AFC North Positional Rankings: Offensive Line
Dec 14, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey (53), guard Ramon Foster (73), tackle Kelvin Beachum (68), and Pittsburgh Steelers guard David DeCastro (66) walk toward the field before their game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
LT: Kelvin Beachum
LG: Ramon Foster
RG: David DeCastro
RT: Marcus Gilbert
PFF Pass-Blocking Ranking: 3rd
PFF Run-Blocking Ranking: 11th
PFF Penalties Ranking: 17th
It’s amazing to see Pittsburgh’s line, ranked eighth by Pro Football Focus, as the lowest-rated offensive line in the AFC North. The line paved the way for the league’s leading passer and a running back who is viewed as one of the NFL’s best. Offensive line coach Mike Munchak has turned the Steelers’ line from a position of weakness to a position of strength, and his impact is evidenced in Pittsburgh’s three-win improvement from 2014 to 2015.
Pittsburgh boasts two young up-and-coming tackles in Kelvin Beachum and Marcus Gilbert; both players graded positively in PFF’s offensive lineman rankings, Beachum finishing as PFF’s fifth overall left tackle.
And Pittsburgh’s interior is just as excellent; center Maurkice Pouncey is a four-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All Pro (two finishes on the first team, two finishes on the second team).
At guard, David DeCastro came into his own in 2014, grading positively and establishing himself as a dominant mauler in the run game. Ramon Foster isn’t anything to get excited about, but for a linemen who should be the worst on the Steelers’ line, that’s not too bad.
Next: Solid in Stripes