The Pittsburgh Steelers were supposed to have a roster-friendly matchup in Week 2.
If you were to tell me leading into Week 2 that the Steelers offensive line would struggle against a defensive front consisting mainly of an out-of-his-prime Matthew Judon, Lawrence guy, Davon Godchaux, and Deatrich Wise Jr, I would have told you that you were crazy. Lawrence Guy had 15 career sacks coming into this week in the 11th year of his career and was consistently in the backfield in Pittsburgh. The Steelers had no answer for a relatively weak defensive front.
This should have been a tune-up game, a game to build the confidence of the big guys up front. The Steelers looked lost. Mitchell Trubisky relied on timing patterns throughout the game as he in no way had time to read coverages. If it wasn’t for the efforts of the defense, who did not have a good game plan entering this week, and the skill players this game could have been a blowout in favor of New England.
The Steelers are reaping what they sow
The Steelers haven’t spent higher than a 3rd round pick on an offensive lineman since 2012. This was the draft that newly retired David Decastro was taken in the first round. From 2013 to the present the two highest draft picks spent on the offensive line were Kendrick Green and Chukwuma Okorafor. Neither of these are adequate starters at this point in their careers.
The Steelers tried patching together an offensive line by going out in free agency where they would get C Mason Cole and G James Daniels. Mason Cole has appeared to be the most reliable of the Steelers linemen to this point and he was on a cheap stopgap contract. James Daniels has looked nothing like the Daniels from Chicago that we signed to a 3-year 26 million dollar contract.
The Steelers have to shake things up
The Steelers should be looking at every available option to improve the O-line and fast. The Steelers have the talent defensively and at the skill positions to make a playoff run. The offensive front is severely holding the team back at this point. They should be exhausting every possible free agent option and trade option available to them in order to improve and do so quickly.
Even if they find another starter or two this season there are at the minimum 3 linemen that should not be starting where they are now this season. They need to reevaluate both guard and tackle spots. James Daniels may do better on the left side. Kevin Dotson had potential but his floor is not worth justifying his ceiling. Dan Moore had multiple run plays where he failed to even touch a patriot defender while Chuks gets regularly bullied by rushers with any kind of power moves.
The Steelers shouldn’t just rely on free agency and trades to acquire linemen. They also need to plan to use their first-round and possibly second-round pick on linemen if they want Kenny Pickett to survive his first year starting next season.