The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into a season that could define the franchise’s direction for the next decade. Cleaning house at the quarterback position, heavy investment in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and a more aggressive offseason approach have retooled the roster and coaching staff for the better—at least, that is the hope. Early issues on the offensive line could prove deadly in 2024 for Pittsburgh.
Change Began In The Front Office
Mike Tomlin is one of the more respected coaches in the NFL, but he is also a polarizing figure that divides both the media and fanbase. Entering his 18th year as head coach of the Steelers, Tomlin has never once finished a season with a losing record, which no other coach in NFL history can boast. However, despite that impressive factoid, it hasn’t come with the same consistency in the postseason. Pittsburgh hasn’t had a playoff victory since defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2016 Divisional Round, losing five consecutive postseason games, including the 2016 AFC Championship to the New England Patriots.
A shift in direction began when Kevin Colbert, Pittsburgh’s longtime general manager, stepped down following the 2021 season, and Omar Khan assumed the role. The change was immediate and necessary, with Khan bringing Andy Weidl from the Philadelphia Eagles to become the Steelers’ first assistant general manager. Weidl brought the grit and attitude from Philadelphia needed to build the roster for strength and the long run, starting with the offensive and defensive lines.
After finishing the 2018 season with the top-ranked offensive line in the NFL, the Steelers saw a steady decline in blocking quality (9th in 2019, 17th in 2020, and 26th in 2021). Khan and Weidl began making moves quickly, identifying veteran linemen who could bring a different perspective to a group that had lost its way. James Daniels at right guard was a big free agent signing during the 2022 offseason after spending four seasons with the Chicago Bears, as was former Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings center Mason Cole.
Unfortunately, with Kenny Pickett under center and Canada calling the plays, the 2022 season saw another decline, with Pittsburgh’s offensive line falling to 30th in the league. 2023 saw more investment in the offensive line, with Pittsburgh trading up in the first round in the draft to select left tackle Broderick Jones out of Georgia and signing former Philadelphia left guard and Super Bowl LII champion Isaac Seumalo.
Continued Investments In The Trenches
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Pittsburgh’s 2023 season was a struggle that included Canada losing his job, Pickett having an attitude at the prospect of being a backup, and Mason Rudolph turning into an unexpected savior of the season before falling to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round. Changes continued, with Cole being released, the Pickett experiment ending, the Steelers signing Russell Wilson before trading for Justin Fields, and Khan continuing to invest in the offensive line for the third consecutive year.
Troy Fautanu, a right tackle out of Washington, became the Steelers’ first-round draft pick, and they added West Virginia center Zach Frazier and South Dakota State guard Mason McCormick. That made it three high-profile offensive linemen that Pittsburgh selected in the first four rounds for the first time since 1967 brought about the common draft era.
Considering that new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith enjoyed his best offensive years with a heavy-handed rushing attack, handing him a young, talented, high-potential blocking group immediately looked good on paper. Smith will again be paired with a bruising running back in Najee Harris, just like the coordinator had with Derrick Henry as part of the Tennessee Titans. Jaylen Warren, the third-year back who brings a shifty, speedy compliment to Harris’s downhill style, represents the other half of Pittsburgh’s two-headed backfield that rushed for 3,232 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2022 and 2023 combined.
As dangerous as those two backs could be in 2024, everything hinges on the offensive line. First-round picks and veteran signings should result in positive gains for a team, especially when so many franchises elect to bring in flashy, touchdown-scoring players instead of investing in the foundational aspects of the roster. However, early bumps in the road have Steelers’ fans and the Pittsburgh media more concerned than hopeful.
Revolving Door Of Frustration
Along with a frustrating early calf injury to the named starting quarterback, Wilson, Pittsburgh opened training camp with a confusing mixture on the offensive line. While Jones had shown his talent when he took over at right tackle for Chukwuma Okorafor in Week 9 and played the season out there, Khan made it quite clear during the 2024 offseason that they drafted Jones to be the franchise left tackle.
However, despite what Khan said, Jones began camp at right tackle, but it was Dan Moore Jr. who was starting at left tackle, with Fautanu behind Moore on the depth chart. The situation was further complicated when Fautanu sprained his MCL in Pittsburgh’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans, keeping him out until at least Week 1 of the regular season. During the Steelers’ second preseason contest against the Buffalo Bills, Jones was at right tackle again, and the second-year lineman was manhandled constantly, stalling more than one of Pittsburgh’s offensive drives early in the game.
With only one preseason game against the Detroit Lions left before the scores count, Pittsburgh doesn’t seem to know much more about its offense than when training camp began. It will likely be some combination of Moore Jr. and Jones at the tackles, with the bright spot being the interior of the offensive line. Frazier and McCormick have both shone so far, elevating the blocking quality in an obvious way compared to the other depth players. However, with Wilson and Fields failing to score in the preseason and the offense never really clicking with either quarterback, the Steelers may need to lean heavily on the offensive line.
If Jones struggles against Detroit, what was supposed to be the strength of the offense could become more of a liability. Pittsburgh’s coaching staff and players have been toeing the company line throughout the preseason by saying that it doesn’t count and no one is worried. Still, a distinct difference exists between what is said in a press conference and the mood in the locker room. Pittsburgh will be under a microscope in Detroit, especially the confusing, frustrating offensive line.
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