Steelers draft scouting report: offensive tackles
The Steelers have so many questions at offensive tackle. Will Marcus Gilbert be successful moving to the left side? Can Willie Colon stay healthy? Will Max Starks recover from his injury?
Because of all of this uncertainty, it is almost certain that the Steelers will select at least one offensive tackle in the upcoming NFL Draft. So Steelers Today is taking a look at a few of the tackles who might find themselves selected by the Steelers.
We’re not going to comment on players like Matt Kalil and Riley Reiff. There’s no way that they’ll be around when the Steelers pick. But here are a few that we believe could find themselves wearing black and gold in the near future.
Mike Adams – Mike Adams is a very big guy (6’7″, 325 lbs.) who definitely looks like an NFL offensive tackle. Unfortunately, he doesn’t always play like one. He has questionable technique and ends up on the ground way too often. But you can’t teach size, so the Steelers might select him with the hope of coaching him up. However, the fact that Adams was one of the players who was suspended for 5 games due to being involved in the Ohio State tattoo scandal will definitely not be viewed favorably by the Steelers.
Bobbie Massie – The Steelers didn’t bring many offensive tackles into Pittsburgh for visits. Bobbie Massie was one of the few that they did fly into the ‘Burgh. You decide what that means.
Massie is a big, physical tackle who competed successfully against SEC competition. I think he’d make a great right tackle for the Steelers. However, some teams will see him as a potential left tackle, and that may drive his value higher than the Steelers see him.
Matt McCants - McCants is a player that most fans aren’t familiar with. He plays in CUSA, which is a conference that I happen to follow (because the University of Memphis plays in it). McCants is big and raw. REALLY raw. But he’s pretty athletic for his size. I think that Steelers’ offensive line coach Sean Kugler can turn him into a good player.
Kelechi Osemele – He played left tackle at Iowa State, but I see him as primarily a guard in the NFL. However, most people see him as a tackle, and I think that he could make it at right tackle with lots of hard work. But at 6’5″, 335 lbs., he certainly looks like an NFL offensive tackle.
Levy Adcock – Adcock is a guy who is definitely worth the risk as a late round (6th or 7th) selection. He’s big, strong, and in desperate need of better coaching. He has a nasty temperament and could be Willie Colon’s eventual replacement at right tackle. He could also play right guard.
Let’s not forget that Mike Adams failed the combine drug screen for dope. So either he is a bonehead or an addict. Either way, I doubt the Steelers jump on him…
1This is not encouraging, at least not in the early rounds with Adams being undesirable and Massie threatening to be taken earlier in the first round. I guess that is to be expected with the premium placed on tackles. Sounds like we are more likely to be able to take a guard or Hightower in the first round than a tackle.
2Dan R.,
If you look at the first round in the past 3 drafts, there has been a huge run on offensive tackles. The good ones go early. In fact, offensive tackles have been even more popular than quarterbacks. So the odds of a good one falling to pick #24 are very low. I think we have a better chance of getting a good guard or ILB at #24. Tackles are just too valuable to drop that far.
I ask the same question every year; would you rather have the 4th or 5th best offensive tackle, or the 2nd or third best guard or ILB? In some years, the #24 pick could have gotten us the BEST guard or ILB. That’s why I’m glad the Steelers always take BPA, and don’t pick based on need.
3