Offensive Line?

Question for you guys in the know. We settled there? I think we have 3 young guys who were first round picks. I know we used some draft capital the last 2 years on the O-line but I see a lot of b!tching on here about it.

Will they be better???? If they are and idiot comes to us I'm liking this team to shock a bit. If it's Mason he seems to have a decent cast of characters just not sure how it will play out.

Thanks!

 

Here's the depth chart of names:

LT: Jones.......... (Cook)
LG: Seumalo.....(S. Anderson, Aiden Williams (UDFA))
C: Frazier..........(McCollum, Lecitus Smith (Wavier, NE))
RG: McCormick..(Scharping, Steven Jones (SFA))
RT: Fautanu......(C. Anderson, Nester)

As far as performance, the line has been woefully inconsistent the past three years. Will they be better? I would hope Jones/Fautanu as bookends is an upgrade over Moore/Jones of last year (putting faith in some of Jones' struggles last year were injury-related). McCormick and Frazier should be improved in their second seasons, and Frazier was very good last year. Seumalo is the elder statesman at 31. He's been up and down, too. Tough to say which we'll get. Depth is below average IMO, so hopefully they stay healthy.

Personally, I'm surprised disappointed that Meyer is still here. I just don't get positive vibes over his ability to develop the group after watching some of the missed assignments and general sloppiness of the past few years.

But I'm hoping things turn a corner this year.

 

Meyer is a major question mark but Broderick Jones is the X Factor of the entire 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers. How his performance comes in 2025 shall dictate whether or not that alters Pittsburghs Draft Plans in 2026 for potential Franchise Caliber Left Tackles are not only hard to find but even harder to keep. Quarterback remains the biggest hole heading into 2026 but if said QB isn't fully protected, it doesn't matter who the QB is.


I asked Patrick Mahomes about his two Super Bowl losses and he seems to agree. Games are won and lost in the trenches. Having the guy helps but if he isn't given a chance, the team ends up having little to no chance whatsoever.


In short?! Put up or shut up time for Broderick Jones. I truly hope he can succeed for he still remains my favorite player Khan has drafted to date. Hopefully 2025 is the year he can finally put it all together.

 

Meyer is not that good.

Tomlin does not care, just keeps it all in place. And Rooney, well.....I have said enough.

Pat Mahomes would fail here.

it's the same song and dance every year.

2 first rounders + a stud C 2nd rounder, like you said - to start. It's a COLOSSAL failure on the FO and COACHING if they can't produce

 

We have two very talented Olinemen, Fautanu and Jones, first round talents. The problem is they are better suited to play guard, Fautanu is 6-4 and Jones 6-5. They should be moved inside and Steelers need to get true tackles 6-6, 6-7, 6-8. They will never be truly happy with a guard playing tackle, no matter how great and athletic of a talent he is.
Then we have McCormick. He is also very good for guard position. No need to seek replacement.
The rest of the starters need to be replaced, So in essence, the Steelers need two starting true tackles, and a center, and should move the two most talented dudes Jones and Fautanu inside. to their natural position.

 

Mmm. Does not look good. Appreciate the discussion though.

 

ummmm - you missed a STUD of a Center!

come on man, COME ON

 

Fine, no one cares about centers. That's like a leftover position, if they can't play G or T, you stick them to center.

 

I have wanted Meyer gone since the beginning of this Offseason. What Tomlin and others see in him I don't know. What I do know is that Tomlins inability to properly draft and develop Offensive Lineman has been just as bad as the teams Muscial Chairs of OCs since 2020.

 

So again...


Andrew Thomas is 6-5, Christian Darrisaw is 6-5, RaShawn Slater is 6-4, Ikem Ekwonu is 6-4, David Bahktiari was 6-4 and a Top 10 selection in Armand Membou is 6-4.


If an OT has the Arm Length and Wingspan while having superb athleticism and/or discipline, they can play OT. Need I remind you that Chris Hubbard stood at 6-3 and was a damn fine OT for Pittsburgh. Troy's story has just begun and there is still time for Broderick to turn it around.


Size isn't the problem here. Their teacher is in Pat Meyer. For that matter, the bigger issue is Tomlin's inability to properly develop Offensive Lineman.

 

Wow.

 

Those heights are not good for tackles in NFL. That's college stuff where most athletic guys play tackle regardless of their height and frame. In NFL, there is a higher standard, tackles need to be taller and athletic.
It's about frame two, so some of those guys you listed are not suited to play guard because the frame, or arm length, so they play tackle, but it is not optimal to have 6-5, 6-4 tackles, you will never be happy.

 

Once again though, this is simply incorrect.


Teams don't care nearly as much about height for an NFL Offensive Lineman as they once did a generation to 30 years ago. Height only does so much anymore anyways. Arm Length and wingspan are now the ideal for NFL Teams. For that matter, the general Arm Length threshold for Offensive Tackles is 33 inches. If it is under in the case of Will Campbell or even Wyatt Milum, both OTs who are 6'6, they will never truly be able to be proficient OTs at the next level. Compare that to someone like RaShawn Slater; 6'4, 315lbs with 33 inch arms. He has been nothing short of great.


Andrew Thomas' Arm Length checks out over 36 inches. Hell, even Troy Fautanu was launched back into the OT discussion after measuring over 34 inches at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. Length matters more than Height in Today's NFL.


If anything, being Troy's Height actually makes it even more difficult for most EDGE Players to deal with due to his naturally low center of gravity. Trench Warfare is heavily dependent in leverage, hand placement, positioning, athleticism and discipline. Troy has this in spades; all the more reason he was universally regarded as the second best OT in the class and a Top 10 pick overall; injuries or not.


To conclude, height in today's NFL for NFL Offensive Tackles can only do so much for them. Nowadays, teams will take the superior athletic OT with longer arms should it mean sacrificing some height of that OT. Trent Williams is 6'4 and will be cartwheeling to Canton Ohio sooner than later. Laremy Tunsil is 6-5 and is still regarded as a premier Offensive Tackle. Players like Jordan Mailata, Penei Sewell and most recently in Joe Alt only come around so often and are exceedingly rare for their size; all the more reason that NFL Teams have pivoted away from factoring in size and only that.


If size is the only factor, more Mehki Bectons and Evan Neal's will happen. Take the OT for what he shows on tape and not based on a tape measurement.

 

Is Pat Meyer still the O-Line coach.... Yeah were screwed!!!!!

 

You are wrong about that. Low center of gravity is not a consideration, otherwise linemen would be 6-0. At tackle, taller and athletic dudes have advantage they can swallow 6-3, 6-4 edge rushers with size, AND have a wider quicker kick step to quicker get to the wider spot. Some shorter dudes are super athletic like Jones and can get the job done but their height is still not optimal for tackle position.
As far as arms go, there is a bell curve. Arms cannot be too long nor too short. Guys with longer arms have slower arms and that is not good. if arms are 100 ft long, it takes longer to lift them. Thirty six inch arms are too long, that's not good. Andrew Thomas has a natural problem playing tackle, and guard where arms have to be quicker, this shorter than at tackle but not too short either.

 

Mmhmm...


Given how the examples I have posted are not only some of the best in the game but also where the current paradigm that the NFL is headed, I believe the point is quite clear. Length and athleticism matter in today's NFL a lot more than a mere tape measurement this isn't the 2000s anymore where behemoth, slow prodding OTs dominated. Those days are over for EDGEs like Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Trey Hendrickson and Micah Parsons will wreak havoc on an opponents Offensive Game Plan.

 

I'm assuming that quote should be in blinking green. If not, remember that guy touches the ball on every single play and calls out the protection adjustments which makes the offense go. Frankly if you don't have a great center, along with a blue chip QB, **** starts going south quickly.

 

When you arrive at the answer why Joe Alt 6-9 321 is a better tackle than Broderick Jones 6-5 311 or Andrew Thomas 6-5 315 you will get it.

 

C'mon, man. There is no one size fits all.

Different shapes, different weights.

 

We should have a good line, we have the talent and youth. If it doesnt perform up to par its going to be due to injury or Meyers ineptitude, or both.

 

77 at guard 100%, neither at tackle. 75 cannot play Oline, maybe TE.

 

Arrive at the answer?! Did you not read the post?! How many Joe Alts are there in the draft?! His overall skillset is comically rare. That however isn't the point.


Unless there are more Offensive Tackles of Joe Alts skillset, the status quo remains the same. For that matter, Kelvin Banks, Armand Membou and Josh Conerly Jr. further emphasize my point; length and athleticism over height.


There isn't much to say here.

 

Aw geez....!