I've talked a lot about the Steelers' offense and its best playmakers, like Ben Roethlisberger and JuJu Smith-Schuster. But while everyone wonders who can put up points and yards, don't overlook two of the offense's best weapons: center Maurkice Pouncey and right guard David DeCastro.
Both are All-Pro and Pro Bowl players who have been at the heart of this offense for several years, and the best parts of the offensive line. As players report today to Saint Vincent College, we focus on two of the best players on the team and why they're still central to the team's goals:
Both DeCastro and Pouncey are among the best at their positions, but together they make a tandem that terrorizes defensive fronts. DeCastro is a pure mauler of a guard while Pouncey is a stout center who is known more for his athleticism and ability to pull and block all over the field.
Put them together and they're a problem to defend. Watch how they both pull on this play against the Patriots, with DeCastro sealing the edge and Pouncey getting just enough of the linebacker for Jaylen Samuels to gain 5 yards:
Linebackers are trained to watch for pulling guards, as that is often a huge tell of where the play will go. A center is much more rare to pull, but still something you have to account for in a game plan. But with DeCastro and Pouncey being two of the best at pulling and becoming lead blockers, linebackers have to be elite to stop them.
Watch how the two of them decimate the Bengals and open up a ton of space for James Conner. DeCastro engages his man the entire time while Pouncey wipes out the cornerback. They neutralized the Bengals' defense, which had nine men in the box to stop the run:
That forces defenses to sell out to stop the run and opens up the passing game. Sometimes to the point that they bite so hard on play action that players can break off their intended routes and improvise in open space. Watch how the Steelers call play-action against the Falcons and DeCastro pulls to pass-block behind Alejandro Villanueva.
Now watch how the two inside linebackers for the Falcons follow DeCastro's pull so closely that they don't see the play action until it's too late. That allows Jesse James time to break off his route and come back to the wide open space in the middle of the field — normally occupied by those same linebackers — for an easy completion:
Sometimes you save the best for last, and that's why I waited so long to write about these two players. Offensive linemen are often the most overlooked players on a roster, even when they're very good at their jobs. This season, don't forget to watch closely for what DeCastro and Pouncey are doing when Conner or Samuels is blowing up a defense with a big run.
MORE CARTER’S CLASSROOM
July 24: Rudolph vs. Dobbs
July 23: Allen has something to prove
July 22: Conner, backs focus on ball security
July 19: Tomlin’s challenge woes, Part 5
