The State Of the Steelers’ Offensive Line
Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line has been an ongoing issue dating back to the 2020 season. Holding on to aging stars too long while not drafting competent replacements has created a lot of the current struggles. While most of Steeler Nation is eager to heap the blame on a deserving Matt Canada, there’s not a lot offensively that can be accomplished if the O-line can’t consistently win matchups.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the current state of Pittsburgh’s offensive line and discuss why, coming out of the bye, they have an opportunity to start heading in the right direction.
Punch At the Point Of Attack
Seven offensive lineman have seen sufficient time through the first five games with Broderick Jones and Nate Herbig having filled in for starters Dan Moore Jr and James Daniels. Of the seven, only Isaac Seumalo and Jones have consistent punch.
Chukwuma Okorafor and Moore struggle with this the most. On both run and pass plays, defensive linemen constantly get into their chest and either drive them back because of their leverage or create soft edges and turn the corner. Both guys have too often left running backs or the quarterback at a disadvantage.
Seumalo epitomizes what you’re looking for in punch at the point of attack. Brought in this season from Philadelphia, he has far and away been the Steelers’ best lineman. Getting extended and keeping defenders away from his chest, Seumalo is able to control defenders in both the run and pass game.
Positioning And Push
Center Mason Cole plays too often on the Steelers’ line of scrimmage. The center position requires quick feet to get into a stable position after snapping the ball. Cole is often in the right spot, but lacks the center of gravity and stability created by good footwork to allow him any push.
When defensive lines play twist games, this problem gets worse. Linemen are responsible for passing off assignments to one another, and when struggling with their base and positioning, penetration can cause uneven levels that can wreak havoc. Moore is a culprit. Far too often he is playing on his heels versus a strong base, and the line suffers the consequences.
Daniels does an excellent job of getting push once he gets his hands on you. While his footwork and positioning are not always the cleanest, he fights. Getting him back in the lineup soon will help the Steelers as although Herbig is serviceable, ultimately he is a backup.
A Mean Streak
To move men against their will, an offensive lineman has to have a mean streak. Be nasty at the point of attack. Daniels and Seumalo are as nasty as they come along the inside. Rookie Jones had that reputation coming out of college. In his first start against the very aggressive Baltimore Ravens, that angry streak shined through in his outstanding performance. Continued efforts like that should solidify his starting spot for years to come.
Unfortunately, mean streak is where Moore and Okorafor struggle mightily. Too many times they get beat initially and don’t have the fight to get back in the play. While things move extremely fast on the offense line and you must have a countermove, it can be more important to simply have that dawg in you.
With 12 games left, the Steelers have to find consistent offensive line play. Getting a healthy James Daniels back at right guard is a start. The emergence of 14th-overall pick Jones gives them a more dynamic player at left tackle. If Moore is healthy, moving him to right tackle gives Pittsburgh their best opportunity to get their best five lineman on the field. This in turn gives the Black and Gold their best opportunity for offensive success.
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