Despite the Steelers offensive line ranking 29th according to Pro Football Focus, the team went 12-4 in 2020 while also enjoying an 11-game win streak to start the season. So even without a top-ranked offensive line, you can still win your division.
The Steelers definitely needed to make some changes to the front five. They lost 3 starters in the offseason: Tackle Alejandro Villanueva, guard Matt Feiler, and center Maurkics Pouncey who played on his heels on most running plays, and was simply overpowered.
So right now, here is the offensive line:
Left Tackle: Chukwuma Okorafor, switching from RT.
Left Guard: Kevin Dotson, started only 4 games.
Center: JC Hassenauer, started 3 games at Center.
Right Guard: David DeCastro, questionable All-Pro
Right Tackle: Zach Banner, coming off torn ACL
Its a bit of an understatement to say the offensive line will be unknown this year. Last year since the run game wasn’t effective, Ben Roethlisberger focused on getting the ball out quick, and so he led the NFL in the quickest average time to throw with 2.17 seconds. It’s safe to say that the passing offense can absolutely carry this team into another winning season if it takes rookie running back Najee Harris some games to get used to the NFL.
James Conner had some issues last year where he wasn’t able to see the gaps, get skinny nor run behind his pads. The Steelers rushing offense in the wild-card game against Cleveland Browns never really developed. In the first quarter, this play design should have given them the first down. The motion at the snap forced the defensive end to bite for the jet sweep but it looks like Conner waited a little too long to hit his hole and when it was time to get up field there was no hard cut to get vertical.
Najee Harris isn’t a guy that tip-toes behind the line of scrimmage. He can make a one-bounce cut, get skinny, and run behind his pads.
In a similar play to the Steelers play above, the offensive line pulls across the line of scrimmage to pick up a defender. Harris stretches the defensive end and then makes a quick cut by planting his back foot, getting skinny through the small hole inside his pulling offensive lineman. Its something as simple as this to get a few extra yards when you are facing second-and-3 or third-and-1. Where the Steelers often got stuffed or even lost yards last season.
Harris has something that this Steelers offensive line needs, someone who makes quick decisions that do not force them to hold their blocks for very long but even if the blocks are not made, Harris’ lateral quickness can keep his speed and momentum through the middle of the field.
Behind this young offensive line, Harris will often see some inside blitzes and stunts from the defense, but as we can see, he has the skill set and determination to get this rushing offense back on track for the first time since Le’Veon Bell was a major factor in 2017.