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Villanueva adds weight ready to become a player.

antdrewjosh

antdrewjosh

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This guy might have been the steel of the decade. If he can Play left tackle we might have found a huge upgrade at the position. That is not a knock on Beachum. He could become the good back up he was desired to be when drafted and able to play any spot on the line that is a huge plus. I would be worried if I was one of the back ups on the steelers line considering the guys new to the team and developing. Foster might be getting replaced by a younger guy who knows. It would be nice to see some real competition along there this year. It might be possible to have even very good linemen in the back up spots this year.
 
i didnt think he was ever drafted. I thought he signed as a FA with Philly, didnt make it and we picked him off the scrap heap.
 
If Beachum and his agent try to break the bank having this guy become a player will be nice insurance.
 
I hope he gets a fair shot. If he's able to beat out Adams as the primary Tackle backup, I'm all for having someone on the field looking like they're trying, if a starter goes down.
 
I have no problem with investing time, effort and roster spots to develop talent on your roster.

If they like his footwork, why not let him gain weight with an NFL regiment and NFL guidance to see what you can get out of it. Better than carrying a fat lard with a 15 wonderlic, too short of arms, bad footwork and half the work ethic (I'm looking at draft picks like Keith Williams and Chris Scott).

Hopefully, something good comes out of it. Just a word of caution to keep your hopes low. It's a long shot.
 
I highly doubt he takes Beachums spot. Truthfully if he makes the 53 man that is a huge accomplishment. If he cracks the starting line up ever it is even bigger. I do like how he is taking this seriously and transformed his body to meet the criteria needed to be an NFL lineman. I am however confused why would you schedule your reception during rookie mini camp. I mean he had all offseason and could have easily done it during those months. Not like rookie camp is the biggest deal in the world but if you want to move up the depth chart that is your first chance to do so.
 
What were his work out numbers? A Wide Receiver switching to Offensive Tackle? I think that is rare. He might have been better off at as Tight End. Just a hunch, he's technique as a tackle will need a ton of work. Not sure if he's strong enough, can keep leverage at nearly 6'10" tall, or if he has the footwork needed at tackle. We'll see in camp.

Great story, but a real long shot
 
He's not taking Beachum's spot. The Steelers really like Beachum and actually so does Pro Football Focus who graded him out pretty high for LT's. Beachum although not the biggest LT in the NFL has really refined his techiques and has worked the last couple season with Tunch on refinning those techniques. I'm ok with him at LT but I think the upgrade is needed at guard to replace Foster. He imo is the weakest link. The big disappointment has to be Adams after the high draft selection who can't find the field to start at LT or RT. He's at best been an ok reserve. Pitiful!
 
Maybe he is being groomed to play OT, but can be inserted as a TE in jumbo packages. would be nice to be able to go 2 tight with him and Miller on the edges opening creases for Cheech.
 
I'm w/ SteelHurt - Foster is the weakest link. Maybe Adams can work on being a G??? I know, I know - I'm ducking and bowing now...
 
I don't think I was suggesting he take the spot from Beachum based on play. Beachum is good player..but if he and his agent try to get top tier LT money from the Steelers he won't get it here. And it will be nice to have Villanueva turn into someone we could play if the contract negotiations with Beachum go left.
 
I'm all for the Big V turning out to be a good player and hope to hell he does. I just don't know though if we may be expecting too much too soon from him. He could be more of a project/devopemnt type player that could be a good player in a couple years, just not this season. Its very easy to become enamored with the size of some of these players but putting it into perspectve remember that he was not drafted and has already been cut from one team. Not saying that makes him a bad prospect, no, just not to expect too much too soon from him. He could develop with the right coaching and he sure has that in Munch and Tunch. Hay it ryhmes:cocksure:
 
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There was a nice article linked to his spot with the team and playing at left tackle. While Beachum was out he was in with the first team. The guy is 6' 9" tall and about 338 lean looking pounds. He was playing at tight end and seems to be quick. A quote from the article follows.

As Villanueva walked off the practice field Tuesday with Mike Munchak, he was listening intently to his position coach. The Steelers' second-year offensive line coach played a big part in Pittsburgh's offensive success in 2014 and Villanueva has been soaking up knowledge since.

Encouraging words from Munchak and teammates like Foster have Villanueva confident that he can make it.

http://www.timesonline.com/sports/s...971a-a30a04e2d782.html/?REFER-MI=Steelers/NFL

If this kid does come in and become the new left tackle because he is an upgrade that is a huge win for the team. Kelvin could play another position or remain the back up he was drafted to be. And that would mean the back up would be a capable left tackle, that is a huge plus. If not Villanueva could be the backup along the line or tackle. Great place to be in finding what could become a franchise tackle for nothing!
 
Wingman said:
This guy might have been the steel of the decade. If he can Play left tackle we might have found a huge upgrade at the position. That is not a knock on Beachum. He could become the good back up he was desired to be when drafted and able to play any spot on the line that is a huge plus. I would be worried if I was one of the back ups on the steelers line considering the guys new to the team and developing. Foster might be getting replaced by a younger guy who knows. It would be nice to see some real competition along there this year. It might be possible to have even very good linemen in the back up spots this year.
Click to expand...

Beachum won't stay here as a back up. He has proved he can play and start and a high level. If he isn't gonna start, he will leave vis free agency for sure.
 
steelerscotty said:
Beachum won't stay here as a back up. He has proved he can play and start and a high level. If he isn't gonna start, he will leave vis free agency for sure.
Click to expand...

I think the kid like was mentioned is a long shot. I think IF he earned a spot, Beachum would be resigned before he developed enough to be a starter.

But as a wise man once said first things first.
 
I'm all for the Big V turning out to be a good player and hope to hell he does. I just don't know though if we may be expecting too much too soon from him. He could be more of a project/development type player that could be a good player in a couple years, just not this season
Click to expand...

Are we forgetting the fact that he's no rookie, he's already 26 years old.
 
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SteelChip said:
Are we forgetting the fact that he's no rookie, he's already 26 years old.
Click to expand...

Actually I did. I forgot that he was in the military. Of course you have Uncle Jarvis who will be 26 this fall and we've seen zero from him up to now. But at least Jones has a couple years NFL experience where V has none. We'll see how fast he picks everything up and if he can make the 53. It would be nice but I think you would have to consider him a longshot at this point. Lets hope!
 
Villanueva is the exact type of player I would love a minor league football season for (like I described in the other thread).

Imagine if he's just on the bubble of the roster. We already are 3-deep at tackle and Adams beats him out as the "swing tackle" backup (which is likely). Wouldn't it benefit Villanueva to get assigned to a minor league team after training camp, get another 2-3 weeks of training camp with a lot more reps, then go into a mini-season of 10 games where he would hopefully start (either LT or RT) and get real game-day experience against other NFL hopefuls?

Wouldn't it be interesting if we could watch those games on Wednesay at our computers, or whenever we had time. We could get 3 camera angles at all times (traditional, all-22 and endzone view) and switch camera whenever we wanted during a play.

What it the coach of that minor league team had to post his game grade on Thursday or Friday (all the details by play).

I mean, I would watch that. I would be interested if he's getting better. If the tickets were cheap enough, I would love to take my kid to games like that too. If it was affordable to just pick-up and go in the car, park free, pay $20 for two tickets, maybe get a beer for $5 and something for him for $5. Spend less than $40 total and have a nice afternoon or early evening time with my son and watch NFL rules football in an NFL stadium on a beautiful October day.

I don't know why a minor league football season is so hard to figure out.
 
Wingman said:
There was a nice article linked to his spot with the team and playing at left tackle. While Beachum was out he was in with the first team. The guy is 6' 9" tall and about 338 lean looking pounds. He was playing at tight end and seems to be quick. A quote from the article follows.

As Villanueva walked off the practice field Tuesday with Mike Munchak, he was listening intently to his position coach. The Steelers' second-year offensive line coach played a big part in Pittsburgh's offensive success in 2014 and Villanueva has been soaking up knowledge since.

Encouraging words from Munchak and teammates like Foster have Villanueva confident that he can make it.

http://www.timesonline.com/sports/s...971a-a30a04e2d782.html/?REFER-MI=Steelers/NFL

If this kid does come in and become the new left tackle because he is an upgrade that is a huge win for the team. Kelvin could play another position or remain the back up he was drafted to be. And that would mean the back up would be a capable left tackle, that is a huge plus. If not Villanueva could be the backup along the line or tackle. Great place to be in finding what could become a franchise tackle for nothing!
Click to expand...

In 2 yrs as a starter Beachum has already improved to where some rate him as the 8th best LT in the NFL. Might be a little hard to be a "hugh" improvement on that. Munchak seems real happy with him so I'll confine my worries to somewhere else. Since Brown was a 6th rd choice I guess he was also drafted to be a backup.
 
SteelChip said:
Are we forgetting the fact that he's no rookie, he's already 26 years old.
Click to expand...

Twenty six years old and dedicated enough to gain significant muscle mass in the off season. The kid is a physical specimen and oddly enough one of the positions that seem to allow for longevity in players has been offensive linemen. He is also quite intelligent and based on his training and work ethic he can likely learn the technique needed to play offensive tackle. I would not be surprised if he does show up and surpass players we have. It would not be unreasonable for Beach to move inside if this happens. If an upgrade means we replace a player with a better player "because he can start" so be it.
 
can you imagine being some afgan sheep herder and seeing this guy get out of an army vehicle? I honestly don't know how he would fit in a Humvee without modifiying it. somehow
 
deljzc said:
Villanueva is the exact type of player I would love a minor league football season for (like I described in the other thread).

Imagine if he's just on the bubble of the roster. We already are 3-deep at tackle and Adams beats him out as the "swing tackle" backup (which is likely). Wouldn't it benefit Villanueva to get assigned to a minor league team after training camp, get another 2-3 weeks of training camp with a lot more reps, then go into a mini-season of 10 games where he would hopefully start (either LT or RT) and get real game-day experience against other NFL hopefuls?

Wouldn't it be interesting if we could watch those games on Wednesay at our computers, or whenever we had time. We could get 3 camera angles at all times (traditional, all-22 and endzone view) and switch camera whenever we wanted during a play.

What it the coach of that minor league team had to post his game grade on Thursday or Friday (all the details by play).

I mean, I would watch that. I would be interested if he's getting better. If the tickets were cheap enough, I would love to take my kid to games like that too. If it was affordable to just pick-up and go in the car, park free, pay $20 for two tickets, maybe get a beer for $5 and something for him for $5. Spend less than $40 total and have a nice afternoon or early evening time with my son and watch NFL rules football in an NFL stadium on a beautiful October day.

I don't know why a minor league football season is so hard to figure out.
Click to expand...

This I can agree with.
 
Well if he makes the team he can be known as Zorro as his name was Alejandro.
 
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