The Steelers Are Seriously Delaying The Development Of Key Offensive Pieces

The Pittsburgh Steelers will rely heavily on the run game during the 2024 season, as they have done for the past couple of seasons. Both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren will be huge pieces of Pittsburgh's offense, and the the Steelers' offensive power will come from their offensive line. General Manager Omar Khan has invested a ton in the group, as he traded up in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft for Broderick Jones and selected Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier in the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Pittsburgh's offensive line had the potential to be really good during the 2024 season, but the optimism around the unit has certainly dwindled. Frazier looks rock-solid as the team's starting center, but Fautanu and Jones are both dealing with injuries. 

Fautanu should start at right tackle during Week 1, but if he doesn't have enough time to practice ahead of the game, the coaching staff will likely keep him on the bench. ESPN's Brooke Pryor spoke about the offensive line on The Kevin Karius Show.

"I think that he will be ok, but the knee sprain that he had in the first preseason game, I think, is really delaying his development. It looks like Broderick Jones will start at right tackle. Dan Moore on the left side. Which then kind of delays the development of the entire offensive line because the team has been pretty vocal in saying they want to move Broderick Jones to left tackle at some point, but that point keeps getting kicked down the road with Fautanu not being able to play right now."

Pryor is referring to Fautanu's injury that he suffered during Pittsburgh's first preseason game against the Houston Texans. The injury has never seemed serious, as he didn't even leave the game whenever the injury occurred. The injury seemed fairly minor, but the rookie right tackle missed the last two preseason games and is certainly in danger of being able to make his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons.

"Broderick Jones is a natural left tackle. He is not as good at right tackle. I think that Fautanu will be better at right tackle, but he hasn't gotten in there to learn. He's taken a lot of mental reps, but at some point, you have to get out there, and you have to do it. So now, he's going to have to get out there and do it when it counts, and I think there's going to be a learning curve."

Fautanu's injury delays the development of the rest of the offensive line in addition to himself. The organization has been trying to allow Jones to play on the left side, which happens to be his natural position. He played on the right side during his rookie year, but he struggled at times since he is far better when playing left tackle. The sooner Fautanu is back to full health, the sooner Pittsburgh can move forward with the future of their offensive line.

Steelers Need To Get Their Offensive Line To Gel

Jones has struggled throughout Pittsburgh's preseason matchups. He has also been fighting through a nagging arm injury, which has certainly been hindering his performance. His injury has affected his right arm, and as soon as he is able to move to the left side, it shouldn't be as big of a deal.

Fautanu will probably be healthy when the Steelers kick off the regular season, but the coaching staff won't play him unless they feel confident that he got enough snaps during practice. Pittsburgh desperately needs the offensive line to return to full health; that way, the staff can see if they have anything with all of their huge investments along the offensive line.

Pittsburgh may end up starting three rookies along the offensive line, along with a second-year player in Jones. Mason McCormick may start a game or two in relief of Isaac Seumalo, which will add another wrinkle along Pittsburgh's offensive line.

Who starts along your ideal offensive line? Let us know in the comments below!

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