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Offensive Line

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by Maddog78, May 1, 2021.

  1. Maddog78

    Maddog78 Well-Known Member

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    Unlikely to find a starter on day 3 or in the scrap heap of post-draft free agency, so this is what the Steelers are looking at in 2021 as their offensive line:

    LT: Chuks Okorafor - 4th year below-average graded RT with 19 career starts

    LG: Kevin Dotson - Promising 2nd year player with 4 career starts

    C option 1: BJ Finney - career swingman with 13 starts at G and C in 6 seasons

    C option 2: Kendrick Green - undersized rookie who mostly played G at Illinois

    RG: David Decastro - former All Pro coming off his worst season

    RT: Zach Banner - 5th year unknown with 2 career starts coming off torn ACL

    Swing guard/center: whoever loses the Finney/Green competition

    Swing tackle: Joe Haeg, 6 year vet with 38 career starts, 29 of which came his first 2 seasons

    Either the Steelers know something we don't know or they're whistling past the graveyard and think one RB and a new OC will fix the run game.
     
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  2. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member

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    I think DD was hurt last year. Green is an animal.

    So, Dotson-Green-DeCastro could be very good inside. I think we'll figure out RT, first by hoping that Banner is the guy. I am very concerned about LT though. I'm not an Oko fan.

    On the other hand, we're rebuilding, despite what some think, and we can't draft 8 players in 3 rounds. I like who we got.
     
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  3. steel machine

    steel machine Well-Known Member

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    Has me worried for sure but I always remember the crap the O-line took during the season of our 5th SB. After we won SB Ben even said, "how bout that O-line" since the so called experts talked how weak they were all season. To be fair, Ben spent some time on his ass that season. I think the Eagles set a record for sacks against us that season.
     
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  4. PWP

    PWP Well-Known Member

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    Banner getting good reports he may be stronger and better than before maybe he goes to LT.. Dotson used to be a Tackle so maybe he goes out to RT.Use Finney as the Center with experience.Face it Pouncey has been horrible for 2 or 3 seasons now.Green at LG..DD at RG. Putting OKorafor back on the bench as bu tackle...

    I hope they at least try this combo I like the potential better than the 1 you have..
     
  5. Maddog78

    Maddog78 Well-Known Member

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    This is where I'm at - I feel much better about the interior, especially if they turn into a ground and pound offense.

    The tackle position is a wing and a prayer. Hope is they mitigate it with offensive scheme, lots of 3rd and shorts.
     
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  6. Kirkland

    Kirkland Well-Known Member

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    But that was 13 years ago when Ben was way more mobile and they ran Arians’ backyard football offense that consisted of Ben improvising mid-play half the time.
     
  7. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    you forgot aviante collins and rashaad coward were added as well. both can play tackle or guard. two guys from the PS that were really good tackles in college in coyle and walton. collins has one start. coward has 5 starts. coward has played a lot as the 3rd TE/tackle in run situations as well. similar to how we used hawkins last year and adams in the past and banner some in the past. i also don't think green is undersized. 6-4 315. he's bigger then pouncey was. :cool:
     
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  8. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    Hassle sure would like to be thought of as well.
     
  9. Maddog78

    Maddog78 Well-Known Member

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    He's a practice squad player, nothing more.
     
  10. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    Not entirely out of the question
     
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  11. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    The OL will be improved simply by getting rid of Pouncey, and AV neither one got any push in the running game.
     
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  12. blackandgoldpatrol

    blackandgoldpatrol Well-Known Member

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    I have no problem with the line we're putting out there.... Child is a very good pass blocker, and even though he gets no push in the run game, I can see us using frieirmuth to help him out on running plays..... Dotson is the future on the inside and will represent well at lg....... Finney is definitely a better guard than center, but can be a decent placeholder until green is ready..... Decastro played hurt most of last season.... A healthy return should make a world of difference.... Last, but not least, I have more than enough confidence in Banner.... Moore should be good to go..,.. let's give coach klem a chance to put it all together
     
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  13. Formerscribe

    Formerscribe Well-Known Member

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    I think Banner can be a decent starter as long as he is healthy. Okorafor is my primary concern. I think he can hold his own as a pass blocker, but he is just such a liability in the run game. He's athletic, but he just gets pushed around far too often.
     
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  14. Seven4Steel

    Seven4Steel Well-Known Member

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    There's potential if utilized/coached properly. I'm pessimistic, but I will say that if the stars align and the injury bug stays away, Harris might be able to shift the run/pass ratio into a more respectable balance (even though we all know that we will throw a lot more than run).
     
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  15. MeanJoeBlue

    MeanJoeBlue Well-Known Member

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    For 4 of the first 5 games last year (excluding Denver), these were the run and pass attempts:
    30 rushes, 32 pass attempts vs. NYG
    38 rushes, 36 pass vs. Houston
    32 rushes, 34 pass vs. Phil
    37 rushes, 23 pass vs. Cleveland

    They did that without Harris.
    So with a lead, and if the injury bug stays away, the team is very capable of a run/pass ratio balance.
     
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  16. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    Not gonna lie…. Our tackles scare the heck out of me.
     
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  17. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    I guess the coaches know something we don't, they seem to be confident in the two tackles.
     
  18. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    With Ben getting rid of the ball in about 2 seconds, I’m not too concerned with that. Focus is on the ground game and they can only go up from last years unit.
     
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  19. Thor

    Thor

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    Yeah, but they're going to have to expand upon that philosophy if they ultimately want to have a productive running game and balanced offense.
     
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  20. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    Ben will be running a new offense, so he may have to hold the ball a little longer now.
     
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  21. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    I’m not so sure it’s a new offense as much as just more of the playbook. Same difference maybe. The hard part is going to get Ben to actually learn more of the playbook.
     
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  22. mcam

    mcam Well-Known Member

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    It's much documented on here it being a big concern of mine.

    It is kind of a make or break it thing imo.

    So here's to hoping they can find a unit here that works well.

    I'm hoping Haeg is an upgrade over Okorafor.

    I think we have a glaring hole at the LT position that's going to be exploited.
     
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  23. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    They scare the heck out of our quarterbacks
     
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  24. OX1947

    OX1947 Well-Known Member

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    Would like to see the Denver offense of 1997-1998 this year. Run and throw to open receivers on play action.
     
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  25. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    I would say they give me some concern for certain. Zach Banner though definitely does after coming back from an ACL Injury. Hopefully all goes well for him. Chuks I am a bit more optimistic in although mark that optimism as cautious.
     

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