The Time To Straighten Out the Steelers’ O-Line Is Now
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
With the Pittsburgh Steelers’ regular-season kickoffs less than a month away, it’s high time to make some decisions about the offensive line depth chart. This can be a special season, but having the right pieces properly aligned in front of Kenny Pickett will be essential. And one particular position battle should be settled immediately: Broderick Jones needs to be the starting left tackle, and Dan Moore Jr should move to starting right tackle.
Jones is just simply the superior player at LT. He is more athletic. His feet are incredible for a man his size. Sliding his feet inside to stop an inside pass rush is something he does with ease. Getting movement at the point of attack in the run game seems effortless.
He has outstanding knee and hip bend, which only enhances his ability to mow guys down in the run game. He should excel at cutting off back-side 3-techniques on run plays away from him thanks to his impressive ability to move from side to side. Granted, his hand placement still needs work, but that will come as he familiarizes himself with the NFL on a down-to-down basis.
Jones is exactly what you’re looking for in a left tackle in terms of sheer physical dimensions and athletic ability. Plus, he has a mean streak. Put him in, coach!
A move to Jones shouldn’t relegate Moore to backup status. Most organizations want to get the best five offensive lineman on the field at all times. Even if it means a position change, Moore needs to move to right tackle.
Yes, it’s difficult to move from the left side of the line to the right side. Everything is backwards. However, it’s not impossible. There are swing tackles on every NFL roster who are capable of playing both if called upon. Moore should have been switched the second Jones was drafted. If he has really improved as much as some reports out of training camp have suggested, then get him in the lineup where he can help the most – on the right side.
It’s a matter of fit and balance, not a concern that Moore isn’t serviceable. He does have great leverage in the run game. The problem is he catches guys too often and is knocked into the back field. He needs to be much more aggressive at the line of scrimmage. With his athleticism, making the switch, as hard as it may be, would be in everyone’s best interest.
As for Chukwuma Okorafor, it’s hard to say but we’ve seen enough. His performance in the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a struggle. He looked at times like a human turnstile. Guys were beating him both inside and outside. And that’s basically what we saw all last season. He has no movement at the point of attack and zero resistance to an outside pass rush, not to mention barely touching guys when they countered and rushed to his inside shoulder. The best thing that could have happened to Okorafor was to make him and battle it out for the right tackle starting gig with Moore. That would have brought the best out of both of them while settling Jones’ spot on the left side.
There’s only so much time to get ready for the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers. The Steelers have already misstepped in the allocation of their practice bandwidth. The hemming and hawing and coddling of Jones needs to stop. Although significant time and rep opportunity have been lost on a potential move for Moore, it’s not a completely lost cause. They could have him up and running on the right side by week four. And they should.
Hopefully the Steelers make the switches sooner rather than later.
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