07-31-2007, 05:18 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Both of them
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,225
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Steelers' O-line issues resolving themselves
Prisuta: O-line achieving cohesion - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Quote:
He didn't have as far to go this time, which may explain why Alan Faneca took it upon himself to block two guys.
Defensive end Brett Keisel and linebacker Larry Foote felt Faneca's wrath in succession during a goal-line drill on Sunday.
Running back Willie Parker jogged into the end zone.
So much for Faneca's being disgruntled over his contract status becoming a distraction.
story continues below
"I just happened to catch those two guys," Faneca said. "I think Keisel had somebody actually hanging on him a little bit, so he probably wasn't even worried about me."
Keisel might also have been more than a little bit surprised to see Faneca heading in the direction he was heading.
For years, the Steelers have pulled Faneca from left to right in such situations.
They used to have so much faith in a play called "Boss 38" (the "Boss" standing for "back on strong safety" in honor of Jerome Bettis) that they once moved Faneca from left tackle to left guard for a critical two-point conversion in Denver. So convinced were the Steelers that Faneca would get The Bus into the end zone that they apparently didn't care if the Broncos knew what was coming.
Now, the Steelers are becoming adept at running to either side (running behind Faneca remains the constant).
It's all a part of a training camp that has been characterized in part by an offensive line that's "doing a great job," in Keisel's estimation.
"He's being generous," Faneca said. "But we're probably starting out a little better than we have in the past. Normally, it takes a little time before we start to mesh."
Cohesion has been quickly achieved, at least in part because of consistency.
The center, right guard and right tackle positions were considered up for grabs when camp began.
But once again on Monday the starting five remained unchanged.
Head coach Mike Tomlin continues to maintain that the Steelers will experiment eventually.
But unless something changes drastically in the exhibition games, the questions have been all but answered.
Max Starks, a mess in minicamp, has slimmed down, stepped up and is going to be difficult if not impossible for Willie Colon to move from right tackle. Colon's having a good camp, but Starks is having a better one.
At right guard, Kendall Simmons is resurrecting his game and Chris Kemoeatu isn't offering much of a challenge.
Even if free-agent addition Sean Mahan eventually wrestles the starting center position away from Chukky Okobi as expected, the offensive line will experience a transition rather than an upheaval.
Once center is settled, the only lingering issue will involve whether Faneca will make good on his threat to "think about" playing through injuries he's played through previously.
When healthy, Big Red is still motivated enough to get 'em blocked two at a time.
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Steelers' O-line issues resolving themselves
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