The Steel Tradition

On the Bubble: Sean Mahan

By Mike Frazer | May 19th, 2008

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin seems to have an affinity for his former players. This year’s hot choice was Anthony “Booger” McFarland, who eventually was not signed because of a failed physical (however, he is still under consideration if he can prove he’s healthy later this month at a private workout). Last year, it was the player who turned out to be the team’s biggest bust of the year, center Sean Mahan.

Following the retirement of Jeff Hartings after the 2006 season, Chukky Okobi appeared to be the heir-apparent to a position that has had almost as few long-term starters since 1970 as the team has had coaches. However, Okobi was cut before the season started, in favor of Mahan, who went into week one weighing around 310 pounds. Unfortunately, the rigors of playing for a very physical offense, combined with the schedule bringing matchups against some of the biggest defensive tackles in the league, dropped Mahan’s weight below 300, leaving him at as much as a 50 to 60 pound disadvantage at times. Less-than-stellar upper-body strength and technique much better suited to guard — his natural position — led to him being man-handled on a weekly basis.

Knowing the center position was a problem and, apparently, swallowing his pride, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers’ front office signed free-agent center Justin Hartwig, recent;y released by Carolina. The belief, backed up by comments from the Carolina staff, is that Hartwig was released for salary cap issues. After missing nearly the entire 2006 season due to an injury, he returned to the lineup to start 15 games in 2007. His release was largely a surprise, as the Panthers chose age over experience in what is quickly becoming a youth movement in Carolina (sans the reacquisition of Muhsin Muhammad, who is about two years older than than the United States).

Hartwig comes to Pittsburgh officially as a guard, but make no mistake: he’s here to play center. He has played the role well both in Carolina and in Tennessee, and comes to the team with a longer history of playing at center than Mahan.

The problem with benching Mahan is that he immediately becomes a somewhat expensive backup, with a 2008 cap hit just south of $3 million. A natural guard, Mahan will likely be the focus of a lot of attention in training camp, possibly having a shot at any one of three positions on the line (center and both guard positions), but will likely become the top backup for each position and will still see plenty of playing time.

The real complicating factor here could be fourth-round pick Tony Hills. Hills played tackle in college, but will likely see his first NFL playing time at guard, especially considering how shallow the talent pool is at the position right now. Marvel Smith is a lock at left tackle, and chances are extremely high that either Willie Colon will maintain his 2007 spot in the lineup or Max Starks will win it back, leaving Hills to take a shot at either guard position for his first year, however unlikely the scenario may be.

The Steelers have a lot of money tied up in the center position at roughly $4.4 million, and no absolutely clear direction. While the company line is currently that there is no company line on the situation, it’s clear that Justin Hartwig has likely supplanted Sean Mahan as the penciled-in starter heading to training camp.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 19th, 2008 at 9:51 am and is filed under Justin Hartwig, Sean Mahan, Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

13 Responses to “On the Bubble: Sean Mahan”

fred says:

May 19th, 2008 at 10:35 am

I think mahan stays, not that i want him to, but tomlin preaches versatilely and mahan is just that so i believe he stays
fred says:

May 19th, 2008 at 11:36 am

versatility* i believe
JrRawlins says:

May 19th, 2008 at 12:04 pm

yeah Mahan will stay for at least this season he might be alittle more expendable at the end of the year than he is now, also if someone gets a serious injury he could come in and be a somewhat decent backup… (hopefully)
rob says:

May 19th, 2008 at 4:41 pm

I think Mahan will stick as a guard/center. Most of the interior linemen played a different position in college. The best offensive line athletes generally play outside at the college level, but only the best of the best remain there as pros. I think that Hartwig was a tackle in college, and backed up at other positions before being converted to center. But you don’t cut a player (Mahan) who has started for 4 years in the league at two different positions, and is still just 27 years old. Particularly when you have a $100 million asset to protect.

Tony Hills will be groomed as a tackle to replace Marvel Smith at some point, I beleive. Of all the young offensive linemen on the team, he probably has the best raw tool set to play left tackle in the league. Those players are hard to find, and it would be worth it to have him sit on the bench for an extra year or two in order to keep the position solid for the future.

No mention of Doug Legursky, but I think he has as good a chance to stick with the team and see playing time this season as anyone they brought in. In part because of the uncertainty at the interior line positions, and in part because Legursky has the size and strength that Tomlin say is lacking. He is perfectly proportioned for a center, at 6-2, 325 pounds, and moves exceptionally well for his size. Much is made about Doug’s “short arms”, but they are proportional to his height, and he has bigger than average hands. He is the second youngest rookie they brought in, at 21.

Going into camp, the team can feature a starting 5 that all have at least 3 years of NFL starting experience in Hartwig, Mahan, Simmons, Smith, and Starks. Three of them were starters in the Super Bowl. None of them is yet 30 years old. That is a very solid basis. From there you have competition from three younger players who have been with the team for a few years, and all have started at least once in Trai Essex, Chris Kemoeatu, and Willie Colon. The rookies Hills and Legursky make for a two deep five man line.

I don’t share the great concern about the offensive line, and wasn’t one advocating the drafting of linemen with the top draft picks. Steelers were among the better teams in the league passing the ball, and running the ball, last year. Roethisberger had the best statistical season of his career, and Willie Parker was on his way to the same when he broke his leg. All that with a new offensive co-ordinator and offensive line coach, neither of whom appear to be the brightest bulbs on the tree. Not to mention a new head coach.
John says:

May 19th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

Mahan is much better suited for playing OG. He does not have the strength or size to hold up against stronger and larger nose tackles especially in the AFC.

I really think Hartwig is going to be a solid additional to the interior the the Steelers OL.

Read more at http://www.planetsteelers.com
Dave B. says:

May 19th, 2008 at 9:56 pm

Mahan will make it most likely. He can play guard and center so he has some versatility. May not be great but we still won 10 games with him as starting center last year.
MBlaster says:

May 20th, 2008 at 7:41 am

Rob,

I don’t care if Mahan is only 27 and has four years of starting experience in the league. Bad is bad and Mahan is real BAD. He was a bad signing and he is bad for Ben’s health. It was a stupid move signing his worthless butt. He’ll be retained this season based on his salary, the lack of depth at guard and his supposed versatility.
MBlaster says:

May 20th, 2008 at 7:47 am

Correction Dave B.

The Steelers won ten games “despite” Mahan playing center. Mahan was lucky to have had Faneca next to him.

The Steelers also lost to the jags, twice, primarily because Stroud and Henderson were tossing Mahan’s sorry butt around like a rag doll. Mahan spent more time in the backfield at Ben’s feet than he did beyond the line of scrimmage.
Mike says:

May 20th, 2008 at 9:43 am

Mahan’s contract has assured him of a roster spot this year. That means that he has at least one chance to prove that he can play guard here.
rob says:

May 20th, 2008 at 4:05 pm

You guys make it sound like the Steelers won about 3 games last season and finished dead last in every offensive category when you rip the O line. As if Ben Roethlisberger had a David Carr type season, and Willie Parker had a worse YPC average than Reggie Bush. Ben had the best season of his career as a passer, and Willie was on his way to his best as a runner.
MBlaster says:

May 21st, 2008 at 8:16 am

Rob,

You fail to realize that the Steelers lost in the first round of the playoffs to a team that throttled their collective butts, twice, at home. Mahan’s ineptitude in both games stood out front and, (pardon the pun), center.

Ben was also sacked 47 times last season because teams bull rushed the weak link in the line and that was Mahan. I’m not blaming Mahan for all of the problems on offense. The right side of the line from Mahan to Colon was inept. Kendal Simmons was his usual inconsistent self and Colon is not the answer at RT. Colon’s arms are too short for him to get a good punch and lock up on the defender. As a result he was getting beaten off of the line by the better pass rushers. Colon is better suited to play guard.
Michael Zhivago says:

May 31st, 2008 at 6:22 am

MBlaster, no offense, but “throttled?” Granted it took a fourth quarter comeback but Pittsburgh lost the playoff game on a last minute field goal which wouldn’t have won the game if the Steelers had not gone for and failed on two 2 point conversions.

As you know, Pittsburgh had a number of injury issues, (and yes every team faces that), and did not appear to be coming into the playoffs in a position to excel. Nevertheless, despite special teams failures again, etc. the team did not give up. I call that some solace.

As to the sacks, it is a team statistic. Ben needs to learn where his check-down receivers are and when to get rid of the ball for his own health and the offense’s consistency. An incomplete pass is better than a sack, i.e.; 2nd and 10 as opposed to 2nd and 20.

I would agree that Colon seems better suited to guard but he will be given a chance this year to maintain his starting spot in any case. Something that no one seems to want to mention is that a number of sacks came through the number two hole on the left side. Faneca, being a veteran realized, that he needed to help Mahan,who is also better suited at guard, and missed blocks on delayed blitzers going through his vacated area. This may seem counterintuitive but a less experienced player, (Kemoeatu), though not as good may concentrate on his role more closely and not free-lance as Alan could. IF Hartwig can be an upgrade and simply hold his ground against the better NTs AND Chris can grow into his starting role, the Offensive line may actually be better than last year.

Alan Faneca is gone. ‘We’ couldn’t keep him long-term and forcing him to stay through the Franchise label would not have been a good answer.

Remember several years ago when Faneca played LT willingly due to an injury to the starter? There was never even the suggestion last year after Smith and Starks were hurt of Alan moving again even if that meant an inexperienced Trai Essex starting a playoff game. Faneca was gone then. Good luck to him but we have to move on. If teamwork on the O line can be created and Ben takes the next step as to when it is better to take what is given problems with pass protection may be less than expected. With some of the younger veterans filling roles and the drafted players providing cause for optimism even with the schedule this should be an exciting year. Possibly only a season removed from SuperBowl contention in 2009 if the lines are addressed in the next draft.
Tom says:

June 20th, 2008 at 1:30 pm

Mahan will stay at center at least for the upcoming season. The O-line and Ben have bigger problems than Mahan. Not to mention the fact that he is not obese actually serves as an advantage rather than a disadvantage. Also the versatility cannot be underestimated with 5 years in the league and experience at center, right guard and left guard.