Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that Zach Banner is the starter at right tackle.
— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) September 9, 2020
Zach Banner will no longer just be an “eligible receiver.” On Wednesday, Tomlin officially named Banner the Week 1 starter at right tackle with six days left to kick off on Monday. The 6’8 offensive tackle appeared in 14 games last season with one start.
Right tackle was one of the few true position battles Pittsburgh had to assess in training camp, and their ultimate decision came down to the wire.
Banner is elated to have earned a solidified spot on the roster. “I’m extremely grateful that I am not a bubble roster guy anymore. I am going to be on the 53,” Banner told the media last week. “I’m not going to be in a hotel waiting for my phone to ring. I’m not saying that is what I’m settling at. I want to be great. I want to play; I do want to be a starter. I am extremely competitive. I can’t make that decision; I can only go out and put it on film.”
That competitiveness will be truly tested Week 1 and beyond, as head coach Mike Tomlin alluded that the starter could change weekly based on the matchup at hand. Nothing like the challenge of needing to prove your worth weekly to bring out the best in a player.
The Steelers have a long season ahead of them, and player personnel adjustments will be made, likely more this season than any other. Especially without preseason games, the first few games are going to reveal a lot about who can hold their own when the going gets tough.
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