5 questions Steelers must answer to have a successful season

Who will start at RT?

Matt Feiler has been yet another superb late round/UDFA lineman for the Steelers. He worked his way from backup to starting RT last year, and quite frankly, he had a great year. That said, his body type and athleticism seemingly make him a more natural OG, and that seems like what the Steelers plan on doing with him post-RamonFoster. As of now, the full expectation is that he will slide inside, but that means there will be a huge question mark at RT.

The Steelers’ two options there are intriguing at least. Chukwuma Okorafor is a former third-round pick who has good athleticism but was raw coming out of college and hasn’t developed much at the next level. Zach Banner was a camp add after almost falling out of the league due to weight issues, and after transforming his body, he served as the swing tackle in heavy personal. Both players seemed primed to make the jump, but what happens if they don’t?

In today’s NFL, you need a capable pass blocker on both sides of the line. This means that a typical mauling RT (more akin to Banner’s style) isn’t the ideal RT anymore. While Banner has better technique and more strength, he struggles in space and against pass rushers, making him a risky bet to start. Likewise, Okorafor hasn’t proven he can consistently start yet, which makes him just as risky of an option to start.

Ideally, one of these players can ascend from backup to starter, but if they can’t, there is a very real possibility that the Steelers have to shift Feiler back outside. This will be disastrous for the interior depth as well as the unit’s comfort with one another. This camp battle, and its outcome, will be vital in determining the success of the offense this year.