Well, I don't know about you, but I am excited that Pittsburgh Steelers football is back. We got a taste of what we hopefully can expect with a rather tidy home victory over the Green Bay Packers. The final score was lopsided, which is great. What was not great was the play of the first-team offensive line.
To be fair, we are talking about a very small sample size, but what I saw was alarming enough to me that I am now gravely concerned about the combination that Mike McCarthy and the coaching staff trotted out there.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have created a problem to which there may be no good solution
Again, it is a very small sample size, but in the two series that Mason Rudolph played, he was sacked twice and really didn't have the cleanest pocket to work with. The pressure was consistent, but what was also consistent was the area of the O-line that didn't hold up its end of the bargain.
Troy Fautanu and Dylan Cook did not have impressive performances. While Fautanu played left tackle in college, he played right tackle for the Steelers during the 2025 season. Dylan Cook played well at left tackle in limited action.
So the obvious question is this: Why mess with a good thing? I have never played professional football, but I would assume, and I think it's a fair assumption, that it is difficult to switch positions, especially if it's a switch from one side of the O-line to another. The competition on the other side of the line in college is not the same as it is in the NFL.
I hope and assume that James Campen, the new offensive line coach who comes to us with 21 years of experience, can correct whatever deficiencies exist. But what if he can't, or what if, despite his best efforts, the play of Fautanu and Cook does not improve?
If the above scenario plays out, the most likely result will be that Aaron Rodgers will be forced to scramble, which is not ideal. What if Rodgers gets injured because the protection broke down? Does McCarthy admit defeat, so to speak, and switch Fautanu and Cook? Does he opt for a different line combination?
I don't have to tell you that stability along the offensive line is vital to the success of any campaign. I hope for the Steelers' sake that the offensive line gels and that it will be a significant contributor to a great 2026. Like much of what we discuss, only time will tell how this plays out.
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