The Pittsburgh Steelers got some unfortunate news this week concerning starting left tackle Broderick Jones. He was ruled out of the Bills' game early in the week. It has only worsened, with speculation now suggesting that his neck injury may be season-ending.
Losing a starter never comes at a good time. Jones' play was improving week over week, and you would have liked to see his improved play continue through the season to determine if he is deserving of the fifth-year option.
However, those aren’t the biggest issues with his loss, and it points at some criticism this team needs to take ownership of.
The offseason plan for the Steelers is aging horribly. Now, the move not to address the offensive tackle room is biting them. For a team that wants to win in the trenches, this was a major oversight.
The Pittsburgh Steelers neglected their depth during the offseason
While the Steelers boasted a pair of former first-round picks at offensive tackle, the depth behind them was in question. Neither starter had proven anything, and in Jones' case, his play had been horrible at times.
So, what did Pittsburgh do? Bring back mediocre veteran Calvin Anderson to be their swing tackle. The team thinks so highly of him that he won’t even get the starting nod in place of Jones.
READ MORE: Steelers have four players delivering true Black Friday bargain value
It isn’t like Anderson is playing on a minimum deal either. He was signed for multiple seasons at a price well above the veteran benefit level. It is telling that Pittsburgh doesn’t trust him to start.
Instead, the 2015 first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints, Andrus Peat, will get the nod at left tackle. If this were five seasons ago, you would feel more confident in needing him. However, he has been nothing more than a spot starter along the interior for the past few years.
What’s the point of paying Anderson if, at the first chance, you replace him with a late roster addition to your team? All of this, and you are about to face your most important stretch of games this year.
One could argue that Anderson can play right tackle (something Peat has rarely done), so this better protects you if Troy Fautanu were to get injured. However, Spencer Anderson can play tackle in a pinch. Regardless, you should be striving to play your best players along the offensive line. It doesn’t seem like Anderson is one of those options.
The Steelers had money to spend. You could have forked over a little more for a veteran backup or even drafted someone to groom behind the starters. Instead, you scraped the bottom of the barrel and are now facing the consequences.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' decision to be cheap with their offensive line seemed like a mistake. Now, it is costing the team during a pivotal time with your season on the line.