Starks however is not the only experienced backup which the Steelers currently have on their roster heading into Training Camp at the end of the month.  In fact, for the first time in over a decade, the Steelers actually have some experienced and versatile backup players which they can turn to at multiple positions in the trenches.  And on a positional unit which has been beset by injuries in recent years, experienced depth definitely qualifies as a valued plus as the team prepares for the 2012 season.

Max Starks (Tackle)

Not much more needs to be said about Max Starks outside of what I discussed in the previous post which I alluded to in the opening paragraphs.  If you would like even more positive thoughts on the matter, then check out Craig’s post from last night as well as he delves into Starks’ recent signing.

Thus, all I will say on Pittsburgh’s recent signing of Starks is this:  While he might not be the 2008 version of himself agility wise, Starks is still a valued backup at either Tackle spot for this team, and an enormous upgrade over the sieve-like Jonathan Scott.  There is hardly a substitute for a backup Tackle which has started 79 games over his career, started and played effectively at both Tackle spots on two Super Bowl winning teams, and can provide veteran leadership.  As long as Starks’ knee and body as a whole can hold up over the course of the season, this is a solid investment made by the franchise for 2012.

Leggo will be the backup Center in 2012. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

Doug Legursky (Center/Guard)

Having risen from the Practice Squad, to earning a backup job on the game-day roster, to spot-starting Guard and Center over the last few seasons, Doug Legursky has emerged as a solid role player for the Steelers along their Offensive Line.  And as the Steelers’ most versatile Interior backup, Legursky has seen quite a bit of action and gained a wealth of experience due to injuries and inconsistent play since 2009.

At Guard, Legursky has stepped in at both the Left and Right Guard positions over the last couple of seasons.  Whether it was him stepping in for injured players, beating out Chris Scott and Tony Hills on the depth chart, or replacing an inconsistent Chris Kemoeatu late last year, Legursky has been able to work his way onto the field.  As for his stints as the Center, because Maurkice Pouncey dinged up at times over the last couple of years (including Super Bowl XLV), the short yet gritty Legursky has been pressed into duty and done an adequate enough job to solidify his place as the permanent backup at the position.

Overall, the former UDFA out of Marshall has played in a total of 35 games, started 14 overall, and started a career high 10 in 2011 alone.  Even though it now appears that Rookie David DeCastro will be manning the Right Guard spot on a permanent basis, Legursky will nevertheless be an instrumental cog in Pittsburgh’s Offensive Line plans this season if injuries beset the Interior of the Steelers’ Offensive Line.

Ramon Foster (Guard)

Foster will be a nice backup option for Pittsburgh to have this season. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

Foster took a similar path to Legursky in terms of how he rose up the depth chart and assumed a starting role.  Undrafted as a Tackle out of the University of Tennessee in 2009, Foster climbed from the Practice Squad into the starting lineup during his Rookie season, beat out 3rd Round bust Kraig Urbik, and has earned a number of starts and playing time ever since.

Beginning in 2009, Foster has slowly accumulated a wealth of starts and experience for the Steelers over said span.  After starting 4 games during his Rookie season, Foster started 8 during the Steelers 2010 A.F.C. Championship campaign, and a career-high total of 14 last year.  In addition to his 26 starts, Foster has shown some versatility and logged time at both the Left and Right Guard positions, including finishing out 2011 as the starting Right Guard.  Yet in spite of Foster’s experience and continued development, he will likely not enter Training Camp with the 1st Team on the depth chart.

Because of Willie Colon’s move to Left Guard and the selection of DeCastro in Round 1 of this April’s Draft, Foster is likely to be Pittsburgh’s “Third Guard” in 2012.  Nevertheless, the veteran and experienced Foster will likely be the best backup option at either Guard spot, and will be counted on to step up and contribute if the scenario presents itself.

Final Thoughts

Offensive Line Coach Sean Kugler must be as giddy as any Steelers Coach, Player, or Fan as the 2012 season draws near.  Pouncey and Gilbert are already in place, then when you factor in the possibility of Colon being healthy and DeCastro and Adams playing up to par, and a recipe for success for the Steelers’ Offensive Line is in the making for years to come.

But almost as important as the collective talent of the starting five along the Offensive Line is the experience and overall effectiveness of their backups.  With Starks, Legursky, and Foster, the Steelers should have at least some comfort in knowing that if something happens to deviate the team from their original plans regarding the Offensive Line this season, a capable backup can step in and help.  Thus, the Steelers should thus count themselves lucky to have backups like Foster, Legursky, and most of all Starks at their disposal in 2012.  Not many teams can turn to their 2nd Team Offensive Line and have players with the type of experience those three have obtained over the years, and for insurance purposes they are a solid backup trio for the Steelers to have on their roster.

Statistics Courtesy of: ESPN.com and Pro Football Reference

Now it’s your turn readers:  Will the projected starting five play up to a high standard this season?  Will injuries hurt this unit once again?  Will the depth be good enough to get this team deep into the postseason?

For all your Steelers news and discussions follow us on Twitter @nicepickcowherC, follow me on Twitter @DominicDiTolla, and like us on Facebook.

Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

Old Faithful – aka Charlie Batch – reportedly signed a one year deal with the Steelers.  Batch joins the Steelers for the 10th straight season.  For those of you who are surprised with this move, the only backup QB of the Steelers to see action during the regular season obviously did not impress upon you.

Batch was an obvious choice to bring back, and will be until his legs or arms fall off.  If there ever was a ‘master’ backup QB, he would certainly win honors for that title.  Batch consistently steps into the back up role year in and year out and steps onto that field with poise.  1st quarter or 4th quarter. 10 points down or 14 point lead.  It doesn’t matter.  Batch can crouch behind center and manage an offense effectively.  And really, isn’t that all any team can ask for in a back up?  A game manager.  To try and ask for more is… well…. asking for a starting QB, not a backup QB.  And, no team will pay the money to have a starter sit on the bench all season.

Dixon and Leftwich are high risk athletes because they can’t stay healthy for more than a month.  The Steelers should save a ton in health insurance with those two gone.  All joking aside, the Steelers will probably look for a #3 QB late in the draft now that they have decided to keep Batch.  We likely won’t see the other two and maybe, just maybe Troy Smith might prove some worth when camp rolls around.

This is just another good signing by the Steelers in a usually quiet offseason.  They will trust the draft with getting linemen to protect Ben and potentially nab a high value QB late in the rounds.  Another start to the work week for Colbert and Co., and another sound decision by this franchise.  Let me just lean back in my mid-back desk chair and enjoy this one – I like Batch, and if he were to hit the field this upcoming season for whatever reasons, I’m confident the offense is in good hands.  Welcome back, Charlie.

Hopefully we'll be seeing plenty of this from Pope this season. Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

The Steelers awoke from their off season slumber with four quality signings.  And ‘quality’ really isn’t a stretch when describing the players the Steelers put on the roster.  Remember, there are no backups on the Steelers.  Only ‘starters in waiting.’  Regardless of semantics, the signings are a step in the right direction.

The offensive line needs not only good starters, but because the team appears to be absolutely cursed with OL injuries, the team also needs solid backups who can play multiple positions.  Those acquisitions came when signing Legursky and Essex.  Signing Leonard Pope was another good offseason move.  With Saunders suspended for four games at the beginning of the season, the Steelers will need a TE a bit better than David Johnson.  Granted, the Steelers seem to have put the writing on the wall by tendering Johnson and signing Pope, but there’s no guarantee during camp.  Pope has played with Haley for a long time, both in ‘Zona and in Kansas City.  To sign with the Steelers and with Haley at the helm of the offense, must mean there’s something good about Haley and his relationship with his players.  And finally Jerricho Cotchery is back again.  Hines Ward’s fresh replacement is sure to continue forming chemistry with the team and should increase his production within the receiving core.

So what does everyone else out there think?

Legursky filling in for injured Pouncey. Credit: Jason Bridge-US PRESSWIRE

The middle of the offensive line has just been shored up with Legursky signing his $1.26 million tender from the Steelers.  Legursky is the line’s ‘Everyman’ – he filled in for Pouncey on numerous occasions, took over Kemoeatu’s spot at LG, and filled in on the right side as well.  The guy looks like Verne Troyer when he stands next to most others on the line, especially Max Starks.  But he is agile and strong. Never one to get a big push off the snap, he’s just become one of the solid utility players for the Steelers.  ’Legursky! Get in there and fix this please!’ could probably be heard from the sideline anytime Kemoeatu got nailed with a penalty for being a dumbass.

Depending on how the draft goes, Legursky could be playing for a spot to start on the line – primarily at LG.  We know that the Steelers will be addressing the offensive line during the draft.  Whether they will go guard or tackle is yet to be seen.  Regardless, Essex (also freshly inked) and Legursky will have their hands full during camp.  That tender won’t be guaranteed.  Then again, both of these guys are used to that.

In other free agency moves (or lack there of) Mike Wallace is holding outwaiting on the Steelers to make a move.  News has surfaced

When you're hot you're hot. When you're not you're not. How much will it cost Wallace? Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

that Wallace won’t sign the Steelers tender.  That can really only mean one thing – no one thought he was worth was willing to give up a first round pick in order to sign him.  That’s gotta hurt the ego a little bit., especially after he just died a few days ago.  Oh wait…..

Wallace is walking a risky road to the start of the 2012 season.  ’Hold out’ and the Steelers are two things that mix as well as oil and water.  But, Wallace has every right to do so.  Here’s the deal – Wallace has eight days to hear an offer from another team (highly unlikely if he hasn’t had one yet).  After those eight days, the Steelers regain the rights to Wallace for him to sign the $2+ million tender, which he said he won’t do.  He can legally sit out as long as he wants – all through camp and through the first two months of the season.  However, once November 13th hits, and he still doesn’t have a contract, he must sit out the rest of the season.  Tell me that won’t be a huge thorn in not only the side of Steelers Nation but also new OC Todd Haley.

Only one name comes to mind of a player who ‘won’ when it came to holding out on signing a new contract with the team: Hines Ward. And I’ll be frank – Wallace is no Ward (yet).  And it should be noted that Ward signed within two weeks into camp.  The Steelers not only have a habit of not working with hold outs, but they also refuse to do contract negotiations once the season starts (see Polamalu).  It appears Wallace’s window is shrinking… as are the amount of zero’s on his paycheck.

If Wallace doesn’t sign soon, he will not be able to participate in spring workouts.  So much for learning a new offensive system.  But hey, this pony can still go deep every snap.  I can tell you that should he not sign his one year tender (and he won’t) he will fall out of favor with this Steelers fan.  And I’m sure I won’t be the only one.  I can’t stand hold outs.  They are about as endearing as eating a piece of sandpaper while sticking my hand in a jar full of hybrid Africanized bees.  However, it’s the last card that Wallace has to play in a game he quickly lost the upper hand on.  He’s going to play it until he has no choice.

This episode will play out in two ways – 1) The Steelers sign him to a long term contract prior to camp.  It won’t be as much as he wants, but he’ll see that it could be his only opportunity to get that big check for a while.  2) He holds out, the Steelers call his bluff during camp, and the Steelers only have to sign him to the $2 mil tender for one year.  The important thing to keep in perspective is that he MUST sign SOMETHING.  There’s too much money on the line if he does nothing.  The following season Wallace is an UFA and is gone because his hurt feelings and pride will keep him out of the locker room.  To be honest, I’m not sure which one I would rather see play out.

And so, the time has come at last…

For the past two weeks, you’ve no doubt heard an endless parade of “experts” analyze the match-up between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers from any number of angles.  From Ron Jaworski and his 172 hours of tape study to Shannon Sharpe mumbling something in his mush-mouth assassination of the English language, everybody has an opinion.  It’s paralysis of analysis to the nth degree.  When it comes time to determining the deciding factor in Super Bowl XLV, it comes down to one simple thing.

Slippery balls.

No, I’m not speaking of Ben Roethlisberger‘s unbreakable pair.  I’m referring to John Clayton’s assertion that Super Bowl balls are slippier than regular game balls because they have extra logos painted on them.  The Professor, you see, believes Aaron Rodgers‘ inexperience with gripping the special Super Bowl edition may lead to an unfortunate accident or two.  Makes sense as that tends to happen when squeezing strange and unfamiliar balls.

STEELERS DEFENSE vs. PACKERS OFFENSE

GM Ted Thompson looks like a genius for jettisoning Brett Favre in favor of Aaron Rodgers.  He’s the modern-day gunslinger without the phony drama, overpriced Wranglers, and pictures of his junk floating around the internet.  Rodgers has the rifle-arm and quick release to be a clear heir apparent to the Brady/Manning duo as best pure passing quarterback in the league.  Working without benefit of a running game, Rodgers was a one-man show most of the season and rose to the challenge time and time again.

When he was healthy that is.  See, the story the media has sadly missed out on because they were too busy analyzing videos of Big Ben singing “Piano Man” is that it is very likely Rodgers suffered a concussion in the NFC Championship game.  If you watched his performance, there was a clear drop off in his timing and accuracy after the helmet-to-helmet hit by Julius Peppers.  Being the man he is, and not a rifle-armed vagina like Jay Cutler, I have no doubt he told whatever lie he had to tell in order to stay in the game.

Rodgers has been concussed before.  Twice this season alone to be exact.  If he did indeed suffer a third in less than six months, well, I wouldn’t expect to see him at Mensa meetings during the off-season.  And Steeler Nation no doubt remembers how poorly Ben played post-motorcycle accident when it was whispered the head trauma left him in a perpetual fog.

James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley must hit Rodgers early and often.  I’m not advocating anything dirty nor would I expect anything of that nature seeing as the Steelers play a clean but hard-hitting brand of football everybody but the Ginger Dictator loves.   But the Steelers D have long boasted the reputation of the biggest baddest bullies on the block.  On Sunday, the bullies have to rough up that goofy looking beanpole at every opportunity.

Rookie running back James Starks is a nice story but the Steelers historically dominant run defense shut down All-Pro caliber backs with ease so if they run, he’ll be the bug and they’ll be the windshield.  The game comes down to Rodgers and his cadre of excellent receivers against Dick LeBeau‘s creative blitz schemes and suspect secondary.  One factor in Blitzburgh’s favor is the shaky line of the Pack.  They surrendered 38 sacks a year after giving up a league leading 51 and now play a team who can bring pressure from unexpected places.

On the flip side, this will be the best passing attack the Steelers have faced all year.  The Patriots have a great quarterback but sub-par receivers.  The Ravens have great receivers but a sub-par quarterback.  The Pack have great talent on both ends of the equation.  Donald Driver is the dependable veteran.  Greg Jennings is a big play threat.  Slot men James Jones and Jordy Nelson cause all kind of match-up problems in four-wide sets.

Bryant McFadden practiced this week and appears to be ready to play his regular role after seeing limited action in our previous two playoff games.  A nickel of him, Ike Taylor, and Willie Gay is much preferable to seeing Anthony Madison or Ryan Mundy out there.  Troy Polamalu also practiced a lot more than usual this week which is a positive sign he may return to being the sideline to sideline demon which won him Defensive Player of the Year.  In last year’s Steelers-Packers shootout, the defense got to Rodgers five times without bringing him down.   Convert those opportunities to sacks and I like our chances.

STEELERS OFFENSE vs. PACKERS DEFENSE

What more can be said about Ben Roethlisberger?  The man is simply the best big game quarterback in football.  His numbers haven’t been spectacular this post-season but he has an uncanny knack for making a play when one needs to be made.  There is a fire which burns inside him, an indomitable desire to win, which transcends any statistical measure of greatness.

He’s going to need every ounce of his legendary courage when facing a swarming defense coached by former Steelers defensive coordinator Dom Capers.  Capers has built a defense in Green Bay that is almost the mirror image of what we have here in Pittsburgh although their unit averages only 27 years of age.  NT B.J. Raji is a load in the middle much like our Big Snack.  OLB Clay Matthews is a relentless pass-rusher who can also drop back into coverage not unlike our Silverback.  Last year’s DPOY CB Charles Woodson is the rover, the piece who must be accounted for on every play because you never know where he’ll line up.  Doesn’t have the magnificent flowing locks, though.

Unlike the Steelers, the Packers strength would seem to be in the secondary.  In addition to Woodson, CB Tramon Williams is having a fantastic playoffs.  He’s the best cover corner on the team.  Rookie corner Sam Shields is the unit’s unsung hero, a speedster who can run with anybody.  Altogether, they make up the 5th best pass defense in football.

However, the unit is not without their weaknesses.  The outside linebackers opposite Matthews have combined for only three sacks.  Woodson, while crafty with a nose for the ball, no longer has elite speed at 34 years of age.  And while Raji has emerged in the playoffs, the Pack has been inconsistent against the run.  They finished 18th in run defense allowing 115 yards per game.

When the Steelers won their last Super Bowl, they did so without much of a running game.  Willie Parker was nearing the end of his usefulness as a featured back and the offensive line was mediocre at all positions.  Enter Rashard Mendenhall.  His performance in the AFC Championship game was a defining moment in his young career.

Maurkice Pouncey is a no-go for Sunday.  He gave it a shot but Mike Tomlin wasn’t happy with what he saw.  It’s a major blow without a doubt.   But remember Mendy rushed for almost all of his 100 first half yards with Doug Legursky at center two weeks ago.  Legursky is a natural center with a mauler mentality suited to running the ball.  Pouncey’s mobility in pass protection and ability to recognize defensive shifts and make the appropriate line calls cannot be replaced.  Their ability to run should not be as adversely affected.

Some people are predicting a shootout similar to the epic 2009 meeting.  With these two elite quarterbacks who can blame them?  While I believe the Steelers would be well-served to employ a ground and pound game plan similar to what they used against the Jets, Ben will have to air it out eventually.  That’s when things get interesting.  Hines Ward and Heath Miller have had better statistical seasons but they remain Ben’s go-to guys.   Mike Wallace has been quiet during the postseason although all it takes is isolating him on Woodson one time and he’s off to the races.  Then we have the rooks, Antonio Brown and Manny Sanders, who continue to impress on a weekly basis and have seemingly saved their best football for the biggest games of the year.

Despite the good-natured ribbing between Pittsburgh and Green Bay these past couple weeks, I believe there is a genuine respect between both teams and both fanbases.  And why shouldn’t there be?  This is truly a clash of the titans.  Number two overall defense versus number five.  Best big game quarterback in the league versus brightest up-and-coming young quarterback.  Terrible Towels versus Cheeseheads.  The City of Champions versus Titletown USA.

To quote a certain maniacal clown from The Dark Knight Returns, “And here we go…”