Steelers Must Cobble Together Offensive Line Combinations

Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

"We’ll just have to keep working, trying to get everything together, and shuttling guys around a little bit to find the best combination and go from there, … You have to be ready to go at each position and be able to step in and not miss a beat.-Cody Wallace (Steelers.com)"

Pittsburgh’s offensive line has been a “carousel of madness” once again this season.

Thought to be a potential strength with a core of young and potentially emerging players, the 2013 campaign has not been kind to the Steelers and their offensive line.

Although Fernando Velasco and David DeCastro have been pleasant surprises, injuries have sidelined Maurkice Pouncey, Levi Brown and Guy Whimper, poor-play cost Mike Adams his starting job, Marcus Gilbert has been shaky at right tackle, and left guard Ramon Foster has missed chunks of two games due to pectoral and head problems.

Last weekend was an unmitigated disaster as three of Pittsburgh’s linemen left the game in Oakland with injuries. With Foster, Whimper, and DeCastro sidelined, the Steelers had to call upon Cody Wallace and shuffle Beachum and Adams to finish the game.

Although the extent of the injuries sustained by Foster, DeCastro, and Whimper are not known yet, it is becoming clear that Pittsburgh’s coaching staff will have to play “offensive line musical chairs” for the rest of the season until the 2013 campaign ends.

If either one of the three players are sidelined for significant periods of time, it would not shock me in the least to see the Steelers’ brass promote Joe Long, Chris Hubbard, or both from their practice squad to provide some depth down the stretch.

I honestly could care less who starts and who doesn’t during Pittsburgh’s final nine games. All that matters is that Pittsburgh’s coaching staff can cobble together some competent combinations of players who can keep Ben Roethlisberger relatively upright during an otherwise “lost” season.

Stats & Contract Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com , Spotrac, and Pro Football Reference

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