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Monday, September 12, 2011

Steelers lose Colon for season

The Steelers have lost starting right guard Willie Colon to a torn triceps, marking the second time in the past two seasons Colon will be gone for the year.

Colon, who missed all of last season with an Achilles' tendon tear, apparently suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

He signed a five-year deal worth $29 million to stay with the Steelers in training camp.

When Colon was lost last season, the Steelers signed veteran tackle Flozell Adams as his replacement. That is the likely course of action again this year, though it's likely that Chris Scott or Trai Essex will get first opportunity this week against Seattle at Heinz Field.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Flozell is better anyways

adamg said...

C Scott looked completely overmatched in preseason and he hasn't ever played a regular season down and has had virtually no practice for over a year. Essex would probably start, but that depends on what kind of shape Adams or Starks is in.

On a lighter note, Joe Bfstplk must follow Sean Kugler around.

Jim said...

Dale, do you think it's Adams or Starks that gets the call? If they sign Starks, do they consider putting him on the left side and moving Scott over to the right?

Dale Lolley said...

I think it will be Adams, if they sign someone. Don't discount Marcus Gilbert. Why not get the rookie some PT. If they think he's the LT of the future, why not start the learning process now?

Anonymous said...

Dale, I wish Colon was the right guard, but he is the right tackle

just felt the need to fix that hehe

Sucks he's out. Hopefully not the whole year though. Like I said, I hope he becomes our RG. Perhaps Flozell comes back, does an ok job at RT and once Colon comes back you ain't gonna bench either, so put him at guard

wishful thinking, but I really hope it happens

wouldn't mind Gilbert playing either though. Though he was good in preseason, he was not Pouncey good so it would be difficult

Patrick said...

They went to the SB with Adams. Sucks for Colon but the oline is garbage, and its not worse with Adams.

adamg said...

From what I saw of Gilbert, he is going to be good. He reminded me a lot of how John Jackson broke in, got beat pretty badly at first, but the more snaps he got, the better he played his first year.

I'd like to see Adams, though, because I think he brought a lot of stability to the OL last year just from having spent so many years in the NFL and having seen it all.

Henry said...

If they put him on IR, will his new inflated salary count against the cap for this season?

Dale Lolley said...

Yep, the salary counts.

datruth4life said...

Dale, if he is healthy and has lost weight, why not Max Starks? He's done a better job of blocking Suggs the past couple of years than Scott or Flo has. I know Flo is a better run blocker, but how long can you squeeze blood from a turnip? The Steelers won a Super Bowl with Starks at LT and RT and he's only 29. If he is ready, why not ink him?

Anonymous said...

Thought the game was bad enough for us. Talk about adding injury to insult.

Anonymous said...

workout adams and starks. take the one who is in better physical shape. pretty simple stuff.

i don't expect we will see much of foote in the next game.

i do expect we will see more of the younger CB's, more ziggy hood, and more play action passing.

Anonymous said...

The hope would have to be that Marcus Gilbert is ready to play well at one of the tackle spots as the season goes on, and that Ben is continually able to make plays behind makeshift O-lines with fringe NFL players for yet another season. If Legursky's name was Doug Smith, would he be so popular? Who knows, maybe he is better than Foster or Tony Hills but to me he seems like a solid backup, no more. At least his triceps is attached.

Patrick said...

Isaac...I am your father.

adamg said...

Salary counts against the cap as Dale says, but how much is dependent on the specific contract. Apparently some contracts have clauses that pay a player a reduced salary if he is injured and goes on IR.

FWIW, NE has two rookies starting on their OL and lost their center for what looks be awhile last night. Yet Brady was able to throw for over 500 yards.

adamg said...

Looks like Gilbert is next man up. Seems like Adams wants more $s than the Steelers can or want to afford.

I honestly think Gilbert will be fine, though. In the game vs Atl, I saw him improve with each snap and he was going against John Abraham, not some scrub.

Jim said...

Good call, Dale. I guess we'll see what we've got with Gilbert.