Tackle can take pressure
Pittsburgh Steelers starting offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum suffered a season-ending injury and will be replaced this Sunday by Alejandro Villanueva.
Some may wonder whether Villanueva can handle the pressure. After all, he played college football for perennial loser Army and never played on the interior line before being signed to the Steelers’ practice squad.
Odds are pretty good that he can, however. Aside from the fact he is a giant at 6-9 and 340 pounds, Villanueva, as O-R sports writer Dale Lolley pointed out in an article in Wednesday’s newspaper, served three tours of duty in Afghanistan after graduating from West Point. “The pressure of playing in the NFL doesn’t compare to some things Villanueva has seen,” Lolley wrote.