Friday, December 02, 2005
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Chris Kemoeatu, a rookie guard, was standing on the sideline during Monday night's game in Indianapolis, watching Dwight Freeney and the rest of the Colts' defensive line manhandle the Steelers' offensive line.
Kemoeatu was not dressed for the game - he has not been active for any of the team's 11 games this season - so there was little he could do to alter the proceedings. But something he said to one of the coaches on the sideline points up the reason maybe he should be playing at right guard for the Steelers, not Kendall Simmons.
During the Steelers' 26-7 loss to the Colts, a game that dropped them out of a tie for first place in the AFC North, Kemoeatu turned to a member of the coaching staff and said how much he would love to have a shot at playing against Freeney, widely regarded as the best pass-rushing defensive end in the NFL.
Kemoeatu said it didn't matter if he had to play tackle or guard, he would go against the 268-pound Freeney and not let him do what he was doing Monday night in the RCA Dome. This from a player who is known for his temper and aggression, a player who once was punished for kicking an opponent in college.
Understand, Kemoeatu was not being critical of the play of rookie left tackle Trai Essex, who had to replace injured Marvel Smith in the second quarter and played the rest of the game against Freeney. Essex, actually, did a decent job against Freeney, considering it was only his second game in an NFL uniform, considering he was playing against the two-time Pro Bowler in the noise hole known as the RCA Dome.
What's more, Freeney did not cause as many problems for the Steelers as defensive end Raheem Brock, who was coming off the other end against right tackle Max Starks.
Kemoeatu was merely expressing his appetite for wanting to play against Freeney and other Colts players who were physically whipping his teammates. He was not offering a critical comment as much as he was displaying an attitude, a mindset.
Something other players on the offensive line should adopt.
Particularly Simmons.
Kemoeatu, a sixth-round pick from Utah, has been getting a few more reps in practice this week, a sign that the coaches are at least getting him ready for a possible appearance at right guard this season.
It is not likely Kemoeatu will replace Simmons anytime soon, not with a rookie at left tackle for at least the next two to three games and a first-year starter who is still struggling at right tackle. It certainly won't happen for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
But, if it doesn't happen this season, it will almost certainly happen next season. And it should.
Kemoeatu is 6-foot-3, 344 pounds, and has the disposition of a pit bull. He is a mauler who will get the job done with whatever means necessary. Right now, the offensive line could use a player like that.
It couldn't hurt.
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