“Kevin Colbert y Mike Tomlin Tienen Huevos de Acero”
–Steel Curtain Rising’s description of Tomlin & Colbert’s decision to cut Kendall Simmons in 2009
As a coach, Mike Tomlin refuses to coach scared. Tomlin plays to win, whether its going for 2 even when he’s just been penalized for holding or calling an on-sides kick in a game where quaterbacks are throwing TD’s a will.
Kevin Colbert mimics his counterpart.
Fear does not guide Colbert and Tomlin’s decision making, a tendency which they displayed again this morning while cutting former starting left tackle and one time franchise tag holder Max Starks.
Less than 24 hours before the start of free agency the Steelers now have under contract at the all important offensive tackle position:
- Flozell Adams, who shucked his cast-off status last year and played quite well
- Chris Scott, 2010’s 5th round pick who started 2010 in the PAP list and did not once he was activated
- Tony Hills, 2008’s 4th round draft pick who did not dress for two years and only saw a handful of plays in 2010 despite tremendous upheavals on the offensive line
- Marcus Gilbert, 2nd round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft who perhaps has yet to crack a playbook…
Is this how the Steelers get back to the Super Bowl?
Fear not faithful in Steelers Nation. The Steelers cut Kendall Simmons in 2009 leaving them with no “starter capable” guard bound to the team, yet they quickly came to terms with Chris Kemoatu.
As Homer J. from Behind the Steel Curtain pointed out, Tomlin and Colbert have a plan.
They are negotiating to bring Willie Colon back (although how much fruit those questions are likely to bear remains an open question) and will likely bring Jonathan Scott back, who replaced Starks last year at left tackle.
The decision to cut Starks nonetheless counts as a surprise. Bragging rights go out to Michael Bean, found of Behind the Steel Curtain, who apparently went on the radio earlier this year and suggested that Stark’s roster spot might be in jeopardy. Hat’s off to you Michael!
On PG Plus, Ed Bouchette reported that Starks weight in the off season had topped 400 pounds during the lock out and was still at 375.
Randle El Redux Lasts One Year
A year ago Randel El returned to Pittsburgh with great fanfare, but his return to Pittsburgh was to be short lived. Bringing El back was a good move, even if he’d lost a step – or two, since leaving in 2005, but he was simply surpassed by astonishing development of Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown.
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