The O-Line Issue

Your 1st two sentences says it all. New players, coaches, system is concerning because its new and different. The comfort level that has been part of our OL is gone. So, concern at this point can breed pessimism solely based on nothing that has occurred yet on the field, or assumptions. My question is when will we know what we have in this OL and the overall success of improving our offense? For me, by the 4th game or it'll be time to start looking at the next draft.

 

I believe 4 game will be 2 soon. A lot can change from Week 4 till week ....let's say 11.

 

well the coach isn't completely new.

 

Depends on the degree of the growing pains. When you stop to think about all the guys with little or no NFL experience the Steelers are counting on "stepping up" in 2021, it's kind of ominous.

 

Not to mention that other teams have had success against the Steelers starting guys with little to no experience but they kept things simple and used scheme and practice to shield some of the more basic mistakes. People are acting as if these guys and Harris included have never played football before and that is simply not the case. I expect them to perform as football players, game speed might catch them off guard but they should know how to play

 

Green has some massive shoes to fill.

 

I am not talking about wins, just signs our offense is improving or is trending away from end of last year.

 

the end of last year had a lot to do with other factors besides just the line. 4 games is hardly a measuring stick. remember we were 11-0 to start. every year is different. last year we had an injured QB. injured o-linemen. injured defense. dropped balls, oh the dropped balls. injured RB's. bad snaps. it all adds to the end we had. it's hard to just compare what happened last year to anything that will happen this year. many different factors. apples to oranges. the dropped passes and bad snaps alone could have changed the outcome by a lot if they didn't happen.

 

A. Harris is the least of my worries. Pierre, Sutton, Layne, Banner, Green are bigger concerns. Turner's a vet, but who knows how good he'll be after last year. Chuks might stink.

B. It doesn't have to be "bad news bears" to be fatal. A weak link or two on the OL or secondary can wreck a season. Our coaches watched Spillane repeatedly fail to cover a #1 WR, you think they have a solution other than "play better" if the personnel is lacking?

 

we watched bush fail to cover receivers too. for two years now. #1 draft picks don't automatically make things better in all departments. it all falls back to coaching and making changes to cover deficiencies. not ours strong suite. if chuks stinks they should make a change and play to the strengths of the replacement. we don't even know that chuks will be the starter if he fails in preseason and camp. there is time to add to what we now have if need be. same as if turner fails, we may move green to guard or put coward there. we may be better with green at guard and finney at center. there are options. i just hope they are allowed to make the changes needed and make them. that falls on this coaching staff to figure out. i don't think anything is set in stone yet.

 

Steelers Won a SB with one of the worst Lines I have ever seen 2 be that successful. So I totally agree.

 

I guess I made this a little too broad brushed. Not disagreeing with your post at all as I agree with how you are interpreting my original question. But here is what I hope to see by game 4 and if not, well, I don't believe it is a good sign ( although things could change):
1. Ben not playing like he is afraid to get hurt, shotgun much of the time on run plays. and dink and dunk passing not necessary due to pressure
2. I see an actual commitment to running the ball via game planning/ prep and play calling
3. The OL beginning to look like they are better run blockers than end of last year and OL coaches influence demonstrated
4. About running the football from all in the organization; they're weren't just talking the talk, but walking the walk
5. We're not dead last in rushing in the NFL
6. Ben not acting OC and calling/ changing plays not in Canada's system and the two are not at odds in the heat of battle
7. Etc, etc
Again, I am not looking for wins or the offense being dominant, just that we are moving in the right direction and that all the rhetoric discussed since the offseason began wasn't just hot air. In other words, are we at least trying and it shows? I believe we can win early next season with our offense, however, I can take losses if we are at least showing a commitment to doing what they've said they were going to do. Not like the end of last year. The defense, well, that is a subject all unto itself for another time.

 

The 2019 Chiefs OL was average, not bad. They also have the Michael Jordan of QBs in his prime. 2008 Steelers had a legendary D and Ben in his prime.

This squad can't afford a leaky OL and secondary.

 

Like I said b4. I'm more worried about the secondary. Really the whole D.

 

It’s almost unimaginable that the D won’t regress. They’ve been a top 2-3 unit for two years. Very hard to keep that going, and now they’ve lost Nelson, Dupree and Hilton and did nothing in the draft to help on that side of the ball.

OLine is definitely my biggest worry however. I think they’ll improve in run blocking because they simply can’t be any worse than what we saw last year, but pass protection may be the issue. If they are going to develop a downfield passing game they have to give Ben time to throw the ball.

 

it will be an upgrade over Pouncey of the past two years.

 

He's next man up to carry the line as a HOFer...BIG SHOES imo.