So do the players he mentors as the offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
So when the Hall of Famer’s name popped up as a candidate for the open head coaching job in Arizona this week, Munchak didn’t ignore the elephant in the room.
Neither did his guys.
”We told him to enjoy the West Coast,” Chris Hubbard said with a laugh. ”Enjoy being out there closer to your daughter.”
Hubbard was kidding. For now anyway.
Just because the AFC North champions have given the Cardinals permission to interview Munchak doesn’t mean he’s going to get the job.
Then again, if Munchak needs a reference or two, he won’t lack for volunteers.
Look no further than the group Munchak has helped turn into one of the best offensive lines in the league, one bent on making sure their mentor will have to wait until early February before moving on to the next opportunity should one come along.
Over the course of the past four seasons, Munchak has taken a line filled with disparate personalities and pedigrees and turned it into a cohesive group and made most of them millionaires several times over in the process. When asked if Munchak deserves a cut of the profits, to a man they say yes.
Of course, Munchak would never take it. What’s the fun in that when he can use the knowledge he’s one of the lowest-paid guys in the room – and the only one, by the way, with a bust in Canton, Ohio – to bring out the sense of humor he uses to disarm and instruct, often at the same time. Film sessions are equal parts teaching mechanism and stand-up act.
”He’ll make fun of you in a funny, nonaggressive way, not to where (you’re offended),” said four-time Pro Bowl guard David DeCastro, whose rise to one of the best in the league coincided with Munchak’s arrival in 2014.
”If he makes fun of you, you laugh about it but then it’s still in the back of your head right, so you remember (the lesson) at the same time.”
Four years and four playoff berths into Munchak’s tenure, the lessons have been many. While left tackle Alejandro Villanueva stressed the line’s only goal is ”to win the game and keep (quarterback) Ben (Roethlisberger) upright,” let’s give it a try anyway.
Though there are other factors at play, namely Roethlisberger’s continued evolution, the presence of some of the best skill position players in the league in wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell, the line’s contributions can’t be overlooked.
And those contributions start with Munchak, who has preached an ethos that could best be described as a jumbo-sized version of the ”Three Musketeers.”
”He created an offensive line and an offensive line is not about individuals, it’s about the collective culture you have in the room,” said Villanueva, a former practice squad player who made his first Pro Bowl this season.
”I’ve been nothing more than a product of his environment, the standards that he sets and the way he coaches.”
A method that resonates in a room filled with everything from surefire bets DeCastro and center Maurkice Pouncey (both former first-round picks) to undrafted free agents such as Villanueva, Hubbard and left guard Ramon Foster.
Despite a resume that includes a Hall of Fame jacket and a spot on the 1980s All-Decade team during his career with the Houston Oilers, Munchak carries himself like an everyman.
”He understands the game so well so it makes you feel very comfortable when you talk to him about things,” Villanueva said. ”He’s not panicking or freaking out when some things are not going right. He’s always the same consistent person every single day.”
Things have rarely gone wrong for the Steelers this season. The line has stayed remarkably healthy, the only real trouble spot coming when right tackle Marcus Gilbert served a four-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancers policy.
Hubbard stepped in and played admirably in Gilbert’s absence. The Steelers went 3-1 during that stretch, the only loss to New England in a game that wasn’t decided until the final seconds.
”He treats everybody the same, he has no favorites,” Hubbard said. ”That’s a big part of what we have. That’s why we’re so close. We can talk about anything that may go on.”
Including Munchak’s possible departure. Yet the men Munchak coaches aren’t wasting any time getting prematurely nostalgic. They’re well aware Munchak, who went 22-26 in three seasons as head coach in Tennessee from 2011-13, is capable of taking over the big job.
And they’ll be the first ones to congratulate him if it happens. There’s also a job to do. What better way to bolster Munchak’s stock than by having the line help pave the way to a seventh Super Bowl?
Juan Soto is barely old enough to be in college, let alone lighting it up at Yankee Stadium.
The teenage rookie homered twice and drove in four runs, becoming the youngest player in 29 years to go deep in a regular-season game in the Bronx, and the Washington Nationals beat New York 5-4 on Wednesday night.
After getting a game off Tuesday, his first in three-plus weeks as a major leaguer, a refreshed Soto showed exactly why he was rated one of baseball’s best prospects.
”I’ll start off by saying, Soto is really good. How’s that?” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. ”He understands the game. He understands good at-bats.”
With family from New York in the crowd of 45,030, the 19-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Republic lofted a three-run homer into the left-field corner off Sonny Gray in the fourth inning to give Washington – shut out in its previous two games – a 4-3 lead.
Soto then launched a titanic shot in the seventh against Chasen Shreve (2-1), putting the Nationals back in front 5-4.
Projected at 436 feet, the drive soared to the back of a standing-room terrace above and beyond the Yankees’ bullpen in right-center. It also ended a 23-inning scoreless streak for New York relievers and made Soto (19 years, 231 days old) the youngest player in Nationals history to have a multihomer game.
”Strong kid,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. was 19 years, 190 days old when he homered (also twice) for Seattle at old Yankee Stadium on May 30, 1989. Andruw Jones was 19 as well when he hit two home runs there for Atlanta in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series.
”It feels pretty good. Two good outfielders,” Soto said. ”I like that.”
Called up from Double-A Harrisburg on May 20, Soto is batting .344 with five homers and 12 RBIs.
”He has power. Super young. Good hitter,” Shreve said. ”I didn’t do my job. We lost the game because of it.”
New York got a long home run from its own impressive rookie, 21-year-old Gleyber Torres, to tie it at 4 in the fifth. Greg Bird also hit a solo homer and Giancarlo Stanton had three hits for the Yankees, including an RBI single.
Adam Eaton and Matt Adams had three hits apiece for the Nationals http://www.billsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-phillip-gaines-jersey , who made five outs on the bases but still won to split the two-game interleague series between World Series contenders. The teams meet again next Monday in Washington to complete a May 15 matchup suspended with the score tied 3-all in the sixth inning and to make up a May 16 rainout.
Justin Miller (4-0) struck out four in 1 2/3 innings on his 31st birthday.
”Pretty nice,” Miller said. ”I guess I’m just in the weeds – I keep snaking wins.”
Sammy Solis knocked down Brett Gardner’s comebacker with a runner on third for the final out of the seventh. Ryan Madson pitched out of trouble in the eighth and Sean Doolittle worked a perfect ninth for his 17th save in 18 chances.
New York lost for only the fifth time in its last 23 home games.
Nationals rookie Erick Fedde allowed four runs and six hits in five innings. Pitching in place of injured ace Stephen Strasburg, the right-hander was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse before the game to make his fifth major league start and second this season.
AGE IS ONLY A NUMBER
Soto became the youngest big leaguer with a multihomer game in the regular season since Jones against Cincinnati in August 1996 – and the youngest player with four RBIs since Hall of Famer Robin Yount was 19 for Milwaukee in 1975. ”It’s unbelievable, honestly,” Fedde said. ”Special kid and I’m excited to play with him hopefully for the next couple of years.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: As expected, Bryce Harper was back in the lineup after leaving Tuesday night’s loss in the eighth inning when he was hit by a pitch for the second time. The slugger was plunked on the right elbow and left foot but said afterward he was fine and there were ”no ill feelings at all.” Washington pitchers made no apparent attempt to retaliate Wednesday. Harper went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. … Daniel Murphy (right knee surgery) was the DH again after going hitless Tuesday in his season debut. ”He’s ready to play, so we’re going to play him. Nice to have that bat in the lineup,” Martinez said. Murphy went 0 for 3 with a walk. … Strasburg (right shoulder inflammation) is working out back home, Martinez said.
Yankees: Slumping catcher Gary Sanchez sat out for the second consecutive game, with backup Austin Romine catching Gray as usual. After a three-day breather, Sanchez will be back in the lineup Thursday, Boone said.
UP NEXT
Nationals: Following a day off, Washington resumes its AL East road trip in Toronto with LHP Gio Gonzalez (6-2, 2.65 ERA) pitching Friday night against RHP Aaron Sanchez (3-5, 4.33).
Yankees: Still looking for his first major league win, rookie right-hander Domingo German (0-4, 5.32 ERA) starts Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series against Tampa Bay. LHP Blake Snell (8-3, 2.30) goes for the Rays.
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10.12.2018 07:30
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