Mike Munchak was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line coach from 2014-18, persistently having his unit as the most effective within the NFL. Nonetheless, there have been some tough years for the offensive line earlier than the Steelers employed Munchak. Jack Bicknell Jr. was Pittsburgh’s offensive line coach the 12 months earlier than in 2013, and former Steelers offensive lineman John Malecki lately spoke about simply how unhealthy Bicknell was in his function.
“That offensive line coach left,” Malecki stated lately on drdeck’s YouTube channel. “It’s like all job; there’s loads of politics and lots of people and loads of relationship stuff. He went to bat for me, he actually appreciated me, appreciated the way in which I performed. I knew the playbook in and out. They introduced in one other man, and for that season, it was full and utter turmoil.
“This dude sucked. That is just like the Killer B’s period. They need to’ve been Tremendous Bowl contenders, they have been simply screwing issues up on the again finish tremendous exhausting, in my view. However they introduced this coach in who couldn’t actually get the room collectively. So, they went above him and began bringing in some guys to try to fill some gaps.”
Malecki was an offensive lineman with the Steelers in 2011 and 2012. A Pittsburgh-area native, Malecki was residing a dream with the Steelers. Whereas Malecki doesn’t say any names, it’s straightforward to select who precisely he’s speaking about.
Sean Kugler was the Steelers’ offensive line coach from 2010 to 2012, earlier than leaving to turn into the top coach at UTEP in 2013. Subsequently, he’s doubtless that coach who appreciated Malecki and thought he had potential within the NFL.
After Kugler left, the Steelers introduced in Bicknell to switch him. Stories in the course of the 2013 season indicated that the rent was not understanding nicely for the Steelers. Longtime crew insider Gerry Dulac reported that offensive assistant Shaun Sarrett principally turned the offensive line coach in the course of the again half of the season due to how poorly issues have been going with Bicknell.
It feels like Malecki can again that report up. He doesn’t have many good issues to say about Bicknell, which is sensible. Malecki was let go by the Steelers earlier than the 2013 season started, and that was the tip of his NFL profession. It doesn’t appear to be Bicknell had as a lot curiosity in him as Kugler did.
That dysfunction confirmed up on the sphere, too. Ben Roethlisberger was sacked 42 instances in the course of the 2013 season. Examine that to the season earlier than Bicknell bought there when Roethlisberger was solely sacked 30 instances. In actual fact, that was probably the most instances Roethlisberger was sacked in a season over the ultimate 12 seasons of his profession.
After the 2013 season, the Steelers did one thing they don’t usually do: fireplace a coach. Bicknell was let go after just one 12 months in Pittsburgh, displaying simply how prepared the crew was to maneuver on from him. It’s unlucky, particularly for Malecki, nevertheless it did result in the Steelers hiring Munchak. There was a gentle on the finish of the tunnel for them.
