Steelers lineman Marcus Gilbert itching to return
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� Marcus Gilbert isn无毛视频檛 used to making national headlines, offensive linemen rarely do.
But the Steelers right tackle embroiled himself in a minor controversy this week after making some remarks about Carolina quarterback Cam Newton. Gilbert usually prefers to let his play do his talking, but few outside of the Rooney Complex have fully appreciated what the right tackle has meant to the Steelers无毛视频� line. Until now, that is.
Gilbert has missed the past three games and, coincidentally or not, Pittsburgh has gone 1-2 in his absence, making the Steelers无毛视频� 3-1 start a distant memory.
The Steelers无毛视频� high-powered offense, which had been inconsistent even in the best of times with Ben Roethlisberger, had averaged 27 points per game in the first four weeks but just 20 since Gilbert went down with a left ankle injury against Kansas City. With due respect to Chris Hubbard, who filled in admirably, he is not Gilbert.
无毛视频淭he way he mans that right side, Gil is very athletic and add to that his size and speed, I无毛视频檇 much rather have in him in there, and that无毛视频檚 not a knock on anybody,无毛视频� left guard Ramon Foster said.
If all goes as expected, the Steelers could welcome back as many as a half-dozen starters, Gilbert among them, for Sunday无毛视频檚 AFC North showdown against the Ravens in Baltimore. For the offensive line, a group that basically has been together for the last four years, it won无毛视频檛 be a moment too soon.
无毛视频淭he continuity that we have is huge,无毛视频� right guard David DeCastro said. 无毛视频淲e无毛视频檝e grown together over the years. (Hubbard) did a great job filling in, but getting (Gilbert) back will help us a lot.无毛视频�
The Steelers will need some help against Baltimore无毛视频檚 fourth-ranked defense that is still formidable 无毛视频� 16 sacks 无毛视频� despite its own litany of injuries, including Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumvervil.
With Ben Roethlisberger coming off knee surgery for a torn meniscus, keeping the quarterback upright will be paramount. The Steelers have lost three in a row against the rival Ravens and in those games, Pittsburgh无毛视频檚 QBs have been sacked 12 times. Last season, Gilbert无毛视频檚 breakout year, he surrendered just one.
无毛视频淗e无毛视频檚 a quality, quality veteran player,无毛视频� coach Mike Tomlin said of Gilbert. 无毛视频淵ou have to acknowledge Marcus无毛视频檚 know-how, capability and resume, and the comfort it provides not only our quarterback, but us as we look at schematic ways to attack (defenses). Marcus has proven to be a guy over time who you don无毛视频檛 have to worry about helping in a lot of ways, schematically. If he无毛视频檚 available to us, he无毛视频檚 potentially an asset to us in that area.无毛视频�
Last year, Gilbert made good on the five-year, $30 million contract he signed prior to the 2014 season. He shed 35 pounds to alleviate pressure from a previous ankle injury and responded with the best play of his six-year career, including shutting down Denver无毛视频檚 Von Miller twice. The only thing missing on Gilbert无毛视频檚 resume 无毛视频� besides a Super Bowl 无毛视频� is some Pro Bowl recognition.
无毛视频淚 think people are starting to see how good he really is,无毛视频� said DeCastro, who earned All-Pro honors last season playing next to Gilbert.
On Wednesday, Gilbert was a full participant in practice, and though he says he无毛视频檚 not quite 100 percent, he adds that nobody is halfway through the grind of a NFL season. During his rehab, the 6-foot-6, 330-pounder says he worked in the pool and spent time on the field during the Steelers无毛视频� recent bye week.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 very frustrating especially when this is your livelihood,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 itching to play ball. It无毛视频檚 all I know.无毛视频�
That his return will come against the Ravens, the Steelers无毛视频� old nemesis, makes it even sweeter.
The Steelers haven无毛视频檛 won at M&T Bank Stadium since 2012, his second season. Gilbert embraces the challenge.
无毛视频淚f you ain无毛视频檛 walking around without a little hurt to you, then you didn无毛视频檛 give your all,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 going to be that type of game. It无毛视频檚 going to be grimy. It无毛视频檚 going to be physical. It无毛视频檚 a game you circle on your calendar every year.无毛视频�