Steelers laying it on this line — again

[mesaSteeler]

Steelers laying it on this line — again
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt...s_613834.html#
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, February 28, 2009

With the Steelers, you never know.

That's because we want the Steelers to be something they're not: spontaneous, impulsive, predictable.

That's never going to happen.

The Steelers are methodical, patient and unpredictable.

Until Friday, I had no idea what the Steelers were thinking about free agency, even though the answer was staring me in the face.

Offensive line, offensive line, offensive line.

All of the key moves made by the Steelers since winning Super Bowl XLIII have been fixated on maintaining and improving the offensive line with in-house candidates.

Maybe the most scrutinized offensive line in franchise history.

Count me among those not excited about keeping this offensive line intact for the 2009 season.

A little change never hurt. But the Steelers make their own rules.

In the Steelers' case, different is better.

So, different it is.

Yesterday's announcement regarding left guard Chris Kemoeatu wasn't a free-agent signing as much as it was a trade — Kemoeatu for Kendall Simmons.

A day after releasing Simmons, who signed a four-year, $24 million extension prior to the 2007 season, the Steelers re-signed Kemoeatu to a five-year, $20 million deal.

Kemoeatu, who nearly replaced Simmons in the lineup a year ago, just turned 26.

Right guard Darnell Stapleton, who will earn $460,000 next season, is 23.

Right tackle Willie Colon, who signed a one-year, $2.198 million contract as a restricted free agent Wednesday, turns 26 in April.

Left tackle Max Starks, who will receive $8.451 million as the team's franchise player, turned 27 last month.

Center Justin Hartwig, who will earn $1.75 million next season in the final year of his contract, is 30.

Like it or not — and some Steelers fans don't like it at all — this is a young offensive line with plenty of room for improvement and thumbs-up approval from the front office and coaching staff.

Like it or not, the Steelers will defend their Super Bowl title with the same offensive line.

Ben Roethlisberger had no comment.

Try looking at this from the Steelers' perspective.

It's an offensive line that helped win Super Bowl XLIII, featuring three new starters (Hartwig, Stapleton and Kemoeatu) and two first-time starters (Kemoeatu and Stapleton).

If 2008 was the lowest point for an offensive line still getting to know each other, what's ahead for 2009?

The offensive line, surprisingly young and cost effective, should get better with another year of playing together.

That's the Steelers for you.

Patient, never impulsive.

Thirty-one other teams wouldn't mind having the Steelers' so-called problem.

John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.

[MasterOfPuppets]

If 2008 was the lowest point for an offensive line still getting to know each other, what's ahead for 2009?

50 sacks and another 20 + ranking in rushing....

[msafford]

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets

50 sacks and another 20 + ranking in rushing....

calm down....they know what they're doing better than we do.

[Galax Steeler]

I can't help but to believe that we will see atleast one new face on the line this year either from the draft or free agency.

[LukesDad88]

They are young, for the most part, and continuity is important. We'll see.

[GBMelBlount]

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets

50 sacks and another 20 + ranking in rushing....

50 sacks? You're dreaming!

With an extra year of chemistry and grossly overpaying them, I can't imagine Ben being sacked more than 47 times in 2009.

[Galax Steeler]

Originally Posted by GBMelBlount

50 sacks? You're dreaming!

With an extra year of chemistry and grossly overpaying them, I can't imagine Ben being sacked more than 47 times in 2009.

[GBMelBlount]

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets

50 sacks and another 20 + ranking in rushing....

But seriously, I can live with the FO decision to at least keep what we have as long as they make a committed effort to upgrade our line through the draft this year.

[Steeldude]

hopefully the O-line won't be worse than 2003.

[St33lersguy]

For those of you who think that the OL had no chemistry and improved during the postseason lets consider this
Ravens: poor performance, allows Ben under a lot of heat and even allows T. Thugs who was questionable for whether he was going to play gets 2 sacks.
Cardinals XLIII: Although they did good on the game winning drive but beforehand they allowed so much heat and DT Darnell Dockett to record 3 sacks.
Yes I know the Steelers won both games I am just pointing out how the OL really had it's low point when they "pulled together" and "improved". My point is the Steelers need more talent