Wednesday, December 12, 2007
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith, listed as 6-5, 298, went head-to-head against tackles who outweighed him by 50 pounds. (vs. Raiders 10/29/2006)
The Steelers might have a more difficult time overcoming the loss of Aaron Smith in New England than they do the Patriots' 34-13 victory Sunday.
Smith, placed on injured reserve yesterday with a torn biceps, was among their best two or three defensive players, if not No. 1.
Even coach Mike Tomlin admitted yesterday that Smith's absence might affect how they play schematically without their tower of strength at left end in their 3-4 defense.
"I'm sure it will, but more subtle [than] sweeping changes," Tomlin said. "We will put that together as the week moves forward."
Rookie Ryan McBean, a fourth-round draft choice who has spent the season on the practice squad, was signed to the 53-man roster yesterday. But no one can replace what Smith has meant to the NFL's top-ranked defense.
Playing on the strong side in a 3-4 is not conducive to producing the kind of statistics that put players in the Pro Bowl. It's a job that requires brute strength to play the run on the inside or the outside, taking on the blocks so the linebackers can swoop in to make the play, and often being double-teamed by the tackle and tight end.
Yet Smith made the Pro Bowl after the 2004 season when he had a career-high eight sacks, and he was second on the team last season with 21 quarterback hurries/pressures, two behind leader Brett Keisel.
Smith had started 116 consecutive regular-season games, beginning in his second season in 2000 before he missed games seven and eight this season with a sprained knee.
He was scheduled to have surgery on his biceps, and he should be fine for next season, which will be his 10th with the Steelers after they drafted him in the fourth round in 1999 from Northern Colorado.
"That's a big loss for him and for our football team," Tomlin said.
"But again, like I always say, it is the nature of this game. It's an attrition game. People get injured, other people have an opportunity to step up and that's the way we will approach it.
"But I am sorry for Aaron because that guy loves to play football. He is an extremely tough worker and a good leader for our football team."
Smith, listed as 6-5, 298, went head-to-head against tackles who outweighed him by 50 pounds and is an iron man in the way he plays, in addition to his longevity. Keisel told Post-Gazette columnist Ron Cook in October that he considers Smith the team's best defensive lineman.
"He's what all of us want to be, the guy we all try to emulate. He's our leader and we all follow him," Keisel said.
The Steelers now must find a way to replace him, and Tomlin said he will try it with two veteran players.
"We play Travis Kirschke, we play Nick Eason," Tomlin said.
"It is going to require more than one man to man-down Aaron's spot, which is what we dealt with when he missed a couple games earlier in the season."
Kirschke (6-3, 298) and Eason (6-3, 305) both play extensively as substitutes for Smith and Keisel.
Kirschke, 33, has been with the Steelers since 2004 when he signed as an unrestricted free agent from San Francisco. He also has played for the Detroit Lions, who first signed him as an undrafted rookie in 1997.
Eason, 27, signed with the Steelers this year as an unrestricted free agent from the Cleveland Browns. Denver drafted him in the fourth round in 2003 and waived him in '04. He signed with the Browns in '04 and played for them mostly as a backup the next three seasons.
"The standard of expectation is not going to change," Tomlin said. "Those guys are quality players. Travis has played a long time in this league at a high level and he has starting experience. Nick is a guy that has been an emotional spark plug for us. He is a guy that comes to work every day.
"I am excited about seeing what those guys are capable of doing for us, but at the same time saddened for Aaron on a personal note, because he is a quality person, a quality player and he loves to play the game. It is something we will have to deal with."
Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com.
First published on December 12, 2007 at 12:00 am
No comments:
Post a Comment