MICHAEL SYLVESTER FROM CHAMBERSBURG, PA:
Do you think the point of adding Ryan Harris was simply to add depth for the offensive line, or is the coaching staff hoping to have him replace Alejandro Villanueva at left tackle? I don't see him taking the spot at right tackle as Marcus Gilbert has held that spot since 2012.
ANSWER: Why in the wide, wide world of sports would the coaching staff hope Ryan Harris replaces Alejandro Villanueva? Harris is a veteran NFL offensive tackle with starting experience, and with starting experience on a team that completed a particular season with a Super Bowl championship. Signing him – and to a reasonable free-agent contract, by the way – adds depth and provides competition, which is an essential element to continued improvement. The Steelers got lucky at the end of the 2015 season when they were able to get by with only three offensive tackles on their roster: Al Villanueva and Marcus Gilbert, plus the midseason addition of journeyman Byron Stingily. They were lucky Stingily didn’t have to play, and even luckier guard Chris Hubbard didn’t have to be an emergency in-game replacement at the position. Every NFL teams needs more than two offensive tackles.
