Ex-Jaguar Guy Whimper Signs With Steelers, Apologies From Jax Ben Roethlisberger
By Luke Sims
Dec 5, 2011; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Guy Whimper (68) and guard Uche Nwaneri (77) block against San Diego Chargers defensive end Jacques Cesaire (74) at EverBank Field. The Chargers defeated the Jaguars 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Ben Roethlisberger seems to be getting the short end of the stick a lot lately. The Pittsburgh Steelers have been bleeding offensive weapons the team hasn’t been able to add enough young talent to replace its older players. While they are still a good team on the whole, when they don’t have Roethlisberger at quarterback it gets a whole lot harder.
Steeler nation discovered this last season when Roethlisberger was forced out of three games. Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch simply aren’t the same caliber of quarterback Big Ben, but you don’t always count on your quarterback going down, and then your second quarterback as well.
Well, Roethlisberger, who already saw himself planted into the ground 30 times last season, just saw his job get tougher with the signing of ex-Jacksonville Jaguars right tackle, Guy Whimper. Whimper, who was a backup in Jacksonville but still managed to see extensive time on the field, is absolutely atrocious. Here is what Pro Football Focus had to say about Whimper:
"Finally the Steelers decided, as if Ben Roethlisberger’s life isn’t tough enough, to add RT Guy Whimper. In 392 snaps last year he achieved a -14.6 grade and our third-worst Pass Blocking Efficiency rating — this after allowing a whopping 14 sacks in 2011."
Starter Marcus Gilbert only saw five games last season so it is concerning that Whimper may find a way onto the field for the Steelers. Gilbert’s backup, Kelvin Beachum, didn’t do great but wasn’t nearly as terrible as Whimper during his time on the field. I’m sincerely hoping, for the sake of the Steelers, that Whimper is gone before the season starts.
It’s sad but true that most Jaguars exports are terrible. The Steelers should have avoided Whimper.
– Luke N. Sims
Feel free to leave comments on here or visit us at Facebook or Twitter!
You can also find me on Twitter @LukeNSims