Steelers HC Mike Tomlin promotes Chris Morgan to OL coordinator

Morgan was promoted to OL coordinator on Tuesday following the dismissal of Adrian Klemm.

When the broadcast of Pittsburgh Steelers games cuts to the coaching booth, you’ve probably seen a guy sitting next to offensive coordinator Matt Canada. That’s Canada’s assistant, Chris Morgan, who was promoted to offensive line coordinator yesterday following the dismissal of Adrian Klemm.

“I’m excited about the spin that his perspective will bring us,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said about Morgan.

Tomlin is hopeful that the intimate relationships that Morgan has built among the staff and players this season will carry over into the new role.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity for me to gain some exposure to C-Mo’s potential because he will be a candidate for the job. What better way to see what he’s capable of doing than to allow him to do the job for the remaining portions of the season.”

A Tall Task

These next two weeks are huge for Morgan, as he’s auditioning for a more prominent role in the Pittsburgh Steelers organization. Though two games is a small sample size, if the offensive line improves under Morgan’s direction, the interim promotion could potentially become permanent.

Making the most of a good opportunity will certainly be a challenge in this situation. Morgan has a daunting task in front of him as he inherits an offensive line that’s one of the worst in the NFL. The unit has drastically underperformed through 15 games, and it’s hard to imagine a significant about-face this late in the season, especially given its player personnel’s lack of experience and/or talent.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked 35 times — the highest since 2013 — and that’s with the quickest release in the NFL.

Pittsburgh is averaging 87.6 rushing yards, and that’s on the high side. Though he displays a ton of effort and heart with each attempt, Najee Harris has only managed 3.7 per attempt for a 65 yards per game average.

Morgan’s Resume

Morgan came to the Steelers in February as a veteran offensive line coach. He served as offensive line coordinator with the Falcons from 2015 to 2020, where his line helped block Matt Ryan’s way to franchise and career-highs in yards (4,944) and touchdowns (38). Morgan was also instrumental in the continued development of Pro Bowlers center Alex Mack and tackle Jake Matthews. In 2018, in addition to coaching the O-line, he was run game coordinator.

Before joining the Falcons, Morgan spent a season with the Seattle Seahawks, where he was part of the 2015 Super Bowl staff as the assistant offensive line coach.

Morgan first entered the NFL as assistant O-line coach with the Oakland Raiders in 2009 and spent time with Washington (2011-2013).

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Ben Roethlisberger tells offensive line not to forget about the quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger has offensive line on the mind.

Entering what may (or may not) be his last season in the NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has the offensive line on his mind.

With offseason focus on improving a dead-last run game via rookie running back Najee Harris, Big Ben hopes that Pittsburgh’s linemen haven’t forgotten about the quarterback.

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“I hope their biggest pride… I know that everyone is preaching running the ball, right… We have to run the ball better, this, that, and the other.”

“I hope that their biggest pride is protecting the quarterback,” Roethlisberger recently told SiriusXM’s Movin’ the Chains.

Pass protection, pass protection, pass protection.

The Steelers offensive line did a stand-up job (pun intended) at protecting their quarterback last season. Ben Roethlisberger took a record-low 13 sacks, but he also got the ball out of his hands at a rate like never before because the players couldn’t hold their blocks.

Either way, the performance of that O-line is a thing of the past because only one starter returned for the 2021 season.

Following Pittsburgh’s win over the Eagles, Steelers head coach Tomlin said Roethlisberger would play versus the Detroit Lions. Although only for a series or two, it’ll be our first and only preseason glimpse of Big Ben with the first team.

The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Detroit Lions Saturday at 7:30 p.m. eastern for preseason Week 2.

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Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger talks lack of cohesion on Pittsburgh’s O-line

Big Ben discusses the multitude of challenges the Steelers offensive line has to overcome during the 2021 NFL season.

SiriusXM NFL Radio’s Training Camp Tour recently stopped in Pittsburgh and visited with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

During the chat, former Steelers quarterback Jim Miller (co-host of Movin’ the Chains) asked Big Ben for a state of the union on Pittsburgh’s offensive line.

“There are questions,” said Roethlisberger. “You just mentioned a lot of guys and a lot of things, but how many of those guys have played together?”

“Anybody that plays line or knows anything about football knows that it’s about cohesiveness up there. And that’s what we’ve always had here.”

Roethlisberger rattled off well-known players like Maurkice Pouncey,  Alejandro Villanueva, David DeCastro, Matt Feiler, who are no longer in Pittsburgh.

“Those guys played together for a good chunk of time. That cohesiveness, knowing that guy to your left, knowing that guy to your right… they’re on a fast track; they’ve got to learn each other really quick. There are going to be bumps in the road.”

“[Dotson] is going to be our starting left guard next to a brand-new center,” Roethlisberger said. “They’ve got to start getting some reps together.”

Dotson has yet to take reps with the first team due to what was confirmed as a lingering ankle injury.

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Big Ben also mentioned Trai Turner, a once Pro Bowl-level player, signed to replace the retired DeCastro. “[Trai] has not played in this system or played next to a rookie or next to [Zach] Banner who just had his first practice the other day.”

“There are a lot of unknowns, a lot of question marks, but the challenges that are in front of them, they’re up for it.”

Of the three “veterans” on the Steelers O-line, Chukwuma Okorafor, who started in place of Banner last season, has the most starts with 19. Dotson played sparingly last season for DeCastro, and rookie Kendrick Green is at the center of it all (pun intended).

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