Steelers Offensive Line Breakdown Play By Play Versus Ravens Playoffs 2010

Below is the play by play break down of the offensive line from the Saturday week 19 playoff game versus the Baltimore Ravens. It is merely a pass or fail grade on if I think the lineman did his job or not. It also should be noted that we go under assumptions that we know what the assignment on each play was and sometimes it is not obvious. We have to grade on what we see and go from there. We added small notes to each play as well. As always if you disagree with any play, do so respectfully in the comments and give your reason so I can go back through and re-watch your disagreement.

For the first 3 quarters, the Steelers offensive line played well above the line, the 4th quarter though they tailed. This was collectively though one of the better games this year and the line benefited from several quicker pass plays in which Ben Roethlisberger got the ball out fairly quick. The run blocking was OK at times, but not dominate.

Overall Rating

Run Blocking Rating

Pass Blocking Rating

First Half Rating

Player Recap

Doug Legursky – Legursky was pretty solid in his few snaps this past Saturday. 5 at fullback and 5 on the line when Jonathan Scott left briefly. We get caught up grading lineman on what we want them to do sometimes versus what their actual job was on a certain play. It is hard to find fault with the effort and execution of Legursky this past Saturday. That said, he is a swing interior backup linemen at best. He can really crack heads when he needs to as a fullback as well.

Trai Essex – I have knit picked a bunch on Essex this year as he has deserved it and played below the line at times this season. On Saturday though, he came ready to play. He saw lots of action at right tackle when Flozell Adams exited with the flu. I am sure there will be those that criticize him more for Saturday\’s play, but if you watch as much film as I do and do this week in and week out, it was easy to see it was one of his better showings. He did allow Terrel Suggs to steam roll him on a sack when he flipped over to left tackle when Scott went down. He is what he is though and that is a backup swing tackle. Glad to see the better effort this week.

Chris Kemoeatu – Kemo was a better on Saturday for sure, but his flaws are still noticeable. He is like a train on the tracks and can not change direction well at all. He failed to pick up a few twist stunts that allowed a few pressures. He also had a stupid penalty late in the game as he missiled on top of a pile after the Rashard Mendenhall touchdown. He loses big body battles every now and again and needs to get better passing off the rusher that sets up the loop around of the end or linebacker better. The early sack shows this plain as day. The effort was indeed there as was the nastiness. Perhaps too much nastiness though as that penalty could of been deadly.

Maurkice Pouncey – Pouncey is showing he really needs to work on strength and technique against big body type defensive tackle and nose tackles. Make no mistake that he his fantastic in space and getting to the 2nd level to make blocks and great in most pass protection areas. His downfall right now is short yardage and also winning the point of attack battles on some interior running plays. He also struggled in cut blocking on the goalline. I believe this to be the only one bad area in his game and think he will improve in this area in the offseason. He has all the line calls down and is a tremendous helper to both sides. He was sneaky with moving the ball up on the 4th down QB sneak by Ben. Clearly a veteran type move. A half a yard is half a yard. If any gap is his weakness, it is the A gap to his left from what the tape shows. He really is fun to watch.

Ramon Foster – Ramon was Ramon this week. He struggled at times in the run game and seemed out of syn when Flozell went out and Essex came in at right tackle. He struggled on some point of attack run blocks and was not dominate at all on the day. He is also not good in space as we have seen plenty this year and does miss the linebacker very easily. He has become a pretty good pass blocker, but is good for an occasional beat inside. He seems to get and give help well in addition in this game. His short yardage goalline play was not exciting, especially when asked to cut block. It is not a specialty of his for sure. He needs to do a better job in pass protection of clearing the passing lanes. He lets pass rushers get their hands up too easy at times.

Jonathan Scott – Sure Scott ranks near the bottom here, but overall I saw great improvement against the Ravens. He handled Suggs very well for the most part when lined up against him. He was doing a much better job of winning the race to edge this past Saturday without being in the lap of Roethlisberger in the process. He also was better at not letting hands inside his body. Hopefully that all continues. He still is dicey in run blocking, but did have some noticeable successes on Saturday on a few plays. Anytime you get this type of performance out of him like he gave on Saturday, it is Pro Bowl like in my book judging by what I have seen from him all season.

Flozell Adams – Flozell was sluggish in the first half and we know now he had the flu and was dehydrated. He looked lethargic at best and was showing signs of struggle at the point of attack in the running game. Knowing what we know post game, he gets a pass for Saturday.

Play By Play Breakdown