Pittsburgh Steelers: Can Mike Adams take advantage of second opportunity at left tackle?

The first time around at left tackle turned out to be a disaster for Pittsburgh Steelers second-year pro Mike Adams.

Now we get to see if he can take advantage of another opportunity.

Sep 27, 2013; London, United

dom; Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Mike Adams (74) at practice at the London Wasps rugby club practice facility at the Twyford Avenue sports ground in preparation for the NFL International Series game against the Minnesota Vikings. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Adams fell on his face in a big way by playing horribly in the first four games of the season. After being torched by the Minnesota Vikings’ Jared Allen in Week 4, Adams found himself on the bench and watched former seventh-round pick Kelvin Beachum step into the role of left tackle and run with it.

Beachum wasn’t spectacular in his time at left tackle, but he wasn’t nearly as bad as Adams and the Steelers offense started to gain some momentum.

However, Beachum was injured in the Thanksgiving night loss to the Baltimore Ravens, opening up the door for Adams to once again show what he can do.

When he lines up Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, Adams has a lot to prove. Hopefully he has a chip on his shoulder and is out to prove the doubters wrong.

At 6-foot-7 and 323 pounds, the Ohio State product has all of the tools to be a very good NFL tackle. He’s athletic. He’s big. He’s physically strong. He’s everything you would want in a prototypical NFL tackle.

Adams needs to show more toughness and develop a bit of a nasty side. His footwork also needs a lot of work.

But second chances don’t come by too often and Adams has one.

Now he needs to take advantage of the opportunity and show people that the Steelers didn’t make a mistake by drafting him in the second round in 2012.

If he takes advantage of the chance, he could turn into a nice surprise for next year. If he doesn’t, it could turn into a long four weeks and his future could be in jeopardy.

You just don’t know how many more chances he will get.