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OL Alex Stepanovich (official thread)

Monday - 03/10/08
Falcons ink free agent center Stepanovich
by AtlantaFalcons.com

The Atlanta Falcons today signed unrestricted free agent center Alex Stepanovich from the Cincinnati Bengals.

Stepanovich (step-AHN-o-vich), 6-4, 300 pounds, is a four-year veteran who was originally selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. In his rookie campaign he started all 16 games and blocked for the League?s all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, who gained 937 yards. Stepanovich started in 14 games in the next two seasons for Arizona (2005-2006) before he signed with the Bengals as a free agent on March 16, 2007. Last season, he competed in 12 games with Cincinnati, which included four starts. He contributed to a pass protection unit that allowed only 17 sacks, a franchise record-low.

An Ohio State alum, Stepanovich competed for the Buckeyes from 2000-2003 and started as both a junior and senior. He played center for the school?s 2002 National Championship team that defeated Miami (Fla.) in the Fiesta Bowl along with Falcons wide receiver Michael Jenkins, defensive tackle Tim Anderson and tight end Ben Hartsock.

Atlanta Falcons | News | Falcons ink free agent center Stepanovich
 
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Q and A: Falcons lineman Alex Stepanovich
Published on: 04/16/08

As a manner of introduction, three questions of offensive lineman Alex Stepanovich, who signed with the Falcons as a free agent from Cincinnati.

Q. Why did you sign with the Falcons?

A. When I met with Coach Smith I liked his attitude. I knew a bunch of guys from Ohio State were here.

Q. So, with several guys from Ohio State here, that made a difference?

A. It wasn't the main reason, but when you know people, you can get an honest opinion of what it's like.

Q and A: Falcons lineman Alex Stepanovich | ajc.com
 
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Monday - 08/04/08, 02:15PM
Stepanovich happy to step in on offensive line
by J. Michael Moore, Atlantafalcons.com Managing Editor

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Alex Stepanovich signed with the Falcons in the off-season to provide some depth along the interior of the offensive line.

The team didn't realize his services would be used so quickly.

Starting center Todd McClure has missed close to a week with a back injury. Head Coach Mike Smith is confident McClure will return soon but, until he's back on the field, Stepanovich will continue to lead the offensive line.

"Whenever someone goes down you don't want the offense to feel like when you step in that you got to take a step back," the five-year veteran said. "I just want to make sure I'm prepared and ready to roll whenever the time comes."

Stepanovich started 16 games as a rookie for the Arizona Cardinals and started at guard and center during his recent run with the Cincinnati Bengals.

He said working with the first team has helped him grasp more of the team's system because of the number of reps he gets during practice. He's also pleased with the group's progression through Russell Falcons Training Camp.

"Right now I'm just trying to come in and learn all three positions inside," Stepanovich said. "I've played a lot in this league and I know you always have to be ready... I think it really helped last year bumping over and starting some games at guard and moving back to center.

"We're trying to come together as a unit and the better we play up front the better it's going to be with the backs we have... All we have to do is give those guys a crease because we have some playmakers."

Smith said the team plans to work Stepanovich at guard when McClure returns.

"It's very important for us as a football team because there are going to be injuries throughout the season and it's important that we cross-train all our players," he said. "The guys that are going to be backups have to be able to play multiple positions."

QUOTABLE: Stepanovich shares the locker room with four other Ohio State Buckeyes. Monday he talked about having friends from the 2002 national championship team on the roster:

"It's been nice. We played together and had a special year and I think we learned what it took to win and be good teammates. I think the guys we have here are guys that like to come to work and work hard. Those are guys you want to be around. You know those guys are grinders and you know they're going to pick you up."

Atlanta Falcons | News | Stepanovich happy to step in on offensive line
 
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Stepanovich carted off field with injury
By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/11/08

Flowery Branch ? The Falcons suffered another injury at the center position this morning when center Alex Stepanovich hurt his back at training camp.

Stepanovich, who started the exhibition season opener against Jacksonville Saturday in place of center Todd McClure, was taken from the field in a cart.

"Stepanovich twisted his back out there on the field," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "According to (trainer) Ronnie (Medlin) they've got him iced up right now. We'll get a chance to see how he's doing."

Backup Ben Wilkerson finished the practice at center.

Stepanovich, a free agent from Cincinnati, is a former starter at guard and center in the NFL. The Falcons are hoping that he can provide depth at the interior line positions.

Stepanovich carted off field with injury | ajc.com
 
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Q: Are there any updates on (John) Abraham or (Alex) Stepanovich?
A: ?Stepanovich is progressing. We?ve got him trying to relax and stay in the training room. John worked with the trainers today. We?ll just see how he feels over the next couple of days in terms of what his status will be for the game.?

Atlanta Falcons | News | Quotable: Head Coach Mike Smith
 
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Stepanovich recovering

Backup center/guard , who suffered a back injury two weeks ago, is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener on Sept. 7.

?We are anticipating that he will be able to get on the field next week,? Smith said. ?We are being a little bit precautionary with that as well. We just want to make sure that his back is feeling good before we put him back out there.?


Martrez Milner returns to Falcons practice | ajc.com
 
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Falcons lineman back on field
By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Flowery Branch ? Falcons offensive lineman Alex Stepanovich, who suffered a lower back injury on Aug. 11, returned to practice on Wednesday.

?It felt pretty good,? said Stepanovich, who was limited to most drills. ?I?m trying to work my way back in, slowly but surely. I want to come back and help contribute.?

Stepanovich, the team?s top backup center, was taken off the field on a cart at the time of the injury. He started running last week.

?I?ve just been working hard, trying to get back on the field as soon as I could,? Stepanovich said. ?I just want to come back and help in anyway that I can.?

Stepanovich and linebacker Coy Wire (ankle) were the only players listed on the Falcons injury report. Wire participated in all of practice.

With Stepanovich?s return the Falcons are nearly at full strength.

?One of our main goals was to try to start the season as healthy and as fresh as possible,? Falcons coach Mike Smith said. ?That?s been something that we?ve monitored all through training camp. We?re excited that we?ve been able to accomplish that.?

The Falcons? offensive line paved the way for a team-record 318-yard rushing performance Sunday against Detroit. Getting Stepanovich back will add some depth to the unit.

?Alex can play both center and guard,? Smith said. Both left and right guard.

Falcons lineman back on field | ajc.com
 
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Team releases offensive lineman Alex Stepanovich
by AtlantaFalcons.com

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Atlanta Falcons today released offensive lineman Alex Stepanovich.

Stepanovich was signed to the Falcons roster as an unrestricted free agent from Cincinnati on March 10, 2008. Last season, he saw action in four contests, mainly on special teams.

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/...eases_offensive_lineman_Alex_Stepanovich.aspx

Falcons Dump Stepanovich
Posted by Mike Florio on June 17, 2009
In the wake of signing center Jeremy Newberry, the Falcons have parted ways with another one of the centers on the roster.

Gone is Alex Stepanovich.

Stepanovich signed with the Falcons last year, after spending three years with the Cardinals and one with the Bengals.

He started 16 games as a rookie, and he hasn’t started more than nine in a season since then.

Stepanovich had been under contract through 2009, at a salary of $800,000.

The move makes Newberry the primary alternative to Todd McClure, who we’ve heard isn’t happy with his contract.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/06/17/falcons-dump-stepanovich/
 
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Steelers sign Stepanovich at center
Monday, August 10, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Steelers said today that the team has signed center Alex Stepanovich, a six-year veteran who played for the Atlanta Falcons last season.

Stepanovich, who played at Ohio State and was a fourth-round draft pick and former starter for the Arizona Cardinals, was released by the Falcons in June.

Center Justin Hartwig has not been practicing because of a toe injury. Darnell Stapleton, who became the starting right guard last season but had been playing center since the start of training camp, had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last week.

The Steelers released defensive lineman Jordan Reffett to make room for Stepanovich on the roster.

The Steelers have only two healthy centers, first-year pro Doug Legursky and rookie A.Q. Shipley, neither of whom has played in an NFL regular-season game.

Read more: Steelers sign Stepanovich at center
 
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Steelers sign center

With starting center Justin Hartwig (toe) unlikely to play Thursday night in a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals and Darnell Stapleton (knee) out for the 8 p.m. contest, the Steelers signed Alex Stepanovich on Monday to add depth to the position.

The Steelers released defensive tackle Jordan Reffet to make room on the roster for Stepanovich.

"We'll see what we can do as far as getting him up to speed and being able to participate (Thursday)," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, "but it's great to have a guy there."

Stepanovich has played for the Cardinals, Bengals and Falcons during a five-year career and has made 34 starts in the NFL.

The 6-4, 296-pounder spent yesterday morning in meetings and practiced with the team in the afternoon.

A former teammate of Santonio Holmes at Ohio State, Stepanovich gives the Steelers another healthy center to go with second-year man Doug Legursky and rookie A.Q. Shipley.

When asked if he could learn enough of the offense to play Thursday, Stepanovich said, "I don't know. I'm just glad I found (where to eat) breakfast and lunch already."

Steelers rookie Hood off to strong start - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Center signed
Just several days after they brought him in for a workout, the Steelers signed former Ohio State center Alex Stepanovich to bolster the depth on their offensive line.

Stepanovich (6-4, 296) was one of two centers who worked out last week for the Steelers after guard Darnell Stapleton had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Stapleton, who is expected to be out two to four weeks, had been filling in at center because Justin Hartwig (toe) has been limited in practice and not taken part in team drills.

"We wanted to go into Thursday night with another interior lineman," coach Mike Tomlin said. "Darnell won't be participating and, in all likelihood, Justin Hartwig will not. We'll see about getting [Stepanovich] up to speed."

Stepanovich was a former fourth-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2004 and played three seasons there before playing one season each with Cincinnati ('07) and Atlanta ('08). He has played in 46 NFL games, starting 34.

To make room on the roster, the Steelers released defensive end Jordan Reffert.



Read more: Steelers Notebook: Woodson's endorsement was pleasant surprise to LeBeau
 
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Stapleton on injured reserve; Steelers cut 4 others
Monday, August 31, 2009
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Steelers today placed offensive lineman Darnell Stapleton on injured reserve, ending his season. They also released four players: center Alex Stepanovich, wide receivers Martin Nance and Steven Black and safety Derrick Richardson.

Read more: Stapleton on injured reserve; Steelers cut 4 others
 
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Step has returned to Ohio State and is helping the coaching staff this fall:

110807_8628-vi.jpg
 
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