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Villanueva and Gilbert

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Punxsutawney

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They allowed Miller and Ware to make some plays in the playoff game, but has anyone else become more impressed with the Steelers tackles, given how Miller and Ware totally destroyed the blocking of the Patriots and Panthers?

Villenuva and Gilbert are good pass protectors.
 
Gilbert had easily the best year of his career and had to rank among the best right tackles in the league. You hope he'll continue on that trajectory and continue to establish himself as one of the league's best. Villanueva is particularly impressive given his lack of experience. But go figure, those guys gave up the pressures and sacks on the last drive. Regardless, they were very impressive.
 
Not just them but our entire O. Look what Denver just did to NE and Carolina. We lit their D up twice this year and would have easily won if AB was in the game.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
Gilbert had easily the best year of his career and had to rank among the best right tackles in the league. You hope he'll continue on that trajectory and continue to establish himself as one of the league's best. Villanueva is particularly impressive given his lack of experience. But go figure, those guys gave up the pressures and sacks on the last drive. Regardless, they were very impressive.
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People will remember the game-deciding sack by Ware, but Villanueva held his own numerous times against both Ware and Miller in one-on-one situations in that game,
 
I think Villanueva is an outstanding story and I root for him every game. Stand up man with great character. I feel Beachum and Foster are gone but we will extend DeCastro and maybe draft a guy. I feel Foster played his best football this last season likely a combination of Munchak and Foster wanting to get paid. Hubbard has not impressed in preseason but I guess they get to see him every practice to maybe he got better. I feel we will have to spend a pick on an interior lineman though in the draft.
 
I think Gilbert was, actually, 5th (or whatever is just outside of 2nd team) in All Pro voting.
 
I think we should keep the oline intact, as is. Re-sign Foster to a 3 year deal. Roll with AV, Foster, Pouncey, DeCastro, Gilbert. Draft a G and T to develop and for depth.
 
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Adams is under contract for next year, he will be the backup swing Tackle. Draft an inside OL player
 
Keeping Foster on a reasonable deal would be advantageous considering the SB window is open for us. If we can keep him without breaking the bank we can focus on repairing the secondary and providing DL depth.
 
We need a better player than Foster he limits our run game because he can't pull and is not a road grader he is just a guy.

Our two tackles are good but not great but with Ben you just need not be a bum he will make the offense better with all our weapons so teams can't sell out blitzing on us like they did against the non elusive or slow witted Newton,. Newton can run on designed plays but he is a statue in the pocket with little pocket presence or scalability.He is also easy to bring down, odd given his huge size. He is bigger than Ben but no where near as hard to bring down.
 
Keep in mind Foster had a backup center on one side and a guy playing in his second year as an OT on the other. Couple that with the injuries at RB and I think he had a pretty good year. Sure would hate to see a rookie move in there. The Denver OLB's were great but don't discount those interior DL's.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
Gilbert had easily the best year of his career and had to rank among the best right tackles in the league. You hope he'll continue on that trajectory and continue to establish himself as one of the league's best. Villanueva is particularly impressive given his lack of experience. But go figure, those guys gave up the pressures and sacks on the last drive. Regardless, they were very impressive.
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I'm with you on Gilbert. Villanueva was up and down but it was his first season starting.
 
Clete said:
We need a better player than Foster he limits our run game because he can't pull and is not a road grader he is just a guy.

Our two tackles are good but not great but with Ben you just need not be a bum he will make the offense better with all our weapons so teams can't sell out blitzing on us like they did against the non elusive or slow witted Newton,. Newton can run on designed plays but he is a statue in the pocket with little pocket presence or scapability. He is also easy to bring down, odd given his huge size. He is bigger than Ben but no where near as hard to bring down.
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The difference between Ben and Cam is sheer will power. While both are massive QBs capable of shaking off pressure, many times Ben in the past just refused to give up and it was that will and mentality that would allow him to escape sacks, Cam on the other hand does not seem to have this same attitude. Your right as well regarding pocket presence, one thing Ben is so underrated for as he has such a feel for what is going on around him (most of the time) he sees the rusher coming and is able to parlay that into an escape (I swear sometimes Ben had eyes in the back of his head) and when you add his body type, it makes him so difficult to bring down. Cam on the other hand, while a great runner, does not seem to have this feel for the pressure (especially his blind side) to be able to prepare to escape from a sack like Ben. But at the end of all that, it comes down to sheer will, and Ben willed himself into many of those impressive escapes and big plays that are forever ingrained in our minds. Gonna miss him so much when he hangs them up.
 
DeCastro should come in slightly north of Orlando Franklin who got 5 years and 36.5m, with 16.5 million fully guaranteed. If Foster comes back I would suspect that he's going to cost about 6m/year or so.
 
Gilbert had a pro bowl season, no doubt. He got snubbed this year. Villanueva is a project LT who had a good year as a backup. He's got 2016 to earn that spot long term or you go get a LT in round 1 of next year's draft. Ben will be 34 this season. He's got a few great years left in him before he starts to decline. We need to emphasize protection. This is why I draft a LG with pick 1.25 this year if they don't resign Foster.
 
obxsteeler said:
Keep in mind Foster had a backup center on one side and a guy playing in his second year as an OT on the other. Couple that with the injuries at RB and I think he had a pretty good year. Sure would hate to see a rookie move in there. The Denver OLB's were great but don't discount those interior DL's.
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Foster has been mediocre his entire 7 years here regardless of who he plays next to. He is a journeyman a decent player but the weakest link on the line. Imagine a mobile guard who can get to the 2nd level instead of the lumbering Foster.
 
ianv2012 said:
The difference between Ben and Cam is sheer will power. While both are massive QBs capable of shaking off pressure, many times Ben in the past just refused to give up and it was that will and mentality that would allow him to escape sacks, Cam on the other hand does not seem to have this same attitude. Your right as well regarding pocket presence, one thing Ben is so underrated for as he has such a feel for what is going on around him (most of the time) he sees the rusher coming and is able to parlay that into an escape (I swear sometimes Ben had eyes in the back of his head) and when you add his body type, it makes him so difficult to bring down. Cam on the other hand, while a great runner, does not seem to have this feel for the pressure (especially his blind side) to be able to prepare to escape from a sack like Ben. But at the end of all that, it comes down to sheer will, and Ben willed himself into many of those impressive escapes and big plays that are forever ingrained in our minds. Gonna miss him so much when he hangs them up.
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one notable difference is accuracy

Ben is accurate under pressure

Cam not so much.
 
Just out of curiosity, wasn't there a couple people on here calling DeCastro "DeBustro" just a year ago. Anyone with the nuts to own up?
 
steelerscotty said:
Just out of curiosity, wasn't there a couple people on here calling DeCastro "DeBustro" just a year ago. Anyone with the nuts to own up?
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Personally, I never called him "Debustro," but thought he was underperforming his draft position prior to this season.

He was incredible this season. No question.
 
I hope the Ranger grows into some type of leadership role on the team.
 
21STEELERS21 said:
Glad we kept Gilbert when everyone was saying he sucked.
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Gilbert should go to Mike and thank him for turning him into something other than mediocre.

And then the Steelers should give MM a raise. As right there might be the best positional coach on the team.
 
slashsteel said:
one notable difference is accuracy

Ben is accurate under pressure

Cam not so much.
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And Ben doesn't turn into a big ***** when he gets hit a few times.
 
I was looking up the top guard contracts to try to get an idea of what Foster might get, I was surprised to see DeCastro would have the highest cap hit this up coming season among guards if we don't extend him.
 
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