Hawkins finds way at OT
Future brighter after spending full season on IR
The Steelers wanted to sign starting left tackle Alejandro Villanueva to a longterm contract after last season ended. They still do, but they have a number in mind and won’t overpay for a player they control for two more years, especially when Villanueva will be 30 years old when he finally hits unrestricted free agency in 2019.
The leverage the Steelers hold is important to note, but it’s not everything.
They also have a nice backup plan in place in case they can’t come to terms on a long-term deal with Villanueva. His name is Jerald Hawkins, a raw 23-year old with no NFL experience but plenty of potential.
The Steelers used their fourth-round draft choice on Hawkins last spring and then placed him on the injured reserve after he had shoulder surgerylast summer.
The former LSU Tiger has plenty to learn and his development into a bona fide NFL starter is far from a sure thing, but the Steelers saw enough in his limited reps as a rookie to believe he has promise.
Thursday, the final practice in the second week of OTAs, the coaches gave right tackle Marcus Gilbert the day off and inserted Hawkins in his place with the first-team offense. It’s a sign they believe Hawkins can fill the void at swing tackle, a spot that is open after veteran Ryan Harris retired.
“I felt comfortable,” Hawkins said. “All of those guys are starting to trust me even more. Just being with those guys last year and learning the playbook, I wasn’t able to do the physical part, but learning the mental part helped me out tremendously.”
Outside linebacker Bud Dupree lined up across from Hawkins Thursday, something he also did in the SEC when he starred at Kentucky.
“Hawk has heavy hands,” Dupree said. “It’s always good for offensive linemen to have heavy hands. He reminds you of [Gilbert]. He and Gil are both very athletic. He can play both sides, too. That’s a plus for him.”
Hawkins wasn’t going to win a starting job as a rookie, but he was having an excellent camp before getting injured in the third preseason game against the Detroit Lions. Hawkins had surgery to repair his shoulder and missed the entire season.
“It was a freak accident,” Hawkins said. “Who would have known my rookie season would be like that? It was very disappointing. It felt like I was just getting hot. I was learning the playbook so I felt more confident. When that happened, I felt down, like I was useless.”
That feeling didn’t last long. Hawkins was not allowed to practice, but he could attend meetings and be around the team during his rehab. That was an opportunity to learn the mental side of the game from a veteran starting five that boasts 28 years worth of NFL experience and features two players who have earned All-Pro honors in Maurkice Pouncey andDavid DeCastro.
“At first, it was tough, but all the guys made it much easier,” Hawkins said. “They helped me. I know what to expect now. I’m not scared. I’m not that guy wondering what to expect. I know what to do and I know how to handle my businessnow.
“All these guys have been here for five or six years. They’ve seen everything. They’ve been through everything. I’m just trying to pick their brain and learn.”
The swing tackle position is an important role on the offensive line. It’s a job Villanueva held in 2015. Six games into the season, he was thrust into action when Kelvin Beachum went down with a season-ending knee injury. Villanueva had no previous NFL experience, but he started the final 10 regular-season games and two playoff games and is now entrenched as the starter after another solid season in 2016.
Last season, Gilbert missed three games. Harris and veteran Chris Hubbard filled in for him. Hubbard became the top backup tackle after Harris was lost for the season with a leg injury.
Hubbard will be Hawkins’ main competition for the swing tackle job this summer, but he doesn’t have the starting potential Hawkins possesses. Hawkins has a much higher ceiling and knows this is his time to prove he can handle the job and prove to the coaches he was worth a fourth-round draft choice.
“Your second year is when you have to find your role,” Hawkins said. “I’m just trying to fill that role to the best of my ability.”