Fernando Velasco - From NFL "Street" Free Agent to Steelers Starting Center

Note to future NFL “street” free agent offensive lineman, should the Pittsburgh Steelers contact you about joining the team in mid-season, you stand a strong chance of starting that next Sunday.

The Steelers set the precedent in 2011 with Max Starks, and now they follow it with Fernando Velasco per Gerry Dulac’s tweet:

New C Fernando Velasco will start in Cincy. Isaac Redman: “I’ve never seen anyone come in and look as comfortable in the offense so quick."
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) September 13, 2013

The Steelers waived Max Starks in July of 2011 following the NFL lockout after his weight had reportedly ballooned up to near 400 lbs. After Willie Colon tore his triceps during the Debacle in Baltimore the Steelers turned away offers from Flozell Adams and instead opted to start then rookie Marcus Gilbert.

• In 2011, the team desperately wanted to turn a new page on its offensive line.

But the Houston defense desperately overwhelmed Jonathan Scott the Steelers turned to Starks. He arrived at the South Side with his name penciled in as a back up, but within 24 hours the Steelers were talking about starting Max Starks and start he did.

The Steelers of course reached out to Velasco within 24 hours of Maurkice Pouncey’s ACL/MCL tear suffered vs. the Titans. Pro Football Focus rated Velasco as the 11th best center in 2012, but The Turk nonetheless darkened his door on cut down day.

Velasco’s experience with zone blocking attracted the Steelers, and Behind the Steel Curtain’s Steel34D film review confirmed Velaco’s ability in a zone blocking scheme, (a review which includes some success at Casey Hampton’s expense.)

Word that Velasco will start frees Kelvin Beachum to return to his role as primary backup across the offensive line and of course the new hat he wears, blocking tight end.

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Steelers 2013 Roster Analysis: Offensive Line

Steel Curtain Rising begins its analysis of the Steelers 2013 roster with the offensive line.

Starters:  Mike Adams, Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Marcus Gilbert
Back ups: Kelvin Beachum, Guy Whimper, Cody Wallace

Strengths: The Steelers have invested heavily in their offensive line via premium draft picks. On paper, these men have the pedigree to grow into a dominat unit....

Weaknesses:   ...And that is also the groups greatest weakness. This is a young an inexperienced line. Expect growing pains. How severe will the growing pains be?

The Skinny:  Beyond the issue of growth, the Steelers have crossed their fingers in the hopes that the injury gods do not again rain their wrath down upon the Steelers offensive line, as they did in '08, '10,'11, and '12. Because if they do, this is a unit that has next to no depth as Willie Colon is in New York and Doug Legursky is in Buffalo. Max Starks is available, but the team has not been interested in renewing the love affair yet. An injury to Gilbert or Adams could change that fast.

Click here and scroll around to read analysis of other position areas on the Steelers 2013 Roster.

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Why Losing Legursky Could Leave Steelers Offensive Line in the Lurch

The Steelers are a franchise steeped in stability. Stability became the norm in Pittsburgh starting at the end of the Lyndon Johnson administration and permeates every facet of the franchise -- except for the offensive line of late.

• Unfortunately there’s reason to fear that offensive line instability will continue in 2013.

One of the most under reported stories of the Steelers 2013 off season has been the decision not to resign reserve/part time center-guard Doug Legursky.

As the Watch Tower pointed out, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Tribune Review both ignored the move which is a mistake because the Steelers could very well end up regretting letting Legursky leave.

Steelers Offensive Line Building in the Tomlin Era:  Plug and Patch

While Mike Tomlin may not be responsible, the offensive line’s chronic instability began on his watch. First the team was unable and/or unwilling to resign Alan Faneca. That started a cascade of offensive line strategy which can only be described as “Plug and Patch.”

Steel Curtain Rising has discussed this phenomenon at length, to the point where the day after Willie Colon signed his four year contract, La Toalla Terrible predicted the Steelers would Colon him in two years. And of course that’s exactly what happened.

The impact of the Steelers decisions to sign and cut lineman, almost seemingly willy-nilly, doesn’t arrive in full until you see it visually.

Steelers Offensive Tackle Signed and Released in the Mike Tomlin Era:

• Jonathan Scott (signed for 3 in ’10, cut before ’12)
• Max Starks (benched in ’07, transitioned in ’08, franchised then signed for four in ’09, cut in ’11, signed in ’11, signed in ’12 let to walk after starting 16 games in ’12)

Steelers Guards Signed and Released in the Mike Tomlin Era:

• Kendall Simmons (signed in ’07, cut in ’09 off season)
• Chris Kemoeatu (signed in ’09, cut in ’11 off season)

Steelers Guard/Tackles Signed and Released in the Mike Tomlin Era:

• Willie Colon (signed in ’10, cut after ’12)
• Trai Essex (signed in ’12 off season, cut in training camp)

Steelers Centers Signed and Released/traded in the Mike Tomlin Era:

• Sean Mahan, (signed in ’07, traded to Tampa before ’08)
• Justin Hartwig (signed in ’08, resigned in ’09, cut before ’10) 

There you have it. During the Mike Tomlin era the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed an entire offensive line and released them prior to their contract’s termination.

No other position area has suffered from such schizophrenia. A “close second” doesn’t even exist.

Building an Offensive Line via the Draft is a Start, but Only That

During Bill Cowher’s tenure, the Steelers almost seemed to have an unofficial policy of using a top-three pick on an offensive lineman in every draft. The tendency was strong during Tom Donahoe’s time, but it continued to a lesser extent after Kevin Colbert’s arrival in 2000.

But for three straight drafts, 2006, 2007, 2008, the Steelers never picked a lineman before round 4. One of those was Colon, the other Tony Hills. In the 2009 Draft the Steelers picked Kraig Urbik in the third, but never got any value out of him. He now starts in Buffalo.

• The Plug and Patch offensive line personnel policy depicted above was a consequence of this cumulative neglect of the line in the draft. 

Realizing this wasn’t sustainable, Tomlin and Colbert dramatically altered course in selecting Markice Pouncey in the first round of the 2010 Draft, Marcus Gilbert in the second ground of the 2011 Draft, and David DeCastro and Mike Adams in the 1st and 2nd rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft.

For however wise and necessary the strategy shift was in on the part of the Steelers braintrust the move was ultimately not sufficient, as one statistic shows.

• David DeCastro played in 4 games and started 3in in 2012. Kelvin Beachum appeared in 8 and started 5….

In simple English: The Steelers have shown the can pick good offensive lineman in the draft. Keep them healthy? That’s another question entire.

And that’s where the Steelers likely erred in letting Doug Legursky go.

Steelers Rolling the Dice on the Offensive Line

According to the Steelers Digest, Pittsburgh started six different offensive line combinations in 2010 and nine different combinations in 2011.

And that doesn’t count in-game juggling such as what occurred in the 2010 victory over Tampa, where Mike Tomlin himself admitted to not knowing who was cycling in and out of the game. That spectacle repeated itself several times since then.

• During all of those shuffles, Doug Legursky started in four configurations as a right guard, two configurations as a left guard, and three configurations as a center for a total of 14 starts in 2010 and 2011.

In 2012 Legursky played in all sixteen games, starting in 3 at both a center and at guard.
Yet, in spite of an established track record and excellent “position flexibility” the Steelers let Legursky walk to the Bills.

• Why? Steelers Nation can only ask.

Steel Curtain Rising already second guessed the Steelers decision to cut Willie Colon, but that decision had solid football and business merits behind it. Colon came with real liabilities, liabilities which Legrusky lacks.

In Doug Legursky the Steelers had an excellent 4th interior lineman who could and did step into the lineup at a moment’s notice. That type of ability and reliability is priceless, especially with the premium on protection Ben Roethlisberger.

In drafting Maurkice Pouncey, Marcus Gilbert, Mike Adams, and David DeCastro in resigning Ramon Foster the Steelers have (potentially) given themselves a solid starting foundation on offensive line.

• But the Steelers experience of the last several seasons has shown that good starters are not enough. You need depth. You need quality back ups.

Kelven Beachum, were told in the only real news to come out of Steelers OTA’s, spent the time channeling his inner Trai Essex by practicing at not only guard and tackle and center. Good for him. His rookie season shows he’s probably up to the task.

But Beachum will only give the Steelers one quality backs up. History has shown the Steelers will likely need more. And they just let one go in Doug Legursky.

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Jarvis Jones, Le'Von Bell Signed - Landry Jones Remains Lone "Hold Out"

And then their was one. One of the benefits of the 2011 CBA between the NFL owners and the NFLPA is the rookie wage scale. Not only does it protect untested rookies getting horrendous amounts of money thrown at them, it also ensures that tenured NFL veterans get a larger share of the pie.

• And added benefit is that the once standard rookie holds are a thing of the past.

Eric Green held out all of training camp. Rod Woodson held out for the first half of his rookie year. Even Ben Roethlisberger missed the first few days of his rookie training camp.

• Not any more.

Without waiting on any of the cash liberated by Willie Colon’s release, the Steelers signed Shamarko Thomas, Marcus Wheaton, Terrance Hawthorne, Vince Williams and Justin Brown followed suit.

As soon as June arrived the Steelers quickly locked up first round pick Jarvis Jones and second round pick Le’von Bell in addition to seventh round pick Nick Williams.

The only pick that remains unsigned is fourth round pick quarterback Landry Jones.

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Steelers "June Curse" Continues - Mike Adams Stabbed in South Side Robbery

Mike Adams now finds himself the unfortunate carrier of what is becoming a rather dubious Pittsburgh Steelers tradition of new millennium.

Perhaps Steelers Nation should begin referring to it as “The Curse of June.” That’s “June” as in “Clever” but rather the month of, because this month it has not been kind to the Pittsburgh Steelers since the turn of the century.

It was in June 2006 that Ben Roethlisberger had his near fatal motorcycle accident. And it was in June of 2008 that Dwight White was taken from us, officially bringing the Steel Curtain to half strength. Steelers Hall of Fame Running back John Henry Johnson likewise passed away during the month of June.

2010 turned out to be a banner year for Steelers Nation’s “Curse of June” Willie Colon tore his Achilles’ tendon in June of that year, and the Steelers 5th round pick from the 2010 Draft Chris Scott also injured himself in off season workouts.

Now fate has seen to it that Mike Adams is forced to bear this burden, as he was stabbed last night outside his South Side home, trying to keep three robbers from stealing his truck.

The Pittsburgh Steelers website is quoting General Manager Kevin Colbert as saying “We are aware of the situation regarding Mike Adams being stabbed earlier this morning. We are in direct communication with both Mike and his family. Mike is expected to make a full recovery."

Adams himself had this to say on Twitter:

I had an angel lookin out for me! Ill be ok just gotta fight to get back harder then ever
— Mike Adams (@Channel75live) June 1, 2013

According to a report in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Adams confronted three robbers near the interception of 17th and East Carson on Pittsburgh’s south side. One had a gun, another had a knife, and Adams was stabled in the forearm in the stomach.

Adams required surgery, but the stab wounds did not touch in vital organs.

Steel Curtain Rising wishes Mike Adams Godspeed and a good recovery, and advises the rest of the Steelers to stay on guard as its only June 1st.

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Steelers Sign Markus Wheaton, Terry Hawthorne, and Justin Brown

Who said the Steelers are salary cap strapped?

Just last week Steelers.com quoted Kevin Colbert as saying that salary cap considerations would mean that the Steelers would have to sign their draft picks following June 1st, when they begin to realize the savings gained from their decision to cut Willie Colon.

• Fair enough.

But then the Steelers went right out and signed Shamarko Thomas. OK, Thomas needed the money, as pointed out by Behind the Steel Curtain. Then the Steelers signed 6th round pick Vince Williams.

6th rounders don’t make much, so perhaps there’s no fuzzy math.

Today however the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that the Steelers have come to terms with 3rd round pick wide receiver Markus Wheaton, fifth round pick cornerback Terry Hawthorne, and sixth round pick wide receiver Justin Brown.

OTA’s Taking Their Toll?

Perhaps it’s a little bit of hyperbole to say that “OTA’s are Taking Their Toll” but Hawthorne is watching in crutches, after the Steelers did some knee surgery to remove bone chips.

But first round pick Jarvis Jones has re-aggravated his hamstring injury and is being limited in practice, according to reports from Behind the Steel Curtain and The Pittsburgh Tribune Review.

Hamstring injuries can be tricky things – ask either LaMarr Woodley and/or Dermontti Dawson. A hamstring injury derailed what was shaping up to be an All Pro season for Woodley in 2011 and ruined his 2012 season. Worse yet, they essentially ended Dawson’s career.

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Steelers Work Out Antoine Caldwell - Wither Doug Legursky?

Amid a flurry of visits from collegiate linebackers in advance of the 2013 NFL Draft the Steelers managed to work out another veteran free agent. Unlike visits from Ahmad Bradshaw or others by linebackers or safeties, this one came from a veteran who doesn’t play what is seen as a position of need.

• Yesterday the Steelers worked out former Houston Texan Antoine Caldwell, who played as a part time starter at center and guard for the Texans. 

Although Willie Colon has departed, the Steelers count on recently resigned Ramon Foster and their 2012 1st round draft pick David DeCastro at guard.

Clearly the Steelers are exploring ways to build their depth at guard, and in that sense Caldwell’s visit is a little curious. Doug Legursky, whom the Steelers developed from an unrestricted rookie free agent into a reliable back up center and/or sometimes starter at guard, remains unsigned.

Steel Curtain Rising’s Free Agent Focus, tagged Legursky as one player the Steelers could probably get back if it wanted back, however, the same was said about Will Allen and Ryan Mundy, both of whom now play for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, respectively.

Perhaps the Steelers are still considering Legursky, perhaps they’re just window shopping to get a feel for what’s in the market, perhaps they’re only planning to bring back Legursky but after the draft and want an insurance policy in case he signs elsewhere.

But clearly the Steelers are at least contemplating the possibility of an offensive line bench without Doug Legursky for the first time since 2009.

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Second Guessing the Steelers Decision to Cut Willie Colon

The news that the Pittsburgh Steelers have cut Willie Colon is now as old as it has been expected. Just because it was an anticipated move does mean that the decision to cut Colon was the right one.

To be certain, the case for cutting Willie Colon was strong. After all, Colon:

• Spent all of 2010 on injured reserve
• Had a 2011 season lasted all of one game
• Finished 2012 on, you guessed it, on injured reserve

Back of the envelop calculations show the Steelers paying Colon a million dollars per game played over the past three years. Clearly management is looking to cut its losses and move on.

However evidence indicates that the decision on the South Side may not have been as cut and dried as it appears.

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported that two weeks prior to free agency’s start, the Steelers assured Willie Colon’s agent Joe Linta that they had no plans to cut the guard. Of course the Steelers went out and cut Colon, just had been rumored late in the season.

• What happened? 

Steel Curtain Rising has no sources, but it’s not too hard to speculate:

• The Steelers expected to come to an agreement with James Harrison
• When they didn’t, the Steelers cut Harrison freeing up extra, unexpected cap space
• The extra cap space allowed them to resign Ramon Foster

Kevin Colbert had said that players like Ramon Foster would be allowed to test the market – but the Steelers signed him before free agency began. Foster’s signing make Colon expendable.

Cause for Buyer’s Remorse on Colon?

The case for cutting Colon was strong, however there were both football and business reasons for keeping him.

• First, when healthy, Colon was the Steelers best lineman. Guard was Willie Colon’s natural position, and after he settled in there he was the ass-kicker that the Steelers have been needing on the offensive line.

Beyond that, Colon was far from the only offensive lineman to be hit by the injury bug over the past several seasons. Even if the Steelers were projecting Ramon Foster and David DeCastro as their starter guards, Willie Colon had enough position flexibility to make him an option at both guard and tackle.

• Injuries have plagued the Steelers at offensive line since 2008 and the wisdom of carrying 6 starter capable offensive lineman into the regular season is self evident.

Another argument in favor of keeping Colon was the fact that he’d given the Steelers a home town discount, agreeing to take three million less to stay in Pittsburgh then the Chicago Bears were offering.

• How willing will others be to offer similar home town discounts in the future?

There's no way to know, but cutting another lineman two years into a long term deal isn't the way nurture the spirit that leads to hometown discounts.

Should The Steelers Have Taken Their Medicine? 

The Steelers designated Willie Colon as a post-June 1st cut. This allows him to sign with another team, but the Steelers are required to carry his salary against the salary cap until June first.

• In doing this they can split the dead money penalty between 2013 and 2014.

Perhaps this was a necessity. Perhaps the Steelers cap situation is so dire that they’ll need this money to sign their draft picks.

But given the massive restructurings Pittsburgh has been doing year in and year out, it is fair to ask if the Steelers wouldn’t have been wiser to simply take their medicine now, and absorb Colon’s dead-money hit in 2012.

At the end of the day, all of these are nothing more than academic questions – the Steelers cut Willie Colon and they are splitting the dead money hit over 2013 and 2014.

But from where Steel Curtain Rising sits, both moves appear to be mistakes.

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Wallace Departs - Larry Foote, Plaxico Burress & David Johnson Stay with Steelers

In the end, those who predicted that some other team would pay Mike Wallace the 10 million dollar a year that Pittsburgh wouldn’t were way, way off. That’s because the actual number end up at 13 million and the team in question was the Miami Dolphins, who out bid the Vikings, among other teams.

This contract was far greater than what the Steelers had offered Mike Wallace before his hold out and far more than what Antonio Brown got instead.

The Steelers will suffer without home run threat Mike Wallace, but Mike Wallace is no where near with the money Miami is paying him.

Steelers Far From Not Idle – Foote, Burress, and Johnson Return

While the Steelers never wade into to the free agent signing free for alls, they were  hardly idle back in Pittsburgh. 24 hours before free agency began, the Steelers came to terms with Ramon Foster who signed what is reported to be a 3 year 6 million dollar contract with between 900 and 800 thousand guaranteed.

Ramon Foster had been getting feelers from other teams and the Steelers acted quickly to keep him off the market, as they did with Larry Foote who’d been courted by Pittsburgh West aka the Arizona Cardinals. The Steelers had been in talks with Larry Foote, and are desperately thin at inside linebacker, especially as Sean Spence’s season if not his entire career are in serious doubt at this point.

The Steelers also made what journalists were describing as a “surprise” move, by signing former Kevin Colbert first round pick Plaxico Burress to a one year deal for the league minimum. After the season ended, there’d been talk that Burress would be back, but as recently as Tuesday morning Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette claimed that any Burress signing would happen in June.

And late in the day it was reported that the Steelers agreed to terms with David Johnson, their fullback – tight end who was injured last year in preseason at the hands of Marcus Gilbert. With Heath Miller ailing, David Paulson and David Johnson now give the Steelers two healthy tight ends.

Colon Expected to be Cut

Even if the Steelers did turn a few heads by locking down a few of their own players to contracts, the exodus will continue as Rashard Mendenhall and Keenan Lewis are expected to receive offers from other teams.

• And so might Willie Colon. 

The Steelers ability to resign Ramon Foster makes Colon, who has finished the last three seasons in injured reserve and earned an average of a million dollars per game actually played, expendable.

The Steelers are expected to cut Willie Colon, but designating him as a post-June 1st cut, which will allow Colon to seek another offer while the Steelers can prorate the dead money impact on the salary cap over two years.

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Steelers Talking with Ramon Foster

The news that the Pittsburgh Steelers have released James Harrison clouded over the fact that they were talking with Ramon Foster.

Ramon Foster has been one of the more intriguing of the Steelers unrestricted free agents. Nobody’s world beater, Foster has nonetheless showed himself to be an outstanding back up and solid if not spectacular starter. He also has position flexibility.

• When Steel Curtain Rising did its Free Agent Focus article on Ramon Foster, the conclusion was that Foster was unlikely to return.

However, Foster has indicated that the Steelers are in talks with him, and at least will attempt to make him an offer, although several teams are interested in talking with Foster.

Ramon Foster is one of Kevin Colbert's rookie free agent successes, and it would be nice to keep in Pittsburgh. The fact that the Steelers are talking with Foster, also perhaps indicates that they are planning on letting Willie Colon go. Willie Colon has three years remaining on his contract, but has finished each of the last three seasons in injured reserve.

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William Gay's Visit to Pittsburgh Could Signal Coming Cuts...

Steel Curtain Rising began its Steelers Free Agent Focus2013 by quoting “there’s a storm coming Mr. Wayne” from Dark Knight Rises.

Thus far there has been far more calm than storm on the South Side.

• That could change very early this week.

 The Pittsburgh Tribune Review is reporting that the Steelers will work out William Gay, who was released late last week by Pittsburgh West aka the Arizona Cardinals. Even before news broke that he’d visit with the Gay went so far as to Tweet, “I am glad I never sold my condo in Pittsburgh.”

After a rocky 2009 and a better but still only so-so 2010, William Gay emerged into a solid starter in 2011 before departing for Arizona as a free agent in 2012. Now, like Bryant McFadden before him, the Steelers may want him back. 

• But there’s a catch.

While contract restructurings with Lawrence Timmons, Ben Roethlisberger and Antoino Brown have put the Steelers under the cap, they still don’t have much space. They still need to tender restricted free agents Emmanuel Sanders and Steve McClendon and perhaps also tendering Jonathan Dwyer (Stevenson Sylvester is not likely to be tendered.)

While the Steelers could restructure LaMarr Woodley’s contract, at some point Kevin Colbert an Omar Khan are going to need to do some honest to God subtraction as opposed to simply rearranging numbers.

• And that mean’s cutting someone.

An that means that it could be James Harrison and WillieColon’s final week as Pittsburgh Steelers.

Neither move is certain, but neither move would be a surprise. The Steelers are in talks with Harrison, whose agent has said he will not take a reduced salary, the first sign that he could be gone. Colonhas simply stated he is waiting.

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Steelers Restructure Brown, Roethlisberger Contracts, Add

As expected, the Pittsburgh Steelers restructured the contracts of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown. Roethlisberger's restructure alone gained them 6 million dollars in salary cap space. With those two moves, in addition to the restructure of Lawrence Timmons, the Steelers are reportedly in compliance or close to compliance with the NFL salary cap.

Steelers Claim John Parker from Waiver Wire

In an apparent indication that the Steelers have in fact gained some wiggle room under the cap, Behind the Steel Curtain is reporting that Pittsburgh has claimed former Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson off of waivers. Wilson has never played in an NFL game, but spent time with Atlanta and Jacksonville, mainly on the practice squads of those two teams.

Restructuring Done? Heads to Roll Next? 

Earlier in the off season Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert warned that Pittsburgh was reaching the limits of its ability to restructure contracts, acknowledging that managing the salary cap by perpetual contract negotiation carries dangers, and saying that the Steelers would prefer to avoid reaching a point where they would need to blow the entire team up to stay under the cap.

The only other way for the Steelers to reduce their costs is by cutting veterans or getting them to agree to play for less money, something the Steelers have only seldom done (see Jerome Bettis.)

Willie Colon has long been suggested as a possible cut, although Colon would only save them 1.2 million dollars against the 2013 cap. The biggest X Factor involves James Harrison.

The Steelers want Harrison back, but at a lower cap number, and a restructure is not likely due to his age and injuries.  That means that Harrison is likely to be cut if he does not agree to a reduced salary.

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Steelers Must Look Past Doubts on Jonathan Dwyer

Jonathan Dwyer entered the 2010 NFL Draft after a very distinguished career rushing at Georgia Tech. Yet concerns about the style of offense he ran there caused his stock to drop, and when he fell to Pittsburgh in the 6th round many people considered the pick a steal by the Steelers.

At the Steelers 2010 OTA’s Dwyer continued to impress with the standard caveat that OTA’s are nothing more than playing catch with a helmets on.

When training camp rolled around the Steelers got another surprise – he was extremely overweight so much that only some strong late preseason performances saved his spot on the roster.

As a consequence, Dwyer was inactive for the 2010 Steelers first 15 games, only seeing mop up action in the season final vs. Cleveland. He failed to get a carry in any of the Steelers three games during the 2010 post season.

2011 brought the lockout and higher expectations for Dwyer. Unfortunately, Dwyer again showed up at St. Vincents overweight and Baron Batch’s torn ACL is what likely saved Dwyer a roster spot. But Dwyer got into shape and again impressed towards the end of the preseason.

Injuries pushed Dwyer into the starting lineup on week 5 vs. Tennessee, and Dwyer shocked everyone with a hundred yard performance that included a 76 yard scramble. Nonetheless, Dwyer only saw spot duty the rest of the year, until injuries suffered in the Steelers December victory over Cincinnati landed him on injured reserve.

• Mike Tomlin began the Steelers 2012 off season with a warning to Dwyer:  Come to camp in shape or else….

Dwyer did show up in shape and got his first significant NFL action, rushing for 628 yards and two touchdowns.

Steelers Only Part Ways with Dwyer at Their Peril….

Dwyer’s rushing numbers were good enough to earn him a 4.0 yards per carry average, which is very respectable. Rushing averages are not everything – Frank Pollard has a better carrer average than Franco Harris.

To that end, Mike Tomlin opened the door for Dwyer to claim the role as starter and by any measure he failed to do that. The word out of the South Side is that the Steelers are disappointed enough with Dwyer that they might not consider offering him a restricted free agent tender.

• The Steelers doubts about Dwyer are justified, but they would be making a mistake in letting him go

Jonathan Dwyer has been inconsistent. He ran for back-to-back 100 yard games vs. Cincinnati and Washington, but he struggled when the Steelers need him to deliver vs. Dallas and Cincinnati – among other occasions. It takes an effort to lose to the Oakland Raiders, and his inopportune fumble was one of the more egregious “contributions” of many that afternoon.

While Dwyer’s inconsistency cannot be overlooked, nor can it be the only measure applied to him. Steel Curtain Rising has made this point before and will make it again:

• When Willie Colon was healthy and settled in at guard, the Steelers offense ran the ball with power and decisiveness.

Without Willie Colon the offense just wasn't the same so much so that at mid season Dwyer was drawing comparisons to Jerome Bettis.

In fairness, Dwyer isn’t and probably never will develop into a Jerome Bettis. The Steelers are facing a salary cap crunch, and the logic goes that Dwyer doesn’t deserve the money that the Steeler would have to lay down by offering him a restricted free agent tender.

• So it’s a numbers game...

...But the numbers game cuts both ways and the operative number here is “one.” That’s the total number of running backs, not including Will Johnson, that the Steelers have under contract.

That one back is Baron Batch who, for all his inspiring story, has 25 carries to his name for an earth shattering 49 yards. Oh yes, Batch also has 4 catches for 31 yards.

Even if we can assume that the Steelers will bring back Isaac Redman, and they will, that would give them two backs. The Steelers will probably draft a running back in the 2013 NFL Draft, but does Pittsburgh really expect to field a competitive running game with a backfield comprised of Redman, Batch and some untested rookie?

Given Dwyer’s past training issues, perhaps Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin know enough to question whether he’ll ever have the commitment to do what it takes to succeed in the NFL.

• So be it if that’s the case.

But from the perspective of an educated fan, the Steelers need to plan to bring Dwyer back for 2013.

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The Confounding Case of Willie Colon

Pittsburgh Steelers starting left guard Willie Colon is not a free agent. In fact Colon has three more years left on the 29 million dollar contract he signed in 2011. And that’s a problem.

When healthy, Willie Colon is one of the Steelers best offensive lineman. The operative words in the preceding sentence are "when healthy."

• Willie Colon injured his Achilles tendon during the 2010 off season and did not play
• In the 2011 opening day debacle at Baltimore, Willie Colon tore his tricepts and was done for the year
• In 2012 Colon injured his kneed, missed a few games, returned and then was gone for the year

Back of the envelop calculations show the Steelers paying Colon an average of 1 million dollars per game over the last three years.

Willie Colon is slated to earn salaries in excess of 7 million per year for the next three years, can the salary cap strapped Steelers afford to pay that kind of money to a part-time player?

The Case for Willie Colon

There’s one undeniable fact in Willie Colon’s favor.

Much has been made of the Steelers disappointing running game, and rightly so. But all criticisms of the running game are tempered by the caveat, “with the exception of the three game stretch in the middle of the season.”

That three game stretch occurred after Willie Colon got comfortable at guard and before he injured his knee. In fact, you can pinpoint the precise moment it began (available as of 2/19/12):



From that moment on, and for the next several games onward, the Steelers flashed the beginnings of a dominant offensive line.

The absence of veteran depth and leadership was an issue in 2012 and if the Steelers lose Colon, they also will be losing their only tenured veteran on the line, if Ramon Foster and Max Starks can be assumed to sign elsewhere.

• Simple math also works in Colon’s favor. 

As Steel City Roller from Behind the Steel Curtain points out, with the way Colon’s deal is structured, cutting him this year only saves the team 1.2 million dollars against the 2013 salary cap because the team would have to eat the dead money from his contract now. (Full disclosure, I also write for BTSC.)

Why the Toalla Terrible’s Might Soon Look Prophetic

Shortly after Willie Colon signed his contract, this site’s alter ego La Toalla Terrible fired off one of his missives predicting that the Steelers would cut Colon in two years.

The piece was more of a commentary on the Steelers recent penchant for signing offensive lineman to long term deals, only to cut them in mid-contract. (Yes, folks, it happened with Max Starks, Chris Kemoeatu, Sean Mahan, Jeff Hartwig, and Kendall Simmons - click here to read La Toalla's full rant.)

Now it is looking like the La Toalla Terrible might be on the money.

• Lot’s of rumors indicate that Colon is likely to be cut, but let’s start something that came out of a computer on the South Side. 

After praising Colon for his switch to guard, Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola had this to say:

…But Colon is too heavy. Torn tendons and knee problems can be a result of too much weight on a body, and Colon has landed on injured reserve three straight years with those kinds of issues. He is listed at 315 on the roster, and if Colon played at that weight he might end up in the Pro Bowl

Labriola is frequently criticized for shying away from uttering nary an ill word about the Steelers, but he is clearly pulling no punches here.

The addition of new offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr. also may not bode well for Colon’s future with the team, as Gerry Dulac explained recently in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Bicknell, who worked with Todd Haley in Kansas City, is interested in installing a zone blocking technique in Pittsburgh and as such wishes to build his line with smaller, more athletic offensive lineman. Clearly, Colon does not fit this mold.

And then there are injury issues. Even if the salary cap savings are minimal for the Steelers, is it wise for them to project a roster spot for someone who cannot stay healthy?

Decision on Colon Expected Soon

The Steelers need to be under the salary cap by mid-March, and when they need to let someone go, they generally do it in advance, to give the player time to find another opportunity.

Clearly, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin have some difficult choices to make. Its possible their decision on Willie Colon could come in a few days….

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Steelers Free Agent Focus: Doug Legursky

Doug Legursky came up through the ranks the hard way, making the Steelers practice squad in 2008 and then landing on the Steelers roster in 2009 when Darnell Stapelton’s knees gave out.

Legursky’s first action with the Steelers was to serve as a reserve FB, and he did a commendable job run blocking in that role.

In 2010 he started to showcase his versatility, getting significant time at guard and starting at center in Super Bowl XLV when Maurkice Pouncey was injured.

In 2011 Legursky started at both guard positions in addition to starting at center late in the season. In 2012 Legursky severed as the number one back up at guard, although he did start at center will Pouncey filled in for Willie Colon

Steelers Finding Love for Legrusky

The Steelers have seen enough of Legursky to know that he’s never likely to develop into an all-world offensive lineman. They don’t need him to be. Legursky is an excellent number one center-guard back up, versatility that should not be undervalued. And the Steelers likely will not.

• Expect the Steelers to find the salary cap space to resign Legursky

Legrusky is probably one of those players who is more valuable to the Steelers than he would be to someone else, and most of the rest of the league will likely see it that way.

Scenarios that Could see Legursky saying “So Long” to the Steelers

Offensive lineman do not grow on trees and teams are of course always on the look out to beef up their roster with good ones.

There are plenty of teams, including the division rival Browns, who have salary cap space to spare and are familiar with Legursky’s body of work. The Steelers will indeed try to resign Legursky, but they will not delve into a into bidding war.

Such a bidding war erupting is not probably, but it certainly is possible.

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Steelers Free Agent Focus: Ramon Foster

Ramon Foster joined the club as part of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2009 rookie free agent class and since then has developed into another shining example of Kevin Colbert’s unrestricted rookie free agent success.

Foster got a baptism by fire, starting in the Steelers 2009 away loss to Baltimore Ravens on the night when Dennis Dixon was their lone starting quarterback, which was also the first time that season where no sacks were allowed. Foster would go on to start vs. Green Bay, Baltimore, and Miami that season.

In 2010 Foster began the season on the bench, but began starting vs. New England when Chris Kemoeatu was injured, and started the second half of the seasons and all of the post-season.

Despite that, he started 2011 on the bench, but injuries and Kemoeatu’s ineffectiveness led Foster to start 14 games that year.

The arrival of David DeCastro was supposed to relegate Foster back to the bench, but David DeCastro’s injury and Foster’s solid play kept him in the line up. He, along with Max Starks, were the only offensive lineman to start all 16 games, although Foster did do double duty at tackle.

Steelers Likely to Say Farewell to Foster

Under normal circumstances, with that pedigree, the Steelers would be looking to lock up Foster to a long term deal.

However, that is unlikely to happen. Like fellow unrestricted free agent Max Starks, Foster is likely to fall victim to the Steelers salary cap crunch. Unlike Max Starks, Foster is now breaking into his prime years as an athlete and his prime earning years.

He has far less incentive than Starks to offer a “home town discount,” and even if he were its hard to imagine that another team will not reward him far more lucratively that the Steelers can.

• Expect Ramon Foster to play in colors other than Black and Gold in 2013 and beyond

This is unfortunate, but most probably a mathematical necessity.

Scenario for the Fixing up the Steelers with Foster

There’s a big X Factor for Foster’s future with the franchise, and that comes by the name of Willie Colon.

Once Willie Colon successfully transitioned to guard he transformed the entire line. But he got injured, and finished his third straight year on IR. A decision by the Steelers to cut Colon would clear the way for Foster’s return.

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Steelers Free Agent Focus: Max Starks

Sometimes it is hard to say goodbye.

• Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Max Starks can relate.

The Steelers have wanted to part ways with Max Starks since 2010, but injuries to Willie Colon and the debacle in Houston convinced them to bring him back in 2011.

This past season, the Steelers thought they might get by with Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams as their starting tackles – Starks was signed in camp as an insurance policy but stayed on and started.

Prior to that the Steelers attitude towards Max Starks could have best been characterized as “I don’t know why you’re saying goodbye, I’m saying hello” as the timeline below reveals.

Max Starks Timeline with the Pittsburgh Steelers:

• 2004 Steelers draft Starks in the third round
• 2005 Starks starts every game en route to victory in Super Bowl XL
• 2006 Injuries keep Starks out of final two games, but word is coaches already eyeing Willie Colon as replacement
• 2007 Starks begins year on bench, plays “tight end” in short yardage situations; Starks takes over as starter in December Marvel Smith gets injured, before Starks gets hurt himself
• 2008 – Off season - Front office names Stark “transition player.” Mike Tomlin deems him “starter capable”
• 2008 – Regular season - Stark begins year as highest paid non-starting tackle in NFL, but saves season after Marvel Smith hurt vs. Jacksonville
• 2009 Starks named Steelers franchise player, then signs four year contract in camp
• 2010 Starks goes on IR at mid season
• 2011 – Off season – Steelers cut Max Starks; Ben Roethlisberger wears No.78 to practice
• 2011 – Regular season – Steelers offensive line in tail spin after thrasing in Texas, Steelers recant commitment to youth and resign Starks
• 2011 – Post season - Max Starks injured in playoff Teebowing at Denver
• 2012 Steelers resign Max Starks

The disconnect between the front office and the coaches was real. Bruce Arians was reportedly not fond of him, which would explain his repeated vetoing of Willie Colon’s move to guard.

Likely Scenario Sees Steelers and Starks Parting Ways for Real in 

Even though the Steelers have never had a clear head about what they want to do with Max Starks, he’s managed to make himself as a bedrock of the offensive line. He bailed them out in 2008, 2011 and in 2012 he was the only lineman to start every game in the same position. In spite of that...

• The odds strongly go against Starks being available to do that again in 2013.

The Steelers have invested heavily in their offensive line, picking Marcus Gilbert in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft and Mike Adams in the second round of 2012. You draft men to start in those rounds, and now is the time for the Steelers to find out if those men can fulfill their promise.

Beyond that, the Steelers have serious salary cap issues. Every dollar is precious, and that means that they probably cannot afford Starks even if he comes back at the veteran minimum, an unlikely prospect in and of itself.

Scenario that Sees Starks Sticking with Steelers

How could Max Starks return to Pittsburgh? For that to happen the 31 NFL teams would have to pass on a proven left tackle with two Super Bowl rings who has started 28 games in two years and 96 games overall.

That is an highly unlikely, however, it has happened before.

Before the Steelers resigned him in 2011, the Minnesota Vikings worked Starks out but said “no thanks.” Starks literally came off the street and started 12 straight games for the Steelers.

• Starks got no real takers as a free agent in 2012 either.

Even if the Steelers improbable run of luck with Starks’ availability were to hold up, something else would have to change for Starks to return, as he just doesn’t seem to be in their plans.

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