o-line

According to PFF, offensive guard is the easiest position to draft for success in the NFL. Offensive tackle isn't that far off either. And yet, the Steelers have been trying to rebuild their OL for 5 years now.

Here's the ranking using a % snap count as the measure of success for draftees at each position:

Position Snap count of average No.1 player
iOL 99.6%
OT 97.4%
S 95.2%
LB 92.3%
CB 92.3%
WR 85.3%
QB 83.0%
ED 81.1%
DI 71.7%
TE 71.3%
HB 56.4%

EDIT: should have noted this is average snap % over the first 4 years in the league.

 

RT maybe

LT no

 

According to PFF?

Rookie Center started just last season.
Rookie RG started just last season.
BroJo has played in all 34 games, starting 27.
Troy Fautanu is currently slated to be the starter at RT, which is where started his first game just last season.

I'm not sure if you are saying there's a good chance we have a decent OL this season, or if you're saying we are doing something wrong and doomed to fail.

BroJo - 27 starts
Seumalo - 30 starts with Steelers
Frazier - 15 starts
McCormick - 17 starts
Fautanu - 1 start

Right now Spencer Anderson is #2 behind Seumalo at LG. 4 starts.

We have a very young OL that has the opportunity to become a really good unit over the next couple seasons while still on rookie deals. What is there to be negative about? The future looks bright.

 

Not saying either one. I'm saying it shouldn't take as long as it has. Why the failures over those last years to find these players?

 

Trying to convert Green to Center is a mystery. Something they saw in him during the pre-draft stuff made them think he could play Center. I have no idea. There have been several good Center prospects over the last 5 drafts and we waited until the 2024 draft to take one. I don't know the hesitation on that.

Back to back first round OTs is not a huge surprise, especially when both can and have played at LT. Moore was forced into the LT role his rookie year and did fine for a young player at the spot. But he quickly reached his ceiling and I think that's about as good as he will ever be.

I think we have improved with our OL, how much TBD. IF...these guys don't work out to what we need, I am patient enough with the process to endure more draft picks/FA. I understand not all fans can handle that.

 

Most of the OL hasn't even been on the team for 5 years, so how can you say that?? That's like for example , blaming Rodgers for what Fields, and Wilson did last year.
What I'm trying to say is it strange to say 5 years, when none of them have been on the team for 5 years.

 

Talking players that have come and gone in that time.

 

Jones out today with a soft tissue injury? We used to call that Heat Cramps. Cook in and reports say he looks decent…

 

Rodgers better start his prayers earlier this season. Or whatever he does in dark caves.

 

Darnell Washington better get ready to spend a lot of time lining up next to the LT this season .

 

LTs typically to find their way come year 3. What makes it difficult to evaluate Jones thus far is them flip flopping his position. They've done him no favors... however, I'll start to be more critical of him come the regular season. I want to see how he develops as he regains the muscle memory of playing on the left side. It's truly impossible to evaluate this progress with him playing in shorts.

 

I always thought Fautanu would make a better LT than RT when the Steelers drafted him. Keep in mind that Fautanu was a LT at Washington. It was Broderick Jones bad play at RT, that resulted in him being switched to LT, not because Fautanu can't play LT.

Is it too early for the Steelers to start giving LT snaps to Fautanu? Dylan Cook's primary O-Line position at Montana was RT..... Just Sayin.

So, for actual College in game experience you are looking at Troy playing LT and Dillion playing RT. Neither player has any real NFL game experience.

 

Not true. You can watch hand technique and footwork. These are two things Jones has trouble with since the beginning (even college).... "inconsistent, lackadaisical", were words by one analyst that watched every snap he played last season.

 

i have said it about jones in the past. it's not as much his physical gifts but his mental gifts that are not up to par. so used to being handed opportunities throughout his career, in the pros he has to be the one to build on his body and game. this year his body building process finally began. losing weight was a start. working out to get stronger will be key as well. that's up to him and the training staff. the line coach can only do so much. the player has to put in practice what is taught.

all in all is the mentality difference between players will eventually come to the surface. physical traits are one thing but if it's not put into practice with the cerebral part of the game, it may not complete the process. that is where the edge is gained. most nfl players are gifted physically.

 

Coaching matter

Remember when our o-line was still bad in the early 2010s even after high draft pick like Decastro,Gilbert,Pouncey...They become elite the moment they had Munchak in 2014 and player like Foster,AV become very good too....When they had injury like Pouncey in 2015,the o-line did not collapse despite our backup center was below average....It would not happen with Meyer this is for sure...Imagine the steelers losing Frazier this year for the entire season like in 2015 with Pouncey,never the steelers would be able to recover from that

 

I think teams know exactly what makes a good LT, i.e you don't see too many 1st round LT fails.
The problem has always been on the supply side.

 

I won't be able to see his hand technique and footwork until I see the A11 after preseason games. But again, those specific techniques are completely opposite of the right side, and he he won't truly regain the hands aspect until pads are put on.

Asking someone to completely flip sides is akin to asking someone that's right handed to write with their left hand.

 

You're writing that like he's never played a snap at LT and yet it's 'his natural position' according to pundits. And he played there in college.

 

The style of Rodgers play is best for this Oline. He has 2 seconds to get rid of the ball and is likely one of the best in the league at getting rid of the ball quickly. Our Oline is likely going to be pretty decent from a running perspective and hot garbage for pass protection

 

He might make a great LG though.

 

O line makes the whole team go. If O line can't run and pass block.... too many 3 and outs. Defense gets gassed and gives up chunks of rushing yards, completions and TDs.... rinse and repeat.

 

It all begins at the line. O line should be priority, like ALWAYS.
Regarding the coaching that many have commented on, I believe he’s in the last year of his contract. According to everyone and there brothers Steelers will let him play that out and walk away. Thankfully. So, the question inevitably will be, who’s next?

 

• Drafting skill players instead of drafting OL while Pouncey & DeCastro were obviously at the end - major org failure
• K. Dotson - drafting was successful, coaching was a failure after forcing him out of natural position
• K. Green - major org draft fail, coaching failure attempting to put him at a position he was ill-equipped for
• B. Jones - book is still being written but could end up both a draft failure and coaching failure; you don't trade up for a 'raw, developmental talent' in Round 1!! Jones has been badly inconsistent and his progress, if there is any, has been minimal.
• S. Anderson - ok, 7th rd pick so chances of even making the squad are low, he might end up staying on as a backup
• M. McCormick - a 4th rd pick forced to play too soon. I suspect he might get replaced if one of tackles fails to develop.
• T. Fautanu - incomplete, we'll see where things go this season but some are saying the injury history doesn't bode well for a long OL career
• Z. Frazier - appears to be both a draft and coaching success (, did he already come in knowing his craft?)

Meyer history:

• 2 years in CHI - notable players rookie Kyle Long, played RG & RT and was a pro bowler; Jordan Mills, 2 yrs at RT, then traded to BUF
• 2 yrs as 'consultant' for the Bills (probably why they traded for Mills)
• 3 yrs with LAC as OL coach - team was ranked 24th, 15th, 28th in rushing yds; only notable player was Okung, other OL have bounced around the league
• 2 yrs CAR OL coach - Okung was LT, Taylor Moton has been a fixture at RT for eight seasons, the rest of the line has bounced around the league

Doesn't look all that special in developing talent. Maybe he just interviews well??

 

you conveniently left out some parts of his coaching successes. this should clarify it some.

https://www.steelers.com/team/coaches-roster/pat-meyer