Offensive Line: The Shake-up Begins

The Steelers released former first-round draft pick and 6-year starter Kendall Simmons.

Simmons had fought off preseason challenges for the Right Guard spot from Chris Kemoeatu during the 06 and 07 season. When Faneca left, Kemoeatu moved in at left guard. Stapleton tore his Achilles Tendon in the first game against Baltimore this season and was placed on the IR. Darnell Stapleton filled the gap (admirably in my opinion).

Obviously the Steelers think they saw enough out of Stapleton to keep him as the starter at right guard. However, Stapleton also has the ability to play center, which could be a part of the long-term plans of the team.

While sites like TIOPS have been talking about how the Steelers are eyeing cornerbacks in the first round, releasing Simmons seems to augment the notion that the Steelers will either go after a lineman with their first round selection (likely candidates are either Alex Mack (C/G-Cal), Max Unger (C/G- Oregon), or Duke Robinson (G-Oklahoma)) or via free agency with the addition of a player like Jeff Saturday from the Colts.

Personally, I thought Stapleton did a great job filling in for Simmons last season, and I said numerous times that I thought the line looked better with Stapleton in there. Stapleton, an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers will be entering his third season in the league. To his credit, Stapleton was part of the offensive line Rutgers assembled during the Brian Leonard/Ray Rice era. And if you consider running back success at least partially a factor of offensive line play, that line was pretty darn good. I have no doubt Stapleton will do well filling in for Simmons and it’s good to see the Steelers moving towards a younger line with Starks and Stapleton.

The Steelers also tenured a 2.198 million offer to Willie Colon, which means if another team signs Colon they will have to give the Steelers a first round draft pick.

Finally, a look at the numbers: Simmons had a salary of $3.1 million coming next year with a $4.67 million cap hit. Stapleton, on the other hand, only has a cap hit of 463,000 next season. Simmons was halfway through a 4-year contract extension that he had signed before the 2007 season. This saves the Steelers some money, and could make them players in the market for Colts center Jeff Saturday.