Steelers one of six NFL teams most likely to decline in 2018

By Bill Barnwell

http://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers

July 31, 2018

Steelers tight end Jesse James reacts after scoring what looked to be the game-winning TD vs. the Patriots last season. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

On Monday, we used underlying metrics from 2017 to project which teams are most likely to improve upon last season's record. Today, we look in the opposite direction to try to identify the teams that have the best chance of declining in 2018. The numbers mentioned below have exhibited some ability to project future performance in the past. You can read more about those metrics here.

Point differential in 2017: +98
Pythagorean expectation: 10.5 wins
Record in games decided by seven points or fewer: 8-2 (.800)
Strength of schedule: 0.497 (14th-toughest in NFL)

By point differential, the Steelers and Ravens finished in a dead heat in 2017. Pittsburgh outscored the opposition by 98 points, and Baltimore topped teams by 92 points. The Steelers finished third in DVOA, and the Ravens, in sixth, weren't far behind. The primary reason Pittsburgh won 13 games and Baltimore won only nine is the Steelers swept the Ravens and went 8-2 in games decided by one score, while the Ravens went 2-4 in those same contests.

The Steelers were certainly a good team independent of their record in close games, but they really pulled out some squeakers:

• In Week 6, the Steelers came up with a goal line stand against the Chiefs in the fourth quarter of what would eventually be a 19-13 victory.
• 
  
• In Week 8, Pittsburgh led the Lions 20-12 heading into the fourth quarter, only for the Lions to shoot themselves in the foot. Jim Caldwell kicked a field goal from the 1-yard line on fourth-and-1 (after failing on a fourth-and-goal in the same situation earlier in the half), Golden Tate fumbled away a ball on the Pittsburgh 24-yard line and the Lions came up short on a late drive that ended inside the 10-yard line.
• 
  
• In Week 10, Ben Roethlisberger converted a second-and-17 with 1:26 left into a first down in two plays of a tied game with the Colts before Chris Boswell hit a 33-yard field goal as time expired.
• 
  
• In Week 12, Roethlisberger drove the Steelers 35 yards in 13 seconds before Boswell hit a 53-yarder to beat an Aaron Rodgers-less Packers team in Lambeau 31-28.
• 
  
• In Week 13, the Steelers trailed 17-3 at halftime to the Bengals in the game in which Ryan Shazier suffered his career-threatening injury before fighting their way back and winning on another Boswell field goal as time expired 23-20.
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• In Week 14, they trailed the Ravens 38-29 with 6:45 to go, only for Roethlisberger to lead them back for 10 points in just under six minutes, with Boswell again hitting a game winner from 46 yards out with 46 seconds to go.

You also remember the game Pittsburgh didn't pull out, when it trailed the Patriots 27-24 with 56 seconds left to go. Roethlisberger hit JuJu Smith-Schuster for 69 yards and then completed a pass to Jesse James for what looked to be a game-winning touchdown, only for the Steelers tight end to be laid low by the catch rule. Roethlisberger threw an interception two plays later.

Of course, it would be easy to look at a veteran team like the Steelers and assume they have some secret to pulling out football games when they need a stop, but that hasn't been the case under Mike Tomlin. The 8-2 performance is an outlier -- the Steelers were 41-38 in games decided by seven points or fewer under their longtime coach before the 2017 season. And when you look at teams that won six more close games in a season than they lost (or plus-6, to make it easier), those squads did not keep it up the following year. A group that includes veteran teams such as the 1999 Titans, 2004 Steelers and 2015 Broncos went 101-23 in the close ones during their standout campaign but followed it by going a combined 38-37 in one-score games the following season. Their overall record declined by an average of nearly three wins.

Sadly, there also have to be concerns about the Steelers defense without its star linebacker Shazier, given that it struggled mightily after he suffered his spinal injury on Dec. 4. Pittsburgh allowed 17.8 points per game through the Bengals contest, which was the fifth-best mark in the league. The Steelers defense was seventh in Win Probability Added over that time frame. Afterward, though, the Steelers allowed an average of 28 points per game, including 38 to the Ravens, 27 to the Patriots, 24 to the Browns and 38 to the Jaguars (with a defensive touchdown making it 45). Their only effective defensive performance after the Shazier injury came against T.J. Yates and the Texans.

The on-/off-field splits for Shazier support the rise. Opposing runners averaged 4.1 yards per carry and a 21.1 percent first-down rate with the star linebacker on the field and 5.1 yards per carry with a 27.4 percent conversion rate with him sidelined. Quarterbacks facing the Steelers posted a 34.9 Total QBR with Shazier at linebacker and a 58.4 QBR with him unavailable.

Strangely, Pittsburgh didn't do much to address the position this offseason, choosing to bring in special-teamerJon Bostic, who has struggled when used as a defender in multiple locations. Morgan Burnett could take some snaps there on passing downs, but the competition appears to be between Bostic and Tyler Matakevich. Teams are going to attack the Steelers at inside linebacker until Pittsburgh proves it can hold up there.

On the other hand, the Steelers got a rare season in which both Roethlisberger and Le'Veon Bell were healthy for the entire campaign. Each sat out the Week 17 win over the Browns, but Pittsburgh's star duo stayed on the field for the other 15 games, marking just the second time in their time together that they've managed to stay healthy (if not active) for an entire season. Antonio Brown missed only one game due to injury, and Pittsburgh's offense was the sixth-healthiest in the league by Football Outsiders' Adjusted Games Lost metric.

All of this isn't to suggest the Steelers will be bad. As long as Roethlisberger doesn't suffer a debilitating injury or drop off suddenly at the age of 36, the Steelers should be favored to make a return trip to the playoffs. With the Ravens likely transitioning from Joe Flacco to Lamar Jackson at quarterback during the season, any growing pains from Baltimore's quarterback-to-be would hand Pittsburgh an easier path to the division title, barring an unexpected rise from the Bengals or Browns. The Steelers should be in the thick of things come January, as always, but it's more likely to be as a 10-win or 11-win team this time around.

Keone Kela helps Pirates bullpen, starters, flexibility

By Tim Benz

https://triblive.com/sports/columnists/timbenz/breakfastwithbenz/13921681-74/tim-benz-keone-kela-helps-pirates-bullpen-starters-flexibility

July 30, 2018

So what are the Pirates getting in reliever Keone Kela? And what was Neal Huntington’s mentality in acquiring him?

They are getting a 25-year-old right-handed arm who is pitching in his best stretch of the season. He converted 10 of his last 11 save opportunities with the Rangers. He has allowed only four runs since June 1.

The team now has a right-handed complement to Felipe Vazquez out of the bullpen. In theory, with a one-run lead in the eighth inning, Hurdle can use Vazquez if a big left-handed hitter or two are set to come up. Then he can close with Kela if he so desires in the ninth.

But, like many closers, Vazquez often seems significantly less sharp when he isn’t closing games.

Kela may have to be the one to adjust to that role and simply be a set-up man for Vazquez. If he does that, the Pirates will have taken a big step toward shortening their games as so many managers try to achieve.

Kyle Crick, another right-hander, has six holds since June 15. He has allowed just one run in that time and his ERA is down to 2.03.

Thus, the Pirates not only made their bullpen better. They also may have made their starters better if it’s clear they really only need to go six innings and don’t have to stretch into the seventh. Also, the likes of Richard Rodriguez and Edgar Santana may not be over-leveraged and compromised with too many innings over the last two months of the season.

In terms of the big picture, this acquisition also gives Huntington some roster flexibility. Before the Pirates got hot, there had been some talk that Vazquez may be traded because of the $22 million he is owed over the next four years.

Should the team stumble again between now and the end of that deal, Kela may provide cushion there for Huntington. Kela has two years arbitration remaining before he hits free agency. He is making just $1.2 million this year. The Pirates will have to pay only $400,000 of that the rest of this year.

Huntington, who usually has an allergic reaction to the notion of trading prospects, probably needed a valium after shipping Taylor Hearn out to the Rangers, let alone who the player to be named later is. But this is the kind of bullpen addition decent teams make when they are trying to become real contenders late in a playoff race.

Now, Kela just has to be the pitcher we’ve seen the last eight weeks as opposed to the roller coaster he was before the end of May.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TimBenzPGH.

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Steelers' Artie Burns starting to see results from matchups with Antonio Brown

Pirates GM Neal Huntington must learn from 2014 trade deadline

By Tim Benz

https://triblive.com/sports/-topstories/13916440-74/tim-benz-pirates-gm-neal-huntington-must-learn-from-2014-trade-deadline

July 29, 2018

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington smiles on the field before a game against the Mets Friday. (Tribune-Review)

The more Pirates general manager Neal Huntington talked, the more the similarities made sense.

And the more clear the answer seems to be.

Appearing on his 93.7 FM radio show before his team’s 1-0 loss to the Mets on Sunday , Huntington flashed back to the 2014 season as part of a discussion regarding the decision-making process as this week’s trade deadline approaches.

“As we started play before this Mets series, we had about a 20 percent chance to make the playoffs. Even after the remarkable run (of 11 straight wins),” Huntington said.

In fact, it was a touch lower than that, at 17 percent, according to FanGraphs . A quick check of that data also corroborates what Huntington said a few moments later.

“On Sept. 4, 2014, we had a 22 percent chance of making the playoffs,” Huntington continued. “In 2014, we did not add (at the deadline). That team, as it was, went on a great run.”

The 2014 Pirates had a 17-4 stretch in September to catapult themselves into the top wild-card spot for the playoffs.

I know what you’re thinking. That’s the setup.

That’s what Huntington will point to Tuesday night when the Pirates do nothing before the trade deadline. He’ll use that number to justify the team’s inactivity and failure to add salary in the hope of making a push for the playoffs now.

That’s initially what I thought, too. But Huntington’s tone quickly changed to one of remorse that he didn’t add at the trade deadline that year.

As he and host Greg Brown delved deeper into topic, Huntington bemoaned the fact the Pirates might have been too singularly focused on acquiring one specific player.

“We were chasing a big prize in ’14,” Huntington recalled. “It took all of our prospects and all of our efforts as we were moving down parallel paths. We were chasing the one big prize, and it didn’t work out.”

That “big prize,” as Brown pointed out, was Tampa Bay’s David Price . He went to Detroit instead. Maybe while haggling to outbid the Tigers, other opportunities to bolster the existing club went by the wayside. So Brown asked Huntington if he regretted not getting the Price deal done.

“Given that we lost in the wild card, the easy answer is, of course, we should regret it,” Huntington responded. “You’d like to think that there would have been a bump. Maybe that player would have had an impact in that one-game wild card.”

Indeed. Maybe Price matches Madison Bumgarner pitch-for-pitch instead of Edinson Volquez giving up five earned runs in five innings.

“When you don’t win it all, you look back and … what could you have done differently?” Huntington wondered out loud.

That’s a question that’ll never get answered.

A more pressing question right now is: Since Huntington is being presented with such a similar set of circumstances, how is he going to answer those lingering questions about what happened in 2014 here in 2018?

“Learning from it, we continue to venture down all pathways,” Huntington said after his radio appearance. “In that situation, we felt good about adding a bigger name. We had multiple opportunities. I couldn’t push it across the finish line.”

Here’s the good news for Huntington. This year’s “big prize” isn’t as big. It’s a so-so edition of another Tampa pitcher, Chris Archer, as opposed to an All-Star edition of Price, who had a 189-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio at the time of his trade.

So whatever young players Tampa coveted who spooked Huntington off the deal at the time — perhaps some combination of Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco, Tyler Glasnow and Josh Bell — likely now won’t be in play.

Also, Huntington probably can spread his attention beyond that one target.

Furthermore, many of the prospects the Pirates likely are considering moving for Archer — or someone else — aren’t viewed to be as integral to the future as those players above were in 2014. The lone exception could be Austin Meadows, who might be an outfield starter next season.

On top of all that, many contenders already have made significant trades. Price didn’t move until July 31.

By that analysis, one should conclude the cost to acquire talent before Tuesday shouldn’t be as much as it was in 2014. The competition to get it might not be as steep. The need to focus on one bull’s-eye isn’t as necessary. And the Pirates have put themselves in a better position earlier in the calendar than they did four years ago.

With all that evidence, I’m hoping Huntington uses 2014 as a cautionary tale against standing pat, more so than a ready-made excuse to do so again.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TimBenzPGH.

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Steelers' Ramon Foster to miss 4-5 weeks, won't need surgery

By Jeremy Fowler
http://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers
July 29, 2018


Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey comforts offensive guard Ramon Foster after being hurt during practice Saturday. (Tribune-Review)

Pittsburgh Steelers guard Ramon Foster will miss four to five weeks after being carted off during Saturday's practice, but the longtime starter will not need to undergo surgery, a source confirmed to ESPN.

Foster suffered the injury during a padded training camp session at St. Vincent College. The source said Foster had a bone bruise and a stretch of the MCL but that there was no ligament tear.

Foster went down during a pileup on the third play during 11-man work. He was holding his right knee after the play. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who had the day off, rode off in the cart with the nine-year veteran.

The four- to five-week timeline would leave Foster with a week or two to prepare for the Steelers' season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 9. The source was optimistic that Foster could be back on the field even sooner.

NFL Network first reported on a timetable for Foster.

Foster, 32, has 115 career starts and is in the final season of a three-year, $9.6 million contract. He has expressed interest in re-signing with the team.

Coach Mike Tomlin called Foster, the team's National Football League Players Association rep, a core member of the Steelers who has been "doing this a long time."

B.J. Finney took Foster's place in the lineup. Tomlin said the former undrafted center out of Kansas State has proved himself, playing in 14 games with four starts since 2016.

Injuries are beginning to mount early in Steelers camp. Several starters did not finish Sunday's padded practice, including tight end Vance McDonald (foot), wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (undisclosed), safety Sean Davis (groin) and linebacker T.J. Watt (hamstring tightness).

Tomlin did not know the severity of the injuries coming off the team's second straight padded session.

"You know, such is life this time of year," said Tomlin, who confirmed Foster's right knee injury will not require surgery. McDonald left practice in a cart. Smith-Schuster was catching passes from Roethlisberger after practice and looked healthy. Tomlin said the team is likely exercising caution with him.

Safety Morgan Burnett has missed three practices with a hamstring issue but should return soon.

Pittsburgh Steelers History: Rocky Bleier

Steelers 2018 Hall of Honor Class revealed

By Teresa Varley

https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-2018-hall-of-honor-class-revealed

July 28, 2018

Alan Faneca, Art Rooney II and Rocky Bleier

They are Steelers legends. They made an impact on the team, on the organization. And they are an integral part of the Steelers rich history.

That is exactly why these five individuals will make up the second class of the team’s Hall of Honor, which was revealed today at a press conference held at Saint Vincent College.

 “We wanted to recognize all of the great people that made Steelers football what it is today,” said Steelers President Art Rooney II. “It’s open to anybody who made a significant contribution to Steelers football. We had a tough selection process again this year. Five great Steelers and great contributors. We are excited to induct these guys into the Hall this year. It’s great to have people each year who some may be in Canton, many won’t be. It’s great to recognize them.”

The individuals who will be inducted into the Hall of Honor for 2018 include, in alphabetical order, Rocky Bleier, Buddy Dial, Alan Faneca, Bill Nunn and Art Rooney Jr.

“It’s something very special,” said Bleier, a 16th round draft pick who played 12 seasons for the Steelers, including being a member of four Super Bowl teams. “To be compared to all the great players who played for the organization, and have your name attached to theirs, is a great honor. In this game, everybody does a job and does it well. You like to get recognition, and I got a lot playing on those teams and winning the Super Bowls. That was enough for me. To be able to be a part of this distinction is truly a wonderful honor for me.”

Last year the team introduced the Hall of Honor, an idea that came from Steelers President Art Rooney II, along with late Chairman Dan Rooney. The Hall of Honor was established to recognize former players, coaches, and front office personnel who played an integral role in the success of the franchise, from the beginning in 1933 until now. To be considered, a player must be retired at least three years and played a minimum of three seasons for the Steelers. Former coaches and contributors had to make significant contributions to the team and community.

“The Steelers have always taken care of their own and praised their people in front of crowds and behind the scenes,” said Bleier. “Within that confine a gesture like this is really special to honor players for what they have done for the team and community.

“Just to play professional football is a dream come true, no matter when you played. As you look back, when you plan your life you say I want to play professional football, you think what would that look like? No one would ever say you would be a part of the greatest dynasty that won four Super Bowls and you played with all of those Hall of Famers. You were a part of that tradition.

“What better organization would there to be a part of than the Pittsburgh Steelers. I am proud to be a part of what they are today.”

The first class included the team’s Hall of Famers, as well as a select group of individuals. They were Jerome Bettis, Mel Blount, Terry Bradshaw, Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Bill Dudley, Joe Greene, Kevin Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Jack Ham, Franco Harris, Dick Hoak, John Henry Johnson, Walt Keisling, Jack Lambert, Bobby Layne, John McNally, Chuck Noll, Arthur J. Rooney, Sr., Daniel M. Rooney, Andy Russell, Donnie Shell, John Stallworth, Ernie Stautner, Lynn Swann, Mike Webster, and Rod Woodson.

This year’s class is significantly smaller, which will be the norm moving forward. And to be a part of the Hall of Honor is something that means the world to Faneca, who has been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame the last three years.

“Being in the Hall of Honor, being in with the great players that came before me and the reputation the Steelers have. That is what hit me first,” said Faneca. “It is humbling. It hasn’t been that long since I played. It seems like a lifetime ago, but I have only been done playing seven years. It’s an honor.

Art called me and informed me. It caught me off guard. You don’t get those phone calls from Mr. Rooney every day. I knew something was up. I was excited.

“The Steelers are special. You get drafted, go somewhere, and looking back I realize how lucky I was to come to Pittsburgh. If I could go back to me at that point and let myself know how lucky I was to be a part of the Steelers, it would be amazing. Not knowing it at the beginning but learning it along the way was fun.”

And what Faneca learned along the way is that the Steelers are like no other.

“It’s like something in the water there,” said Faneca. “It’s so special. It has always been that way and it keeps getting passed along. It’s the people there, the people that work for the team, play for them, coach, the front office. It’s a family run business and that feeling permeates through the players and they put their heart and soul into the team.

“You see some teams have a ring of honor for just the elite of the elite. It’s not many that get that honor, and more deserve it. The way the Steelers are doing it is great. It’s the Pittsburgh way, the family way. We are a family and encompassing a broader group is a great way to do it. It’s why the Steelers are special.”

The 2018 Steelers Hall of Honor Induction ceremony will be held on Friday, Sept. 28, at Heinz Field, the weekend the Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football (Sept. 30). All will be presented with a steel football, a replica of one presented to Art Rooney Sr. by the U.S. Steel Corporation at the team’s 50th Season celebration.

“It’s going to be exciting,” said Faneca. “Any time you are around the fans it’s special. When you stop playing, you miss the locker room first. But you miss the fans. Those moments are special. To come back and be with the fans, those moments are always special.”

* * *

The Hall of Honor Selection Committee consists of Steelers President Art Rooney II, Joe Gordon, Bob Labriola, Stan Savran, Andrew Stockey and Tony Quatrini.

Rocky Bleier: Running Back (1968, 1970-80)

Football often is compared to war by the overly-dramatic. Rocky Bleier knows the difference. A 16th-round draft choice by the Steelers in 1968 as a halfback out of Notre Dame, Bleier also was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1969. Eventually shipped overseas, Bleier was wounded in combat during the Vietnam War. Awarded the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his military service, Bleier then began the arduous rehabilitation process on his foot that would enable him to return to professional football. Known primarily as a blocker, Bleier finished with 3,855 yards rushing, including 1,036 in 1976 when both he and Franco Harris finished the seson with over 1,000 yards rushing. Still ranked ninth of the team’s all-time rushing list, Bleier also finished his career with two touchdown receptions in the playoffs, including an acrobatic one in Super Bowl XIII.

Buddy Dial: Wide Receiver (1959-63)

If average yards per catch is used as the criteria, Buddy Dial was the foremost big-play receiver in franchise history. Dial played his first five NFL seasons with the Steelers, and he amassed 4,723 receiving yards on 229 receptions (20.6 average). He was the first receiver in Steelers history to post a 1,000-yard receiving season, and he did it twice (1,047 yards in 1961 and 1,295 yards in 1963). His 20.6-yard average is the highest in team history, and he added 42 receiving touchdowns to his Pittsburgh resume. Upon leaving the Steelers for Dallas following the 1963 season, his 42 touchdowns were a team record. Dial was voted to the 1962 Pro Bowl.

Alan Faneca: Guard (1998-2007)

During the days leading up to the 1998 NFL Draft, Jimmy Johnson was surveying the pool of talent. Then the Dolphins coach, Johnson had much draft-day success when he built the Cowboys championship teams of the early 1990s. “The guy most ready to play in the NFL,” Johnson told a reporter, “is that kid Faneca from LSU.” The Steelers picked Alan Faneca in the first round of the 1998 draft, and he deserves to be recognized as one of the best offensive linemen in franchise history. Faneca was a six-time first-team All-Pro during his years with the Steelers, and he was voted to nine Pro Bowls overall. In 2003, Faneca exhibited uncommon versatility by playing nine games at left tackle when injuries ravaged the line. He was named a member of the Steelers All-Time Team, and a member of the NFL Team of the Decade (2000s).

Bill Nunn: Scout, Assistant Director Player Personnel, Senior Scout (1968-2014)

Before accepting Dan Rooney’s job offer in 1968, Bill Nunn was a newspaper guy – first a sports writer, then the sports editor, then the managing editor of The Pittsburgh Courier during an era when it was one of the most influential black publications in America. Starting in 1950, Nunn personally selected the annual Black College All-America Football Team for The Pittsburgh Courier, and in the course of performing that duty he developed relationships with players and coaches at those colleges that would serve him well during his career in the NFL. Before the rest of the league caught on to the wealth of talent available in the programs at the Historically Black Colleges, Nunn helped the Steelers add many players who would go on to fill integral roles in the four Super Bowl championship teams of the 1970s. Included among those were L.C. Greenwood from Arkansas AM&N, Mel Blount from Southern, Frank Lewis from Grambling State, Dwight While from Texas A&M-Commerce, Ernie Holmes from Texas Southern, Joe Gilliam from Tennessee State, John Stallworth from Alabama A&M, and Donnie Shell from South Carolina State. For his decades of service, Nunn was enshrined as a member of the Inaugural Class of the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Art Rooney Jr.: Personnel Director (1965-1986) ; Vice President (1987-Current)

During Buddy Parker’s eight-year reign as the Steelers coach from 1957-64, the team posted five winning seasons while showing a complete disdain for the NFL Draft. Parker traded away the team’s draft picks in droves, and during his tenure that included four first-round picks and five second-round picks. Of the top 40 potential draft picks during his eight seasons as coach (Rounds 1 though 5 each year), Parker traded away 40 of those. That changed when Parker was fired in 1965, and it was the start of the Steelers turning to the draft as their primary method of roster-building, a philosophy that continues to this day. It also was when Art Rooney Jr. was hired as the team’s Personnel Director. When Chuck Noll became the coach in 1969, he teamed with a Scouting Department headed by Art Rooney Jr. to draft nine Hall of Fame players, in addition to adding 11 more (nine draft picks and two undrafted rookies) from 1969-74 who would earn four Super Bowl rings with the team during the 1970s.

Foster's injury a blow for Steelers on 1st day in pads

By Kevin Gorman

https://triblive.com/sports/columnists/kevingorman/13913985-74/kevin-gorman-fosters-injury-a-blow-for-steelers-on-1st-day-in

July 28, 2018

Antonio Brown was open, so when the routine pass from Landry Jones landed at his feet the Steelers receiver shot a look back to the line of scrimmage to see what in the world went wrong.

There was a sickening sight: An offensive lineman down on the field, lying on his side and clutching his right knee with both hands. A quick count of the Steelers’ front five saw right tackle Marcus Gilbert, right guard David DeCastro, center Maurkice Pouncey and left tackle Alejandro Villanueva all still standing on Chuck Noll Field.

That left Ramon Foster.

Hearts dropped.

The linemen looked dismayed. Gilbert blessed himself with the sign of the cross. Some players saw Foster on the ground and dropped to a knee in prayer. Ryan Shazier, the linebacker who suffered a spinal-cord injury last season, stood nearby with a cane. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who had the day off from practice, knelt by Foster’s side.

After attention from the medical staff, Roethlisberger and defensive tackle Cameron Heyward helped pull Foster to his feet. With his left arm draped over the shoulders of Roethlisberger and his right arm around strength and conditioning assistant coach Marcel Pastoor, Foster was careful not to put pressure on his right leg.

Foster isn’t just the Steelers’ starting left guard. No. 73 has been a mainstay there since 2013. It was common to see Foster looking back at Roethlisberger for a play cue and tapping Pouncey on the left hip to signal a snap, a sign of silent communication and trust.

Foster started at least 14 games in each of the past seven seasons, a sign of his durability and reliability. His resiliency was on display from Day 1, when he beat out third-round pick Kraig Urbik for a roster spot and, despite losing battles for a starting job to the likes of Trai Essex and Doug Legursky, battling to make 115 career starts.

After practice, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin refused to speculate on the extent of Foster’s lower-body injury. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport later tweeted Foster’s injury was “not thought to be serious.”

If so, that’s better than it first appeared. Steelers players appeared dismayed at the potential loss of a player Tomlin called a “core member of our group” who has been playing “for a long time and doing it at a high level.”

Foster isn’t just a Steelers veteran. He’s a 6-foot-5, 328-pounder who is affable and approachable, an outspoken locker-room leader who has the team’s respect. Everyone loves Ramon. An undrafted free agent, Foster had beaten the odds to carve out that long career at a high level.

This is the worst part: He wasn’t just entering his 10th NFL season but the final year of his contract. The Steelers know how much they need Foster if they want to win a Super Bowl, and they know how much the 32-year-old Foster needed one more solid season to earn a pay raise and extension. No wonder his teammates appeared to be crushed for him.

This happened in the first practice in full pads at Saint Vincent College, and it momentarily drained the excitement from a crowd that came to cheer on the Steelers. They were being entertained by the air show at Latrobe’s Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, with Thunderbirds flying overhead in formation, and their first taste of tackle football.

The Steelers had just finished their annual rite of the first practice in pads of training camp, the backs-on-‘backers drill. Tomlin handpicks matchups, forcing a running back to block a linebacker to simulate pass protection. It’s a drill full of violent collisions, a necessary evil to determine not just a player’s physicality but willingness to compete.

And then there was Foster, injured on a pass play.

“Unfortunately,” Tomlin said, “it’s a part of the game.”

And the game moves on, with or without you.

Roethlisberger and Pastoor guided Foster to the back of a cart on the grass field. Roethlisberger sat in the front seat, placing his left hand on Foster’s shoulder pads. As the cart carrying Foster drove away, fans applauded in appreciation.

The Steelers, meantime, moved 20 yards downfield and resumed the full-contact practice. B.J. Finney, an undrafted free agent in his third season, lined up at left guard. Jones completed a deep pass to Brown along the opposite sideline, and Steelers fans erupted with cheers.

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Kevin at kgorman@tribweb.com or via Twitter @KGorman_Trib.

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