Pouncey Possible Short-Term IR Candidate

Good morning,

Some stuff:

--- Young players on the Steelers defense played well Sunday, including rookie linebacker Bud Dupree. He had a sack for 11 yards, had another taken away and just missed a third when Ian Wild was credited with one. Jarvis Jones had a sack, as did Shamarko Thomas, who was second on the team with five solo tackles.

Those were the first sacks of the summer for Dupree and Jones, which should hold down the rants of those who think they were wasted draft picks for, oh, five minutes or so.

--- Antwon Blake is making it very hard for the Steelers to keep someone else at cornerback. His play on the punt in the first quarter, downing the ball at the one, led to James Harrison’s sack and safety. He also led the team with six solo tackles. With Cortez Allen, William Gay and Brandon Boykin, the Steelers would seem to have room for two or three more cornerbacks. Those could be Blake, rookie Doran Grant and Kevin Fogg. They opened with six on the roster last season.

--- If they go with six corners, as they did last season, that would leave room for four or five safeties (they opened with five last season). After Shamarko Thomas, Mike Mitchell and Will Allen, that would leave Ross Ventrone, Ian Wild, Robert Golden and Gerod Holliman fighting for two or three spots.

--- But if they keep 11 defensive backs, that does not leave room for the 10 or so linebackers some figure they might keep. With 11 defensive backs on the opening day roster last season, they kept only eight linebackers – and one of them was not James Harrison.

With eight, here is how things will stack up: The four starters plus Bud Dupree, James Harrison, Sean Spence and Vince Williams. Where does that leave Anthony Chickillo, Terence Garvin and Howard Jones? Out unless they go to nine, then one of them can be added.

--- Landry Jones had his best game as a pro, albeit all in the preseason. He completed 10 of 19 passes for 172 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and a 96.8 passer rating. He looks to be competing for the No. 2 job, especially now with Bruce Gradkowski hurt. Although an injured finger on his left hand should not prevent Gradkowski from playing, it does give Jones a chance to open as the No. 2 quarterback.

--- Dri Archer does not look instinctive returning kickoffs and he has done little on offense. If he were not a third-round pick, he would not be a threat to make the team.

--- Shakim Phillips won’t make the 53-man roster but he has enough intriguing talent that he could make the practice squad.

--- DeAngelo Williams knows how to run and should be an adequate starter for the first two games of the season.

--- Maurkice Pouncey might be an ideal subject for the short-term injured reserve list, which is open to just one player per team. The rule stipulates that a player must be on IR for eight weeks. After six weeks, he can begin practicing but cannot play for eight weeks. He also must be on the final 53-man roster before he can go on IR. Pouncey’s injury will keep him out at least that long and once the surgeon goes in there to most likely put a plate on his broken fibula, they may find it more complicated and it will take longer for him to heal and, if possible, return this season.

--- Rookie Senquez Golson will open the season on the PUP and likely remain there. Since he did not practice all summer and then had shoulder surgery last week, it is unlikely he could come off that PUP list at midseason and play anyway.

--- And now, some Ask Ed:

--- YOU: Do you see the Steelers looking outside of the organization to fill in for Pouncey or are they all in on Cody Wallace? Evan Mathis has not played center (to my knowledge) but he's a pretty skilled interior lineman and pieces could be moved around. It doesn't seem like the Steelers' style but this injury really strains the depth and has to change the way that they feel about the line as a whole.

ED: They will go with Cody Wallace, although finding a backup for him would not be out of the question.

It may be of interest to remember that when Pouncey was hurt on that first series of 2013, Kelvin Beachum replaced him at center. Then they signed Fernando Velasco and he stepped right in and started the second game at center. When he was hurt near the end of the season, Wallace started at center the final four games.

--- YOU: Beachum to Center and AV at LT might be a better set than Wallace just filling in for Pouncey. I think KB has the "quick" and hand strength to play that position and fend off DT/NTs. Also, if he performs, his utility might set him up for the contract extension he wants for next year.

ED: As I mentioned, that is so two years ago. Beachum will stay at left tackle and Wallace will start. You don’t change two positions to repair one.

--- YOU: I know your not a doctor but in Pouncey's case, is the Fibula season ending. I'm not even sure if it's actual bone or cartilage. If he goes on the partial injured reserve or whatever they call it it will give him eleven weeks to recover (two more weeks preseason, bye week and eight games).

ED: And you know I am not a doctor, how? The fibula is a bone, not cartilage, and it depends how seriously that bone was broken, along with its effect on the ankle, to know how long it might take to heal.

--- YOU: When does a player acquire the injury prone tag that causes them to no longer worth the investment? I really like Pouncey and realize that these have been "bad luck" injuries. Sam Bradford had a couple bad luck ACL's and was found to be not worth the potential risk... At a certain point we are going to also have some decisions to make for cap purposes. Would this factor into that type of decision?

ED: Pouncey did not have a couple of bad-luck ACL injuries. He had torn ACL/MCL in 2013 and now a broken leg, both the result of players firing into the back of him. That does not make him injury prone.