Steelers Hope Holding The Line Pays Off

The No. 47 has a storied history in the legacy of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hall-of-fame cornerback Mel Blount donned the number during his playing days in the ’70s, but current quarterback Ben Roethlisberger may think of a different scenario when the No. 47 enters his mind.

Specifically, an opposing defender throwing him to the ground.

While the Steelers were able to pick up a speedy receiver, a hard-working defensive end and a running back that may bring back memories of Jerome Bettis in the 2009 draft, the front office of the Super Bowl champions fail to adequately address the issues on an offensive line that allowed 47 sacks during the past season.

Does the coaching staff really think that drafting Wisconsin University guard Kraig Urbik in the third round will improve an offensive line that seemed downright weak at times during the season?

Granted, the Steelers conquered their sixth Super Bowl championship with that line, but having a franchise quarterback routinely getting hit or sacked cannot be chalked up to the usual wears and tears of an NFL season.

Urbik will get a chance to take right guard Darnell Stapleton’s job in training camp, but status quo defines the rest of the positions. The Steelers released offensive tackle Marvel Smith and guard Kendall Simmons, leaving every position other than Stapleton’s relatively unchallenged.

The Steelers did draft Penn State center A.Q. Shipley in the seventh round, but he is a pure center, and is not expected to take incumbent starter Jeff Hartwig’s job.

The Super Bowl champions did a fine job of creating competition at other positions in the draft while ignoring the offensive line. First-round pick Evander “Ziggy” Hood will see playing time a defensive end and third-round pick Mike Wallace will get a chance to win the third wide receiver position. Fifth-round pick Frank “The Tank” Summers will vie for the short-yardage back duties.

While anything can happen in training camp, Shipley and Urbik will have to rely on playing the best football of their lives to have any chance of seeing significant playing time.

The one bright spot in the mist of uncertainty that surrounds the Steelers line is that the team is run by some of the brightest minds in football. Coach Mike Tomlin has done well in winning a Super Bowl in only his second year and Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert always drafts well, with former second-round pick LaMarr Woodley being his latest coup.

But when the regular season against the Tennessee Titans, Steelers faithful will have to hope the Super Bowl 43 champs will come nowhere near the no. 47.