Steelers Morning Huddle 6/15/2013
By Kim Myers
Huddle up!
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Steelers have just begun their last bits of summer vacation before training camp opens in late July in Latrobe. No word on who is hosting the first barbecue or pool party but Brett Keisel did take in a Pirates game yesterday afternoon. I’m sure there will be trips to Kennywood all around. Isn’t that how everyone spends their summer vacation?
Steelers Offensive Line Getting Work In
According to steelers.com the offensive line unit has had the most preparation time together this offseason. They’ve all been present and working together since the start of OTAs. While the Steelers will have to replace veterans like Max Starks and Doug Legursky on the line, the young group is full of high draft picks and there’s been tons of talk about them so far this offseason. Working together as a unit from day one is bound to pay off in the long run but just as guard Ramon Foster points out, it’s all about how you use this preparation in the regular season.
"“We have made a lot of progress. Guys are conditioned. We are communicating well. It’s been good for all of us to have been here from the beginning. I hope it pays off in the season.”"
Third Suspect In Mike Adams Stabbing Arrested in Florida
An integral part of that offensive line performing well in the season will be determined by the success of one of the high draft picks, tackle Mike Adams. Adams was the victim of an attempted carjacking last month on the South Side when he was stabbed by the assailants and had to have surgery and is now recovering from his injuries. While he has been recovering, there has been a manhunt for Jerrell Whitlock of Hazelwood, who was determined to be the third man wanted in the attack according to the PPG. These guys planned the heist so well on jacking a Steelers car that one of the geniuses left their cell phone at the crime scene and that along with surveillance videos eventually led to their identification. Whitlock was found hiding in a Gainesville, Florida motel room with his girlfriend, Precious Gethers and the couple’s 3 year old son. Some people go to Florida for the theme parks in the summer, while others apparently go on the run. Miss Gethers has also been arrested for, you know, aiding and abetting as well as taking a 3 year old along for the ride. I guess a family that gets arrested together…well they get arrested together.
Le’Veon Bell Vows To Protect Ben
As Mark Kaboly points out from the Trib, rookie RB Le’Veon Bell could very well be the best back on the Steelers roster, but has yet to take a snap in the NFL obviously. The running back situation is one of the biggest question marks for the Steelers heading into camp. Last season there appeared to be somewhat of a competition but at some times it seemed to be more of a “who can fumble the ball the most” competition. Now Bell, a bigger back, joins the roster and will compete against Redman, Dwyer, Batch, and Stephens-Howling for a spot, or for the spot. What Bell has taken away from the OTAs and minicamp he’s attended so far is that blocking, for the Steelers, is a huge role for the running back to take on. Bell, a great blocker at Michigan State, is committed to learning the techniques necessary to turn that great college football blocking into great NFL blocking, something that’s not very easy to do. I’d say it’s even harder when you’re blocking for a quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger. Watch out, Le’Veon, he pump fakes a lot.
Worst Coaches in NFL History
For an unrelated Steelers story that is bound to give you a chuckle this Saturday Morning, Deadspin has compiled a list of the 16 Worst Coaches in Modern NFL History. Naturally there aren’t any Steelers head coaches on this list because in the modern post-merger history in the NFL the coaches the Steelers have had; most of the teams on this list would have given up their left roster for. Deadspin highlights some awesomely abysmal head coaches such as Kevin Gilbride, Steve Spurrier, Dave Shula, and Marty Mornhinweg. The article was meant to counter ESPN’s recent ranking of the best coaches in NFL history. Deadspin points out how much football fans love to criticize the coaches for the main reason that we think we can do their job better.
"“You don’t have to run a 4.3 forty to coach an NFL team. You don’t have to be able to bench press 225 pounds 80 times at the combine. Coaches are regular physical specimens just like the rest of us. It’s easier to imagine ourselves doing that job instead of the job of, say, a running back. There’s no illusion there. We know we’d get killed. But a coach? A coach just stands there like an a**hole. Anyone can to that, right? Right?”"
On that note have a good weekend Steeler Nation! What are your thoughts on the state of the offensive line going into training camp? Do you like to see justice served in the Mike Adams stabbing case? How well do you think Bell will transition to NFL pass blocking? Who would you have added to the worst coaches list?
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