Marvel Smith's return bolsters Steelers' O-line

Rookie Trai Essex had been filling in at left tackle.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The return of Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Marvel Smith against the undefeated Indianapolis Colts on Monday night could end up being even more important than the return of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Smith, who missed last Sunday's game with a sprained ankle, returns to face the Colts' Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney, who led the NFL last season with 16 sacks.
The Steelers are 3-8 over the past three seasons in games in which Smith doesn't play. He left another game after one series, and the Steelers lost that one, too. Last season, Smith stayed healthy and the Steelers finished 15-1.
Freeney has seven sacks this season, but was in line for a big game against Trai Essex, the rookie who replaced Smith in the Steelers' lineup Sunday in Baltimore. Essex, a third-round pick from Northwestern, gave up two critical sacks and missed key blocks throughout the game, the first of his pro career.
"On the road, crowd noise, silent count, first time he's dressed in a real game -- it doesn't get any tougher than that," said guard Alan Faneca, who played next to Essex. "He went out there and played his heart out. He made some mistakes, but didn't get rattled and stayed in it the whole game."
Value
Smith's value, however, is obvious, particularly against a speed rusher such as Freeney.
"You can look at it like that if you want, but it's still a team game no matter who's out there," Smith said. "I just want to be healthy enough to play each week. I want to be out on the field and to be able to contribute to the team."
Smith told Steelers coach Bill Cowher last week that he could play, but Cowher ruled him out late in the week. Smith had been playing in pain from a shoulder injury and believed he could've played through the pain in his ankle.
The sixth-year veteran said he isn't worried about playing on a bad leg against the ultra-quick Freeney.
"I'm not worried about it," Smith said. "I'm not going into a game thinking about if I can do this or that. I don't ever doubt what I can do on the field."
Smith made his first Pro Bowl last season, and offensive line coach Russ Grimm said he's been playing at a Pro Bowl level this season.
Sacks
In his first three seasons, the 268-pound Freeney recorded 40 sacks. Since the statistic became official in 1982, only two players -- Reggie White and Derrick Thomas -- have posted more sacks than Freeney in their first three seasons.
But this season Freeney doesn't even lead the Colts in sacks. Robert Mathis, who lines up at the end opposite Freeney, has 10 sacks to lead the league. As a team, the Colts lead the NFL in sacks per pass play.
"They've got a lot of speed and they never quit," Smith said. "They're relentless. They go from one move to the next. They don't ever stay blocked."
Smith gives the Steelers a chance to block the Colts' pass-rushers and keep Roethlisberger upright. The Steelers will also be bolstered Monday by the return of linebacker James Farrior, who missed the last two games with a sprained knee.
"This is the type of game we're going to need everybody," Cowher said. "It's just good to have all these guys back."
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