{"id":53851,"date":"2022-08-23T12:57:38","date_gmt":"2022-08-23T12:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/tim-benz-ways-to-address-steelers-offensive-line-coach-around-it-in-2022-make-it-better-in-2023\/"},"modified":"2022-08-23T12:57:38","modified_gmt":"2022-08-23T12:57:38","slug":"tim-benz-ways-to-address-steelers-offensive-line-coach-around-it-in-2022-make-it-better-in-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/tim-benz-ways-to-address-steelers-offensive-line-coach-around-it-in-2022-make-it-better-in-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Tim Benz: Ways to address Steelers offensive line? Coach around it in 2022, make it better in 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen have nowhere to hide.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

After the unit’s shaky performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Saturday’s 16-15 preseason win, the players are taking heat from fans and media outside the team facility and their own head coach within it.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Consider this anecdote from guard Kendrick Green after Mike Tomlin got a look at the movie against the Jaguars.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cNot good at all. ‘Coach T’ put us up on the board,\u201d Green said Monday. \u201cMe, specifically. Right in front of the team meeting. That never feels good.\u201d<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

It’s a little deep into the calendar to address concerns with the offensive line now, at least in terms of personnel overhaul. High-quality offensive linemen aren’t often available on the open market to step right in and start for a new franchise in late August.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

The occasional receiver might be. A backup running back or quarterback. Perhaps a rotational pass rusher or veteran help in the secondary. <\/span>\n<\/p>\n

But searching for multiple answers along the offensive line at this late stage is like looking for milk or toilet paper at the local Giant Eagle after the first Pittsburgh snowfall forecast of the year.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Occasionally, you can nab a Flozell Adams for a season, as the Steelers did in 2010. But even he signed in late July. You can elevate a guy down the depth chart in a pinch, but no one on the current roster seems to be pushing for such a promotion.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

The best thing for the Steelers to do may be to scheme around the problem. Then again, weren’t they doing that for the last two years of Ben Roethlisberger’s career? <\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Sure, that quick-release passing approach was mainly a way for Roethlisberger to protect himself from opposing pass rushers because of his lack of mobility. But it was also a way to protect the offensive line from having to block for very long.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Now, with more nimble quarterbacks on the roster, the Onus may be on Matt Canada to design and call a boatload of designed rollouts, bootlegs and moving-pocket plays so that his quarterbacks aren’t sitting ducks behind a collapsing O-line. <\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n

More sports<\/h5>\n

\u2022 Cameron Heyward back but Devin Bush sits out Steelers practice
\u2022 Mike Tomlin’s video review calls into question play of offensive line, Kendrick Green
\u2022 Mark Madden: Kenny Pickett may be playing well enough to be the Steelers’ starter, but is it too risky?\n<\/p>\n\n

That’s an alleged strength of Canada’s, and apparently skills new QBs Mitch Trubisky and fortunately Kenny Pickett possesses.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Even Mason Rudolph is more mobile than he gets credit for when he commits to using his legs (note last year’s Lions game when her ran for 36 yards in his lone start).<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Some play-action and properly timed jet sweeps as well as varied personnel alignments may keep the defense on its toes and slow down opponent pass rushes. But the offensive line is occasionally going to have to win in the run game as well to make any of that effective. That’s been another problem spot for this unit in recent years.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

The Steelers’ best hope is simply to make what they have better. And in a hurry.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThere wasn’t enough detail from a fine motor skill standpoint, details relative to their position,\u201d Tomlin said Monday. \u201cThey didn’t play with enough of an edge individually and collectively. The things that are on our tape, we’ve got to own, and I think they’ll be ready to do that.\u201d <\/span>\n<\/p>\n

How the Steelers address rebuilding the offensive line in the future may be the first real sign of influence from new assistant general manager Andy Weidl. Despite having roots with the Steelers dating back to his first job as a player personnel assistant in the mid-90s, Weidl has worked with other teams such as the Eagles, Saints and Ravens. <\/span>\n<\/p>\n

Maybe he’ll bring more of a priority to addressing the offensive linemen early in the draft or at a premium price at the tackle position in free agency. The Steelers haven’t drafted a first-round tackle since Jamain Stephens in 1996. And the Steelers don’t often populate that position with top-notch free agents either.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

The Steelers frequently won division titles and occasionally went to Super Bowls with Roethlisberger helping average offensive lines look above average. But for most of Roethlisberger’s career, there was at least a Pro Bowler at center (Jeff Hartings, then Maurkice Pouncey) and at least one Pro Bowler at guard (Alan Faneca, then David DeCastro).<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

When Roethlisberger broke the huddle in Super Bowl XL his second year, the starting offensive line featured two first-round guards in Faneca and Kendall Simmons and a first-round center in Hartings, who signed as a fairly high-profile free agent from Detroit before the 2001 season. The tackles were a sixth-year second-rounder in Marvel Smith and a third-rounder in Max Starks.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

If Pickett eventually starts as a rookie, the only lineman in front of him with a resume close to that will be guard James Daniels. He was a second-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2018 and signed with the Steelers for $26.5 million this offseason.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

But he’s had struggles adjusting in Pittsburgh. Green and tackle Chuks Okorafor were mid- to late third-rounders. Green was switched from guard to center and now back to guard again. Tackle Dan Moore and guard Kevin Dotson are fourth-rounders. And center Mason Cole (a 2018 third-rounder) is on his third team in three seasons after signing a three-year deal with a modest $4.56 million signing bonus. \n<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, skill position draftees such as Pickett, Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth, George Pickens and Chase Claypool are all first- or second-round picks over the past three drafts. Diontae Johnson was a third-rounder who just signed a $36.7 million contract extension.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

If the Steelers are in 11 personnel (which they were 75% of the time last year) with all six of those guys on the field at the same time, someone is going to be Pickett’s fifth option on a regular basis.\n<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, his starting offensive linemen are supposed to be on the field and high functioning for every snap.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

As formidable as all those skill guys are and with a defense that had the highest payroll in football after Minkah Fitzpatrick’s contract extension in June, it’s time for the Steelers to shift focus back to procuring elite offensive-line talent. Perhaps Weidl can nudge Tomlin, Omar Khan and Art Rooney II in that direction.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever we can do to implement, bring things, to add, to enhance and evolve, we will do it,\u201d Weidl said during a recent training camp press conference.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

The offensive line would be a great place to start. Unfortunately, a lot of that will likely have to wait until next year.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via twitter<\/a>. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.<\/p>\n