Tag: Steelers offensive line

How the Steelers switched their offensive line from weakness to strength

In the last two drafts, the Pittsburgh Steelers transformed their offensive line from a glaring weakness to a potential strength.

“We’re looking for guys with talent. Oftentimes that talent is coupled with experience. It’s good to have a group that is mature as players and as people, and I think that’s reflective of the collective that you’re talking about. All that means is we should expect those guys to have a high floor and maybe have a good presentation of what they’re capable of early on, and for that, we’re excited certainly.”

That’s what Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said of the offensive line pieces he and general manager Omar Khan put together in the draft, and why wouldn’t he be excited? The Steelers’ offensive line has been a major problem for multiple years and multiple offensive playcallers, and new OC Arthur Smith will at least have a wildly upgraded front five with which to do whatever it is he is going to do with his playbook.

The Steelers went all-in here, selecting Washington tackle Troy Fautanu with the 20th overall pick, West Virginia center Zach Frazier with the 51st overall pick in the second round, and South Dakota State guard Mason McCormick with the 119th overall pick in the fourth round. Add in veteran guard Isaac Seumalo (one of two bright spots on that line last season), and 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones (he was the other), and all of a sudden, Pittsburgh’s primary weakness outside of that pesky quarterback thing becomes a serious strength.

Last season, Fautanu allowed two sacks and 23 total pressures for a Washington passing game in which Michael Penix Jr. attempted 117 passes of 20 or more air yards. So, we’re pretty sure he can hold his position for a long time at any level. And he’s got some interesting tricks up his sleeve.

I didn’t get to McCormick’s tape until I was at the Indianapolis airport about to fly home from the scouting combine, but he stood out right away when I did. Ignore the small-school bias — this guy is a wrecking machine inline and as a puller.

As for Frazier, this guy is pure nasty on the field, and his determination showed up at West Virginia with his ability to play through injuries, as well as an on-field demeanor that might give even NFL defenders pause after he rounds out the technical aspects of his position.

“Sometimes in the draft, a lot of great players and, selfishly, certainly things break your way, and they feel like that, last night, and today or tonight,” Smith said after the Steelers had taken Fautanu and Frazier, and before they selected McCormick. “But I’m just really excited to get a chance to work with both of them. And, you know, even Broderick [Jones], still early in his career as well. There’s a lot of guys, Isaac [Seumalo], all these linemen. I’m really fired up to get a chance to work with them.”

Once again, the excitement is palpable — and certainly understandable.

Mike Tomlin is REALLY unhappy with Pittsburgh’s offensive line

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has reviewed his offensive line, and he is more than willing to make his displeasure known.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is one of the better interviews in the NFL, and that’s been the case for years. Just as Tomlin can wax eloquent on the state of his team and life in general, he can also get straight to the point. Tomlin was in a mood to do the latter after reviewing the tape of his offensive line following Saturday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and their surprisingly snappy defensive front. All three of Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks — Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph — had defenders in their faces far too often for Tomlin’s taste, and he was making that clear in word and deed.

“Today was about the evaluation of our tape and then coming out here and doing what was appropriate relative to what we saw on tape,” Tomlin told the media on Monday. “We made some corrections this morning, some things that we talked about and some things that we didn’t talk about, and then we came out here and had a good workday. We’ll analyze this and then as a staff, we’ll start leaning in on some Detroit prep in preparation for our mock week.”

Asked to be more specific, Tomlin was happy to do so — to a point.

“There wasn’t enough detail from a fine motor skill standpoint, details relative to their position. They 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.”

But Tomlin stopped there from an explanation standpoint.

“I’m not delving into the details with you guys. They know where I stand and what I expect, and it’s going to be fun to watch them work and respond to that adversity this week.”

Left tackle Dan Moore Jr. was likely the primary culprit — per Pro Football Focus, he allowed a sack and three quarterback hits against the Jaguars on 28 pass-blocking reps. This after allowing a sack and a quarterback hurry against the Seahawks in the prior week of the preseason.

Moore (No. 65) looked pretty overwhelmed when asked to handle pass-rusher Arden Key (No. 49) on an inside-to-outside move.

Left guard Kendrick Green (No. 53), who allowed two quarterback hits and a quarterback hurry against the Jaguars (and multiple pressures against the Seahawks), didn’t help his case, either. Key was the defender to deal with in this case, as well, and… well, you don’t often see a pancake bull-rush, but you’re about to right here.

Tomlin was asked whether the left guard position would come down to Sunday’s game against the Lions, and it sounds as if everybody in the building with an offensive line position should be on high alert.

“Man, a lot of spots will come down to this work. This work is weighted differently and appropriately so. The in-stadium work is significant, and increasingly so the more stadium exposure you get. So, make no mistake, this is a significant game for a lot of people.”

Left guard Kevin Dotson seemed to evade Tomlin’s wrath — he “showed some things,” as the coach said — so that could be a discussion.

One of the few Steelers offensive linemen who has shown more than “some things” is left tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, who made this week’s Secret Superstars list after allowing no pressures of any kind this preseason, and looking quite good against Jaguars first-overall pick Travon Walker. 

The Steelers added offensive lineman Adrian Ealy to their roster this week. When asked if this was a message to the rest of the line, Tomlin said, “I don’t send messages. I just make moves.”

What does he hope that Ealy will bring to the team?

“Quality play.”

Alrighty then! So, if you’re playing offensive line for the Steelers this week, you may not be for much longer, and the final preseason game would be the big test.

What we know for sure is that Mike Tomlin is not impressed, and he’s made that abundantly clear.

Steelers ex-OC Todd Haley sounds off on failing Pittsburgh offense

Todd Haley shares his take on the Steelers OL since Mike Munchak left for the Denver Broncos.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are dealing with an identity crisis on the offensive side of the ball. They are so unbelievably lost that they might not find themselves before the end of the 2020 season.

When Pro Football Focus released their preseason rankings of offensive line units, the Steelers were at the bottom of the heap — with only the New York Giants ranked below.

The line has never quite been the same since Mike Munchak departed Pittsburgh for the Denver Broncos after the 2018 season. During his four-year stint with the Steelers, his units were hailed as the best in the league. In Munchak’s final season, the cohesion of his players went unmatched around the NFL.

After Munchak moved on, the Steelers promoted his assistant Shawn Sarrett, and the line tanked. When Sarrett was canned, the Steelers promoted Sarrett’s assistant, Adrian Klemm, in February. From schemes to protections, Klemm has done nothing to improve the unit. They are, in his defense, a young group with little NFL experience.

Former Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley said that coaches like Mike Munchak are very hard to come by and has concern for a unit that’s on its second coach in three seasons. “You don’t just learn how to coach a group of guys like an offensive line overnight. You better have experience,” Haley said on SiriusXM NFL Radio’s “The Opening Drive.”

“Right now, I just think you’re seeing all those things come together in a perfect storm of a new line, a new center, new coordinator, new line coach. It doesn’t usually spell success… No disrespect to [Adrian Klemm].

Haley said he means no disrespect to Klemm, but ‘Mike Munchaks just don’t fall off a tree.’ “He’s really, really good,” Haley said. “I think you’re seeing the benefits of him in Denver now.”

[vertical-gallery id=499741]

[listicle id=499689]

Steelers staff retooling continues with assistant OL hire

The Pittsburgh Steelers continued to revamp their coaching staff on Friday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers continued to revamp their coaching staff on Friday. Per Mark Kaboly and Dan Duggan of The Athletic, the Steelers add Chris Morgan to their staff as assistant offensive line coach.

As often happens when new head coaches are brought in, Falcons’ Arthur Smith chose not to retain several coaches, including Morgan. Morgan also interviewed twice with the New York Giants for their offensive line coach position.

Morgan has a dozen years of O-line coaching experience. He served 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.

[lawrence-related id=486181]

He first entered the NFL as assistant O-line coach with the Oakland Raiders in 2009 and spent time with the Washington Football Team (2011-2013) and the Seattle Seahawks (2014).

In various seasons, under Morgan’s direction, his lines, quarterbacks and running backs were in the top 10 in a number of categories, including big plays, pass attempts, fewest sacks allowed, rush yards, average yards per carry and explosive running plays.

Morgan will coach under newly-promoted offensive line coach Adrian Klemm.

Expect the Steelers to round out their hires with defensive backs and tight ends coaches some time this month.

[vertical-gallery id=485837]

[listicle id=486419]