Tag: Dan Moore

Steelers 2024 offseason roster – Offensive tackles

Here are the offensive tackles on the Steelers roster heading into free agency.

The Pittsburgh Steelers already released former starting right offensive tackle Chuks Okorafor and we are still several weeks from the official start of free agency. Here are the remaining offensive tackles on the roster.

Steelers vs Rams: Pittsburgh going back to OT Dan Moore Jr.

Despite a strong game against the Ravens, the Steelers are going back to Dan Moore Jr.

When Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the media on Tuesday he said it was a big if as to whether or not offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. would be healthy enough to play on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

According to Steelers beat writer Ray Fittipaldo, unless Moore has a big setback between now and the game, Moore will be back in the starting lineup after missing the team’s Week Five game against the Baltimore Ravens. Rookie Broderick Jones got his first NFL start against the Ravens in place of Moore and played well.

The Steelers offensive line has been the weak link for much of the season. Pittsburgh traded up in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft to select Jones but head coach Mike Tomlin appears to be content with letting Jones sit and riding things out with Moore. Pro Football Focus ranked the Steelers offensive line No. 23 in the NFL and No. 26 in pass blocking.

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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin not overly confident in health of OT Dan Moore Jr.

Mike Tomlin indicated if Dan Moore is healthy, he will start against the Rams.

Rookie offensive tackle Broderick Jones got his first NFL start against the Baltimore Ravens in Week Five. But despite having maybe the best game of the season by any Steelers offensive tackle, he is not promised a spot in the starting lineup once Dan Moore returns.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin spoke to the media and said that if Moore is healthy, he will get the start against the Los Angeles Rams. However, Tomlin made it seem like Moore being healthy enough to go is a longshot.

“That is a big if. We’ve got work ahead of us,” Tomlin said

Tomlin appears to have completely changed his stance on rookies playing. The Steelers have multiple first-year players who appear to be doing enough to get on the field but Tomlin is hesitant. Maybe Tomlin remembers how his eagerness to get a rookie like Kendrick Green on the field backfired and now he is gun shy about making the same mistake twice.

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It’s time for the Steelers to say ‘bye-bye’ to OT Dan Moore

The Pittsburgh Steelers wouldn’t have traded up for OT Broderick Jones if they didn’t think he could be a solid performer at the NFL level.

Mike Tomlin is known for driving Steelers Nation nuts by bringing his rookies along slowly. Fans want more Joey Porter Jr., and it just hasn’t happened yet. We’ve barely heard a peep out of tight end Darnell Washington.

Along the offensive line, which, per PFF, currently ranks sixth-worst in the NFL, Broderick Jones has played only four snaps. In Week 1, against the San Fransisco 49ers, Jones stepped in at left tackle when Dan Moore shifted to the right after Chuks Okorafor exited with a concussion.

PFF grades are junk. The determining factors for arriving at them are complicated, confusing and nonsensical. Somehow T.J. Watt, who played out of his damn mind, graded lower than Myles Garrett, who was ineffective.

But stats don’t lie. Research from The Score’s Daniel Valente shows that Moore leads the NFL in pressures allowed (15), hurries allowed (10) and QB hits allowed (4). What he didn’t do was allow a sack on Kenny Pickett versus the Browns’ Garrett.

What Jones has done thus far is a very small sample size, but it’s more than worth demoting Moore and giving him a shot. The third-year tackle allows a lot of action to come at Pickett’s blind side. To develop as a passer and survey the field, he must be given realistic time in the pocket. But he can only do that if he trusts that his line will protect him.

Here’s a thought: See what you have in Jones. If he’s as good as his first-round pedigree suggests, shop Moore around prior to the October 31 trade deadline. He’ll only have 1.5 years left on his contract by then. Experienced and serviceable O-linemen are like gold in the NFL. Omar Khan can shake a team down for future picks and move on.

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Know the Enemy: What the film says about the Pittsburgh Steelers

What takeaways come from the Steelers loss to the 49ers?

From the beginning of the game to the end, the division rivals of the Cleveland Browns from Pittsburgh were outmatched against the 49ers. San Francisco’s offense did whatever they wanted whenever they wanted as they marched up and down the field on Sunday. The Steelers will now also be without their second-best defensive player Cameron Hayward against the Browns on Monday night.

The offense led by second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett didn’t fair much better as they were only able to muster seven points. Granted you can’t make a sweeping declaration about a team after one game but the Steelers looked awful last week.

As I watched through the all-22 film of this game it became apparent that some of the Browns’ strengths match up well with some of the Steelers’ weaknesses. Mike Tomlin remains one of the better coaches in the league and the Browns must bring their best game if they want to win, just because they had a bad week doesn’t mean they are a bad team.

Let’s take a look at some of the key takeaways I had looking back on the Steelers opening week loss.

2021 NFL draft: An offensive tackle for Chargers in each round

Here is a look at some of the offensive tackles the Chargers could consider in each round of the 2021 NFL draft.

The offensive tackle spot sits near the top in regards to positional groups that need to be addressed in the upcoming draft for the Chargers.

Luckily, this year’s crop has starting caliber talent from the first day of the draft all the way until Day 3.

With that being said, here’s a tackle from each round that could fit in Los Angeles:

Round 1 | Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech

Darrisaw, the 6-foot-5 and 315 pounder, was a three-year starter with 34 starts in college, all of which came at left tackle. Allowing only six total pressures on 267 snaps in pass protection, he has good length, demonstrates good timing and quickness with his punches, and has plus grip strength.

In the run game is where Darrisaw is at his best, flashing good quickness moving forward. He shows solid ability to reach and has the athletic traits and movement skills when getting to the second level to pave the way for ball carriers.

Overall, Darrisaw projects as a strong NFL starter at left tackle with All-Pro upside.

Honorable Mention: Samuel Cosmi, Texas

Round 2 | Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State

Radunz only played in one game this past season, but he made 32 consecutive starts at left tackle to close out his collegiate career and the Bison went 32-0 in those games. He earned 79.1 and 87.2 pass-blocking grades in his 2018 and 2019 seasons, respectively, per PFF.

While he needs to get better at finishing blocks, Radunz has the athleticism, range, foot quickness and run-blocking temperament needed to succeed in the NFL. While he develops more mass and add bulk to his frame, his skillset suggests a high ceiling.

Round 3 | James Hudson, Cincinnati

After not allowing a single sack and only giving up six total pressures on 358 pass-block snaps this past season, Hudson had still gone under the radar. However, he raised some eyebrows last month in Mobile, AL at the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

The former defensive lineman shows off lower body athleticism, a wide base, aggressive hands and competitive temperament to stay square to rushers in pass protection. In the run department, he shows the athletic ability when pulling and quickness to reach block.

Given the position transition, Hudson’s technique is still a work in progress and he could afford to add more mass and strength, but he has potential to be a high upside starter at tackle.

Honorable Mention: D’Ante Smith, East Carolina

Round 4 | Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa

After starting 32 of 33 games, Brown decided to sit out of his final season due to the delay until the spring because of COVID-19. He used that time to train with former NFL offensive tackle Joe Staley to help improve his game in preparation for the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Towering at 6-foot-8 and 321 pounds, Brown has the combination of size, length and athleticism to thrive in the NFL. The former tight end is a mirroring magician in pass protection with smooth feet, plus core strength aggressive hands and flexibility.

While Brown is a premiere pass protector, he needs to develop more power and improve the finer details to the position that will lead to more success in the run department. With some refinement, he could be a quality starter at the next level.

Honorable Mention: Brady Christensen, BYU

Round 5 | Adrian Ealy, Oklahoma

Starting all 11 games in 2020, Ealy earned Second-Team All-Big 12 honors. Ealy allowed only three sacks on 421 pass blocks, per Pro Football Focus. In 2019, he also secured Second-Team All-Big 12 marks, starting all 12 games. He appeared in 28 games in three seasons, starting 23 of them.

Standing at 6-foot-6 and 324 pounds, Ealy has the size that NFL teams are looking for. He has great footwork and decent movement skills for his size and he is an aggressive player moving forward in the running game. Ealy needs to refine his pass blocking technique, but he has the necessary traits to be counted on.

Honorable Mention: Walker Little, Stanford

Round 6 | Dan Moore, Texas A&M

For the past three seasons, Moore served as Aggies’ starting left tackle, starting in 36-straight games. Moore was named a second-team All-SEC selection this season by the league’s coaches in 2020. He was a key piece of an offensive line that only allowed six sacks all season.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Moore has a guard frame with great length for the position. He is a decent athlete, showing foot quickness, lateral mobility and lower body power to generate movement. Moore’s hand usage needs work, but his skillset offers a solid developmental option.

Honorable Mention: Cole Van Linen, Wisconsin

Round 7 | Josh Ball, Marshall

Ball was a former four-star recruit and member of Florida State, but he was dismissed after some off-field issues. After joining the Thundering Herd, he didn’t start until the 2020 season, where he asserted himself as a promising hog molly.

Checking in at 6-foot-7 and 309 pounds, Ball isn’t that hard to miss on the football with his giant-sized body. He is a powerful tackle, showing strong hands at the point of attack. Ball shows decent athleticism and adequate length to make it difficult for pass rushers to get around him.

Ball projects as a swing option on both sides at the next level, as he doesn’t possess a significant strength nor an unfixable weaknesses. If his baggage checks out, he would be an intriguing developmental piece.

Honorable Mention: Carson Green, Texas A&M