http://www.steelersgab.com/2009/06/01/was-placing-the-franchise-tag-on-starks-that-bad-of-a-move/ The Definitive Pittsburgh Steelers Blog! Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:48:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.steelersgab.com/2009/06/01/was-placing-the-franchise-tag-on-starks-that-bad-of-a-move/comment-page-1/#comment-8371 Jay Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:43:01 +0000 http://www.steelersgab.com/?p=1780#comment-8371 I agree with the author of this page and, although Florio makes some salient points, I feel that Florio fails to point out some intangibles (immeasurables) such as Starks is coming into his sixth year but it's LIKE his fourth year in terms of playing time because he didn't play his rookie year OR in 2007 and the first half of 2008! Most tackles (of his size anyway) who are drafted high in the third round start to come into their own in terms of pass blocking right around their third or fourth year. Pass blocking seems to be the last thing or skill if you will that large tackles drafted in rounds 2-4 or 5 seem to acquire because it requires quickness and experience. I believe Starks is primed to be a shut down LT because of this. But because it hasn't happened yet and is mostly speculative, Florio could not mention it. But count on this: the Steelers want to franchise Max not because he's their only option, it's gotta be for another reason and use deduction to figure that out (i.e., he's a corporate team guy who has loads of potential, is excellent at run blocking and is right about that point in his career where he is ready to develop into a franchise LT!) I agree with the author of this page and, although Florio makes some salient points, I feel that Florio fails to point out some intangibles (immeasurables) such as Starks is coming into his sixth year but it’s LIKE his fourth year in terms of playing time because he didn’t play his rookie year OR in 2007 and the first half of 2008! Most tackles (of his size anyway) who are drafted high in the third round start to come into their own in terms of pass blocking right around their third or fourth year. Pass blocking seems to be the last thing or skill if you will that large tackles drafted in rounds 2-4 or 5 seem to acquire because it requires quickness and experience. I believe Starks is primed to be a shut down LT because of this. But because it hasn’t happened yet and is mostly speculative, Florio could not mention it. But count on this: the Steelers want to franchise Max not because he’s their only option, it’s gotta be for another reason and use deduction to figure that out (i.e., he’s a corporate team guy who has loads of potential, is excellent at run blocking and is right about that point in his career where he is ready to develop into a franchise LT!)

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