In the early 2010’s, the Pittsburgh Steelers slowly began piecing together what would eventually become the unit designed with the purpose of keeping quarterback Ben Roethlisberger upright through the golden age of his career.
After adding youth to their defensive line with the likes of Cam Heyward in the first round of the 2011 draft, the Steelers added depth in their offensive line with Marcus Gilbert. Gilbert, who was a teammate to 2010 first round selection Maurkice Pouncey at the University of Florida, made an impact early in his career, starting in thirteen games his rookie season.
His highly anticipated sophomore campaign would end in disappointment before it barely began, missing more than half the season after being placed on the Injured/Reserve list due to an ankle injury. He would return in full force in the 2013 season, and has only missed a total of four games in a three-year span.
One year after selecting Gilbert, the Steelers continued to fortify their offensive line with one of the highest ranking offensive guards in the 2012 draft class: David DeCastro. Just like Gilbert, DeCastro would spend much of the 2012 season on the bench due to a knee injury suffered in the preseason, but would return late in the year to add his services to the offensive line.
Since his rookie season, DeCastro has made a name for himself as one of the best offensive guards in the NFL. He rose to the challenge of helping the offensive line fill the void left by Pouncey when he was injured early last season, and was awarded his first Pro Bowl invitation as a result.
DeCastro and Gilbert have turned unfortunate circumstances early in their careers into what is now a concrete duo of defenders on the right side of the Steelers’ offensive line. With the issues Roethlisberger faces on his blindside, it is clear that they are the strongest line of defense in protecting him.
The combined efforts of DeCastro and Gilbert relinquished a total of 2.5 sacks to defenders in 2015. Compared to the 12.5 sacks given up by Ramon Foster and Alejandro Villanueva, which can be attributed to Villanueva being suddenly thrust into his position, ten sacks makes a world’s difference in terms of defense.
While the right side of the Steelers’ offensive line is the strongest of its unit, how do they compare to other offensive guard/tackle tandems in the NFL? Below is a list of ten team’s best offensive defenders, five from both conferences in the league, and how they fared in protecting their quarterbacks in the 2015 season
AFC:
- New York Jets: Breno Giacomini & Brian WInters – 4.5 sacks given up
- Houston Texans: Duane Brown & Xavier Su’a-Filo – 6 sacks given up
- Miami Dolphins: Billy Turner & Ja’Wuan James – 8.5 sacks given up
- Baltimore Ravens: Marshal Yanda & Ricky Wagner – 1 sack given up
- Cleveland Browns: Joe Thomas & Joel Bitonio – 4 sacks given up
NFC:
- Carolina Panthers: Trai Turner & Mike Remmers – 8 sacks given up
- Green Bay Packers: TJ Lang & Bryan Bulaga – 7 sacks given up
- Arizona Cardinals: Mike Iupati & Jared Veldheer – 7.5 sacks given up
- Dallas Cowboys: Zack Martin & Doug Free – 6 sacks given up
- Philadelphia Eagles: Jason Peters & Allen Barbre – 8.5 sacks given up
Besides the fact that both Yanda and Wagner only gave up a half sack apiece in 2015, DeCastro and Gilbert’s sacks allowed rank highly among playoff teams, and other teams that have premiere talent on their offensive line.
As DeCastro and Gilbert continue to remain healthy and keep their quarterback out of harm’s way, they have a very good chance of becoming one of the best, if not the best, offensive line tandem in the NFL. 2016 will be a defining year for the duo, as they will face some of the best defenses in the league in the upcoming season.
Besides AFC North opponents such as Elvis Dumervil, Carlos Dunlap, and Paul Kruger, DeCastro and Gilbert will match up against the likes of New England Patriots’ Jamie Collins, Washington Redskins’ Ryan Kerrigan, Kansas City Cheifs’ Justin Houston and New York Jets’ Muhammad Wilkerson.
These great defensive athletes will pose a tough challenge for the offensive line duo, but will continue to test their ability to effectively defend their quarterback. The Steelers’ offense is counting on DeCastro and Gilbert to have yet another strong season in 2016.
DeCastro is expected to receive a long-term contract extension before the start of the upcoming season, keeping the offensive lineman on the Steelers’ roster for the remainder of his career. Being awarded All-Pro honors and being voted to the Pro Bowl for a second consecutive season will go a long way in proving he is worth the investment.
As for Gilbert, the offensive tackle was granted a six-year contract extension worth $30.8 million back in 2014, keeping him with the Steelers until the end of the 2019 season. While he has constantly improved over his career, adding yet another All-Pro, Pro-Bowl offensive lineman to the Steelers’ repertoire would be a testament to their ability to construct a dominating offense.
David DeCastro and Marcus Gilbert are well on their way to proving they have the ability to be the best offensive lineman tandem in the NFL. With another successful season most likely ahead of them, they will ensure that Ben Roethlisberger stays healthy throughout the year as the Steelers make yet another run at a seventh Lombardi trophy.