TE, OL AND DL
The 2018 Pittsburgh Steelers season was a tumultuous and disappointing
one. There were some bright spots and low spots and we are here to review and
give an outlook moving forward into 2019.
The Pittsburgh Steelers offseason is underway and the 2018
review is here. The team had a disappointing 2018 season to say the least and
we are here to look at the team’s roster from 2018 and give an outlook for the
future.
In the second part of this three-part series, we take a look
at the tight ends, offensive line and defensive line. These three position
groups had a lot of bright moments and are the least drama filled groups to the
team from 2018.
TIGHT ENDS
The Steelers traded for Vance McDonald in 2017 and his
immediate impact was not felt until the 2018 season. He had a couple of moments
in the 2017 season but it was marred with injury.
2018 proved much better for him and he showed why the
Steelers got him from San Francisco. The play everyone likely remembers is the
stiff-arm of Tampa Bay’s Chris Conte on MNF in week three.
McDonald made many plays like that throughout 2018, dragging
and punishing defenders all over the field. He rode his own physicality to a
career year of 50 catches for 610 yards and four touchdowns.
He is not the only tight end on the roster as Jesse James has been with the team for
a long time now. He seems to repeatedly get disrespected by the Steelers and
continues to perform well.
James has improved each season he has been in Pittsburgh,
most notably as a blocker. He quietly recorded 30 catches for 423 yards and two
touchdowns of his own.
James has seen Pittsburgh sign Ladarius Green and then trade for
Vance McDonald in his career. It seems as if the Steelers do not want him as
their number one and that will likely affect his willingness to sign back with
the team this offseason as he is due for free agency.
Xavier Grimble is the third tight end
and I am sure everyone remembers his fumble at the goal line against Denver
this season. He has shown flashes in earlier seasons but he has not done enough
to move up to anything more than a number three tight end.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Steelers offensive line is one of the top units in the
league and has been for the last five years. That has been in large part to the
coaching of Hall of Fame coach Mike Munchak.
Munchak has done wonders for the Steelers consistency and
performance across the entire front five. He also played a key role into
turning Alejandro Villanueva into the starting
anchor he has been in Pittsburgh.
His ability to develop and coach any lineman into being at
the least a serviceable starter has been exceptional in his time in Pittsburgh.
His coaching helped keep the line performing at peak ability when Marcus Gilbert missed most of the last
two seasons and plugged in Matt Feiler and Chris Hubbard.
Mike Munchak is now with the Denver Broncos and the Steelers
had to promote Shaun Sarrett to offensive line coach. Sarrett has been here for
seven years and learned under Munchak for five.
The Steelers line is a key reason Ben Roethlisberger has stuck around
and they will need to continue their performance as one of the best units to
keep Ben around.
Villanueva, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro and Marcus Gilbert are
all signed through at least 2019. Ramon Foster is due for free agency
but I look for the Steelers to sign him early in free agency or possibly before
it begins.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Steelers hired Karl Dunbar to coach the defensive
line ahead of the 2018 season and it paid dividends throughout the year. He
seemed to get these guys to the next level.
The Steelers defensive line accounted for 21 of the team’s
52 sacks on the season. They also recorded 48 of their 115 QB hits. The
defensive line flourished in Dunbar’s first year.
Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt and Javon Hargrave combined for 20 sacks
and 46 QB hits in 2018. Hargrave took a huge step forward in his play as
did Daniel McCullers.
McCullers was the best he had been his entire career and
showed more of the player they wanted him to be since drafting him. Dunbar has
done wonders for the unit.
Outside the starting three and McCullers, the Steelers are
left with L.T. Walton and Tyson Alualu. The two have been quality
depth but the Steelers could look to upgrade their depth at the position in
2019.
There are some free agents who could peak the Steelers
interest to fill depth. The starters are set for 2019 and they can improve even
more next season.
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