Pittsburgh Steelers rookie offensive tackle Mike Adams provided the Steelers with a big spark, along with backup center Doug Legursky, in the Steelers' big win over the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday. Adams is going to be expected to do it again this week against the Washington Redskins.
Adams, a hulking, 6'7", 323 pound rookie from Ohio State, performed in a big way last week—All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey told Ralph N. Paulk of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he was "jumping up and down on the sidelines cheering" for him and Negursky—but, according to Paulk, Adams will have to perform just as well this week, and he's struggled with his consistency against the tougher competition:
Adams has discovered a sizable difference between tussling with linemen in the Big Ten and the NFL.
"The size and speed of the guys you're playing against is the biggest challenge," Adams said. "It's not like college when there was a weak link here and there. Everybody is the best of the best in this league. So it's definitely a little bit different."
This week, Adams will have to contend with the Redskins' Jarvis Jenkins, who was one sack but has done his fair share of pressuring the quarterback. On the other side of the ball will also be Ryan Kerrigan, a feared sophomore pass-rusher. Luckily for Adams and the Steelers, the Redskins are without Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker, who were both lost for the season weeks ago with injuries.