adams will be going into his second year, with Marcus Gilbert headed into his third. Opinions have varied of where Adams and Gilbert should play, so we will take a look at the film since their measurables seem to be fairly similar.