Coach Mike Tomlin during a preseason game told the media, “I looked across the field during the anthem and there’s a guy standing over there about a head taller than everybody else and saluting during the anthem, It kind of got my attention. I wanted to know about this enormous human being over there saluting.” Tomlin immediately brought him in and tried to find a home for the enormous human being. With injuries to their swing tackle Mike Adams, the Steelers asked Villanueva to transition from defense to offensive line and play arguably the hardest position in football - left tackle. Now for most people this challenge would have been nearly impossible, but not for Villanueva. After all, considering his last job, blocking the edge would be a piece of cake.
Villanueva immediately impressed Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak enough that Pittsburgh was comfortable enough making him the backup offensive tackle going into the season. And when starting left tackle Kelvin Beachum went down with a knee injury, Villanueva was ready for his big moment. It’s been seven weeks since Villanueva took over the starting role and he’s immediately become one of the Steelers’ best offensive linemen and helped stabilize an otherwise shaky line. It’s a big reason the Steelers now boast the league’s second-best statistical offense at this point in the season. Read More