OT Zach Banner
This one still gets me. Though Zach Banner has virtually no NFL starting experience, many fans are quick to dub him as the next great Steelers offensive lineman. Let’s pump the brakes in this. By the age of 27, Banner has just 2 career starts… That’s it.
Not only is Banner lacking experience, but he really hasn’t given us a lot of reason to believe that he is going to be a very good offensive tackle. In his most recent game prior to his injury, Banner looked so-so against the New York Giants before getting injured late in the game.
The ACL tear is also a bit concerning. Banner’s knee injury in Week 1 last year cut short all of the NFL game experience he would have had, and the Steelers can’t really afford to mess around with a 27-year-old developmental prospect. Obviously, we hope that he’s ready to go from the gate, but we have to see it first.
I know that Mike Tomlin has voiced his satisfaction in Zach Banner in the past, and fans love him for his energetic victory-formation poses, but he still has to prove himself. I hope we won’t be sorely disappointed.