BUFFONE: Steelers O-line in State of Panic

by John Buffone

The Pittsburgh Steelers may have escaped from Indianapolis with a win Sunday night but they didn’t do so without paying a price. The already scrutinized offensive line was beaten and battered again and may have lost even more personnel. Left tackle Jonathan Scott went down in the second half of the Steelers’ 23-20 win with a left leg injury and is doubtful for next Sunday’s game in Houston. Right guard Doug Legursky also left the game with an undisclosed arm injury and rookie Marcus Gilbert left the game with a left shoulder injury. Gilbert was able to return to the game late but only because the Steelers were out of healthy replacements. Gilbert was launched into the starting role after original starter Willie Colon was lost for the season with tore triceps. With more than half of the line questionable for next week’s game against a Houston defense that loves to rush the quarterback, the Steelers line is already in a state of emergency that could force the team to drastically shuffle players around and take some chances on some outside signings. Some possible band-aids for the line include former Steelers tackles Max Starks who was cut before the season and Flozell Adams who started in place of Colon in 2010. Both Starks and Adams spent significant time with the Steelers and are familiar with Pittsburgh’s system.

BUFFONE: Steelers Rip Seahawks 24-0

The Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) came into week two with a vengeance as they ripped apart the Seattle Seahawks 24-0 on Sunday. After being called old and slow by many critics last week, the Steelers defense held Seattle to 164 total net yards while holding them to a 2-of-12 efficiency rating on third down. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a much more proficient week by completing 22-of-30 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown. Roethlisberger took a hit the knee from Seattle’s Raheem Brock that sidelined him late in the second quarter but was able to return two plays later. Wide receiver Mike Wallace tallied his fifth-consecutive regular season game in which he totaled over 100 receiving yards. Wallace had 8 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers next game is Sunday night when they travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts (0-2). Kickoff is set for 8:20pm.