Jun 13, 2002 By Jim Wexell For The 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Russ Grimm remembers the 1982 season like it was yesterday. It was the year he and his linemates – the fabled Hogs from Washington – burst into the national consciousness by leading the Redskins to their first Super Bowl win. Grimm remembers something else about that strike-ravaged season.

“Combined, we made about $135,000,” said the Pittsburgh Steelers’ line coach.

In the current NFL environment, that wouldn’t be enough to pay Alan Faneca his workout bonus. The Steelers, in fact, have an offensive line that averages $2.1 million in cap value per man.

The Steelers’ offensive line has few peers, if any, in the payroll department, nor is its pedigree matched by another team. With four former No. 1 picks, the offensive line of the Steelers can call itself the No. 1 line in the league – on paper.

“Now, that’s on paper,” Grimm reminded.

No one needs to remind Grimm about another piece of paper. The stat sheet from the AFC Championship Game indicates that the Steelers’ line is still regrouping from its worst performance of last season.

In the 24-17 loss to the New England Patriots, the Steelers allowed a season-high three sacks and could only muster a season-low 58 yards rushing.

Take away quarterback Kordell Stewart’s 34-yard scramble in the first quarter and the Steelers rushed for only 24 yards on 21 carries. It’s little wonder the NFL’s regular-season rushing kings were knocked off by the underdog Patriots.

“It was not one of our better games,” said Grimm.

Right guard Rich Tylski was the only lineman to feel the heat. He was replaced by Oliver Ross, while first-round pick Kendall Simmons looms in the background.

In April, Simmons became the team’s fourth No. 1 pick among offensive linemen. The other three – left tackle Wayne Gandy, left guard Alan Faneca, center Jeff Hartings – are starters, along with former second-round pick Marvel Smith. Throw tight end Mark Bruener into the equation and the Steelers could put five No. 1 picks and a No. 2 along their front wall.

On paper, the line is solid gold. But is it the best?

“We have enough ability to be one of the better lines, yeah,” Grimm said. “But each year’s a new year. Last year we were lucky. We didn’t have a lot of injuries and things kind of fell into place. We’ll see what happens this year.”

Judging by their work ethic this spring, the Steelers’ linemen are poised for a repeat of last season, or at least the first 17 games of last season.

“My guys’ participation has been great. They’ve been here. They’ve been working,” Grimm said. “The way last year ended left a bad taste in their mouths. Something like that kind of pushes you through the off-season.”

Jeff Hartings has been one of the more driven players this off-season. A Pro Bowl alternate last season, Hartings performed below his expectations in moving from guard to center. But he’s confident that his second season in the pivot will be different.

“I definitely feel this year will be better than last year,” he said. “I’m definitely more comfortable.

“It’s kind of funny. In this league, you just have to keep making those mistakes and after awhile you make a lot fewer. As a result you become a better player. That’s what happens to rookies. That’s why not very many rookies come in and play real well, and then in the second year a lot of times those guys break out. So I definitely expect to play better than last year.”

Smith, the right tackle, went through his second year without that spike in performance. He performed well at times, but bombed against the Patriots, as did Tylski, making the right side of the field a black hole for Steelers running backs.

“A lot of it was mental,” said Hartings. “I think that’s what beat us against the Patriots. We made a lot of mental mistakes offensively.”

It came into focus the night before this week’s minicamp started. Grimm called his linemen together Sunday night to watch the tape of the AFC Championship Game.

“It’s kind of where we left off,” said Grimm. “Actually, it’s where we’re going to start from.”

By the time he’s done, Grimm should have the top unit in the NFL. Not even the Hogs put five No. 1 picks out in front of their running game.

“I said it last year, that I think we have the ability to be a good offensive line,” Grimm said. “This year’s no different.”