For four long years the Steelers neglected (or at least were unable to address) the offensive line with premium picks in the NFL draft.

The broke away from that trend beginning in 2010 with the selection of Maurkice Pouncey and Marcus Gilbert in 2011.

In 2012 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers they have slammed the door shut on that era with a thunderous thrust. Less than 24 hours after selecting David DeCastro with theirfirst round pick, the Steelers picked Mike Adams from the University of Ohiowith their second round pick.

In less than a day, their offensive line has gone from being characterized by undrafted rookie free agents to one studded with high round picks.

Of course, these players still need to deliver. The time for that will come at St. Vincent’s in Latrobe this summer. But no one can say that Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert aren’t taking offensive line building with the utmost seriousness.

Mike Tomlin is loath to start rookies. The Steelers Digestreported that he went so far as to feign that Flozell Adam was fighting for a starting job to avoid prematurely anointing Maurkice Pouncey as a rookie.

But Marcus Gilbert is pegged as the Steelers starting left tackle, and Mike Adams will at least get a shot at starting on the right side, which is Willie Colon’s position.

For years commentators outside the team have argued that Colon’s natural position is tackle, not guard, although oft-discussed move to guard never materalized. There’s no certainty that it a shift to guard would materailze in 2012, in fact the odds would be against it, but this pick does at least pave the way for rumor to become reality.

Mike Adams comes to the Steelers from OSU. He stands at 6’7” and weighs 316 pounds. Prior to the draft there had been discussion that the Steelers might select Adams in the first round. As it turns out, they got him for less.

Here is a SB Nation video profile on Mike Adams.

Thanks go out to Michael Bean, of Behind the Steel Curtain and his  team at SB Nation for putting this together. For more SB Nation videos, click here.

In the mean time, welcome to Pittsburgh and welcome to Steelers Nation Mr. Adams.