Hartwig vs. Mahan: Analyzing the Steelers' Center Battle

The Justin Hartwig-Sean Mahan battle for the starting center job is not exactly the same as when Mike Webster and Ray Mansfield were battling for the job in 1974. It's closer to the Mahan-Chukky Okobi battle from last year--you're not hoping for a star, you're just hoping that the winner will keep Ben Roethlisberger upright.

But since it is the only real starting competition on the team, it's worth taking a closer look at how the two centers fared against Buffalo.

What jumped out most was how few true tests Hartwig and Mahan faced in the game. Buffalo was running a pretty straightforward 4-3 defense, which makes sense since it was a preseason game. But that meant that the Steelers centers had no real challenges on most passing plays--they would simply slide over to help double-team one of the defensive tackles. I counted exactly one blitz and one stunt during the entire first three quarters. Overall both Hartwig and Mahan did a solid job in pass blocking, but it's hard to say that this was a true test.

We can get a better feel on run blocking. Both did a pretty solid job again. Hartwig clearly gets a better push than Mahan, which fits what we know going into the game--he's a bigger, stronger player. But the same problems he's had in the past are still there. Namely, he struggles to stay on his feet. There were two plays in 21 snaps where Hartwig fell to the ground, and on one of those, he hooked his man for a holding penalty.

Mahan looked about as good as we've seen him. But partly that was because he didn't have much to do. Mahan was much better last year against 4-3 teams where he doesn't have a man lined up directly over him. The Bills fit that description, so Mahan got ot work in space and use his agility more. He actually has decent footwork, and he can get out to the second level to block linebackers. His problems are the kind of issues that are hard to fix--he gets pushed into the backfield at times because of his lack of strength, and he can get tossed aside in pass blocking on some bull rushes.

If you could combine Hartwig's strengths--good size and strength--with Mahan's strengths--good feet and mobility--you'd have a pretty good center. But since we won't get to see Jusean Martwig play this year, the Steelers are going to have to live with an adequate enter at best.

For those who want the details, here's the play-by-play of Hartwig and Mahan's nights.

First Drive

First down: Hartwig gets some help from Kendall Simmons, but the combination of the two of them drive Kyle Williams to the ground on a pass play.

Second down: Hartwig gets some double-team help again, this time from Chris Kemoeatu. But after getting a good initial push, he falls down, and Williams takes advantage to help out on the tackle.

Third down: Hartwig stones Williams on a pass rush. It's a solid job as Roethlisberger has time to throw. Kendall Simmons is the one lineman who struggles to stay in front of his man.

First down: For the first time the Steelers ask Hartwig to get out to the second level, he does a solid job of getting out and blocking Paul Poslusky on a running play. Carey Davis and Willie Colon don't have the same success, which explains why the running play is stuffed for a two-yard gain.

Second down: Hartwig helps Chris Kemoeatu in pass blocking, and together they do a solid job. Marvel Smith struggles with a speed rush by Aaron Schoebel, and Ben Roethlisberger has to scramble to find a spot to set up before finding Hines Ward downfield. Roethlisberger guns the ball nearly 20 yards downfield while Schoebel is pulling him down by his jersey. When we talk about Roethlisberger taking away some sacks with his legs in addition to causing some by holding the ball, this one counts as a save.

First down: On a quick hitch screen to Hines Ward, Hartwig doesn't have time to get downfield.

Second down: The camera work is so bad that it's hard to see what's happening.

Third and one: OK, here's what we want to see, how does Hartwig handle a man-on-man power play--the kind that caused Sean Mahan all kinds of problems last year. It's not real pretty. Hartwig loses his footing, grabs the nose tackle and falls to the ground a yard behind the line of scrimmage and Willie Parker trips when he hits his legs. Hartwig gets flagged for holding, so it's about as bad a play as you'll see--although Kendall Simmons being driven into the backfield isn't much better.

Third and 11: Pass protection with nothing to do. Hartwig helps out Kendall Simmons. Elsewhere Willie Colon gets beaten badly on an outside rush, while Chris Kemoeatu loses his man later who helps pressure Roethlisberger before he throws an interception.

Second Drive

First and 10: Hartwig does a good job of screening his man as he flows to the right, it helps Willie Parker break free for a seven-yard gain, although as he seems to do way too often, he falls down at the end of the play.

Second and three: OK, now we're seeing some of Hartwig's strengths. On a bull rush by Williams, Hartwig plants his feet and doesn't budge. That helps set the pocket as Roethlisberger steps up on a short drop for a 16-yard pass.

First and 10: Another screen. This time Hartwig flows outside nicely, but his man ends up making the tackle.

Second and six: If Carey Davis is going to block like this, the Steelers are better off sticking in two tights ends all day. Davis is the lead blocker, but he goes outside the tight end, and blocks no one, while the linebacker he would have blocked if he had gone through the hole makes the tackle on Parker. Hartwig gets little push, but he does maintain his feet, although Williams ends up helping out on the tackle.

Third and five: Heath Miller jumps.

Third and 10: Schoebel is still give Marvel Smith problems as he flushes Roethlisberger, eventually forcing Roethlisberger to throw the ball away. Hartwig does a good job in pass blocking.

Third Drive

First and 10: Willie Colon gets driven backward but the line holds long enough for Roethlisberger to get the ball off. Solid blocking by Hartwig.

First and 10: OK so maybe we won't see Hartwig pulling too much a la Dermotti Dawson. Hartwig is asked to pull, but he fails miserably. He hooks his man in what could have been flagged for a hold, but no matter, the defender gets into the backfield and blows up the play.

Second and nine: Hartwig is a survivor. He gets beat off the snap, as Spencer Johnson drives him three yards into the backfield. But just as Johnson is about to stuff Rashard Mendenhall for a big loss, Hartwig managed to get his shoulder into him and knock him past Mendenhall and onto the ground. It's both a good play (he took Johnson out of the play) and a bad one (he was driven three yards into the backfield). Kendall Simmons has a clearly bad play as he can't get a solid block on linebacker Keith Ellison who stuffs the play for one yard.

Third and eight: Well, there's good news. Hartwig's shotgun snaps are consistently good. He fires another good snap here, but Chris Kemoeatu jumps, which is the third penalty by a Steelers offensive lineman.

Third and 13: Hartwig doesn't have much to do on a four-man rush as Ben Roethlisberger has plenty of time.

First and 10: A good solid block by Hartwig on Johnson as Roethlisberger hits Santonio Holmes for a TD. It's a good end to Hartwig's night.

Fourth Drive:

First and 10: Hello Sean Mahan. Mahan gets to ease into the game, as he doesn't have anyone to block on a four-man rush.

First and 10: On Mahan's first running play, he gets some double team help Trai Essex, but Mahan does a good job of sticking his block and getting some push.

Second and eight: Ahh, this is the Mahan we remember. On a short, three-step drop by Byron Leftwich, Mahan is driven back two steps before Leftwich can get the ball off. He stays in front of his man, but he's unable to plant his feet and stone his man.

Third and two: This is a reminder, as mentioned before, of how Mahan's 6.5 sacks allowed last year is such a shocking number. The Bills are rushing four men straight up the field on most pass plays. That generally means that the Steelers center is uncovered and has no one to block. Mahan helps double team Trai Essex's man, but he really doesn't have anything to do on this pass play.

Fifth Drive:

First and 10: Mahan does a very good job handling a inside defensive tackle twist on a pass play. Max Starks is awful however, as the Bills sack Leftwich and force a fumble.

Second and 29: Mahan forces a stalemate on a run to the outside.

Sixth Drive:

First and 10: You know, more blocks like this and Mahan might give Hartwig a run for the starting job. He locks up a defensive tackle, keeps his feet churning and drives him out of the play. Tight end Dezmond Sherrod also has a nice block on the play.

Second and three: You win one, you lose one. Mahan tries to cut block John McCargo, but McCargo protects his legs, slides off the block and flies into the backfield, although McCargo doesn't make the tackle as Mendenhall bounces outside.

Third and two: Another pass play where Mahan has no one to block.

Seventh Drive:

First and 10: We see Mahan's biggest problem once again. He's both a little weak for the position, and a little slow off the snap. A Bills defensive tackle (can't see the number) beats Mahan off the snap, gets under his shoulder pads and drives him into the backfield two yards. But crediit Mahan for sticking with the block. It's a toss to the outside and Mahan hangs on enough to keep the DT away from the play.

Second and 11: Mahan handles a blitz very well. There have been few complaints with his pass blocking.

Third and 11: Another pass play, another play where Mahan is just trying to help out with no one to block.

Eighth Drive:

First and 10: Mahan again gets driven back, but again he manages to hang onto his block, which means that while McCargo got penetration, he wasn't involved in the play. You could say that Mahan is holding, but they're not calling it, so you can't complain.

Second and two: We're watching a pretty good performance by Mahan. He gets some initial push, although fellow O-lineman Jeremy Parquet is blown up to ruin the play.

Third and two: Mahan gets knocked to the ground, but he's part of a general scrum on a short-yardage play. All in all a solid block as Johnson is driven out of the play.

First and 10: This is getting repetitive, but with some double-team help from Trai Essex he gets into a stalemate with Johnson. He doesn't get any push, but Johnson doesn't get any penetratiion either.

Second and goal: Mahan gets beaten badly by McCargo, but McCargo guesses wrong and flies into the backfield running to the right, while Mendenhall is running the other way for a touchdown.