Steelers' O-line juggling players
PITTSBURGH — There’s no such thing as an individual meeting with Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak.
When Munchak turns on the video during film sessions, he speaks to the entire group even as he breaks down the weekly assignments of a specific position. When there’s a drill or a fundamental to work on with one player, everyone else stops and pays attention.
Sure, it helps that Munchak also happens to have a Hall of Fame ring at home following 12 years of dominance at guard for the Houston Oilers. Yet there’s more to it. Munchak wants to make sure his players understand their respective jobs — and everyone else’s — on a given snap. You never know when circumstances are going to change, like say on Sunday when Chris Hubbard will make his first career start at right tackle as the Steelers (3-1) host the New York Jets (1-3).
It’s a spot Hubbard hasn’t played in a game that mattered since the Steelers signed him as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2013. Yet he feels prepared.
“It’s just about getting the rhythm back down,” said Hubbard, who will get the first crack at filling in while Marcus Gilbert recuperates from a left ankle injury. “Just listen to coach Munch and try to get the footwork right.”
It helps that Hubbard will have four other coaches in the huddle with him, part of Munchak’s goal to create an atmosphere of complete transparency.
“The whole group is accountable,” left tackle Alejandro Villanueva said. “When the game starts, the coach is not on the field and his coaching is held accountable by our play, so we try our best to help each other. If I fail that block, then (Maurkice) Pouncey or Ramon (Foster) is going to tell me that.”
When things are going well during a game, the group can almost feel like it’s on auto pilot. There’s very little chatter on the sideline.
“I try to make as many decisions as I can for them so when Sunday comes, they’re playing fast and they have one thing to think about,” Munchak said. “They have one adjustment, if that, not three.”
