The cause of left tackle Max Starks' stinger problem from the game at Cincinnati may cause him to miss the remainder of the 2010 season.
Starks left Monday night's 27-21 win at Cincinnati in the first half with what coach Mike Tomlin called a stinger. He returned for the opening series of the third quarter, but did not play again after that.
Apparently he's telling teammates he's done for the year.
ReplyDeleteRyan Clark has essentially confirmed this on his twitter.
This is a crushing loss, if it's true. I would have named Starks & Mendenhall as the offensive players the Steelers could have least afforded to lose, because of the steep drop in talent behind them (greater, I think, than Ben to Leftwich). This is starting to feel a little like '07, when we looked pretty darn good in the first half of the year (maybe even capable of challenging the Patriots), but then injuries mounted and we weren't the same team down the stretch.
ReplyDeleteDale, what do you think are the immediate options if the report is true? I know the Steelers, as do most teams, prefer to keep the status quo and not shuffle the line too much when injuries occur, but the only bench replacement is Jonathan Scott, and he doesn't look like a half-a-season-plus-playoffs answer at left tackle. The other two options, as I see it, would be to move Flozell back to the left side or Trai Essex, who has filled in there before. I would prefer Essex, since Flozell got cut by Dallas seemingly for not being able to handle the speed rushers on the left side anymore, and because our depth at guard is better than tackle, so Legursky or Foster could come in and man the RG spot, whereas I don't like Scott being the starter at RT much more than at LT. Particularly, in regards to Legursky, he's played quite a bit, so it wouldn't necessarily be shaking up the line too much.
Essex has surprisingly held his own the couple times he was forced into LT duty. He sucks as a guard, so he might be more natural there. We won't be able to run at all behind him, but maybe he can get in front of his man for 2-3 seconds in pass pro better than Hills or Scott can.
ReplyDeleteJonathan Scott will get the first shot. He actually didn't do bad there in the second half Monday. Then again, they weren't doing a lot of throwing in the second half.
ReplyDeleteis this the same injury that effectively ended Marvel Smith's career?
ReplyDeleteWhile bad, Starks' injury is not quite at the level of losing Aaron Smith if only because the Steelers do have other OL on the 53 man roster who don't dress each week.
ReplyDeleteI also heard it mentioned that if Starks goes in IR, the Steelers might take Chris Scott off the PUP.
Tomlin is an idiot
ReplyDeleteYou gotta let Essex play LT now. Foster or Legursky is an upgrade at RG over Essex anyways. Essex has held his own at tackle in the past
You're an idiot.
ReplyDeleteIf a player isn't good enough to start at RG he definitely isn't good enough to start at LT. I know Essex has filled in there before but I'm holding you to your own logic. If he can be upgraded on the easiest spot on the line then he shouldn't be moved to the toughest.
On an unrelated note, has anyone noticed we seem to be doing a decent job of winning the field position battles this season. They have the best average starting field position so in the league so far this year. The oppenents isn't that good but I think this shows the dramatic improvement in our special teams. Both the coverage units and the KO return teams (punt returns are terrible). Our KO returns and punting stats are top 3 in the league in many categories. Being plus 9 in plus/minus turnovers helps alot also. Hopefully we can keep this up cause these are the little things that will continue to help us win games, especially since we will be missing another OT.
ReplyDeleteIt makes no sense to me that they would put Jonathan Scott at LT(who before Pittsburgh played about 90% of his snaps at RT) and keep Flozell Adams at RT (who before Pittsburgh played 90% of his snaps at LT).
ReplyDeleteJust switch them and move on. If they can stay healthy in 2-3 weeks they will be back to their old selves at their proper positions.
Jon Scott is not a left tackle in this league.
kyle - obv he's a better tackle than guard
ReplyDeletehe's weak at run blocking but strong in pass protection which is the most important thing for LT
idiot
With Kemo questionable for Sunday, Essex won't be moved from RG. He and Legursky will start with Foster the back up G and Hills the back up T.
ReplyDeletethanks coach adam
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteRun blocking and pass blocking are important at every spot on the line. Essex is not a great pass blocker. Before he got hurt he was holding his own in the run game. He's a fat ass without a LT height or arm length. Del is probably right, I assumed as well that Adams would get moved. They've seemed unwilling to do that though.