Steelers' G Kevin Dotson: "James [Daniels] came in and he’s kind of taking kind of control of it"

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a couple of moves to improve the offensive line this off-season. The Steelers signed guard James Daniels and center/guard Mason Cole. One of those moves is already paying dividends before the team even hits the field against opposing defenses. Daniels stated when he was freshly signed that he "wanted to take on a leadership role." A role that seems to have been missing last season after the departure of David DeCastro.

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman James Daniels goes through a drill at an Organized Team Activities session Thursday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Signed as a free agent in the off-season, Daniels is only 24 years old, but is the most experienced of the Steelers' offensive linemen. (Chaz Palla/Tribune Review)

“It does feel kind of weird being the older guy now because in Chicago, I was always [among the youngest],” Daniels said Wednesday after his second organized team activities session with the Steelers. “Last year, when [rookie tackle Larry Borom] started, that was my first time playing a game with a guy younger than me.”

A reporter then stated that Daniels was the most decorated player on the offensive line, but Daniels disputed that.

“I am not decorated,” Daniels said with a laugh. “I have a couple starts… but I wouldn’t say I am decorated.”

The Steelers' offensive line is young, even the new additions of Cole and Daniels. Daniels is only 24 and Cole is 26 years old. But Daniels and Cole bring some experience to the room.

“It is kind of weird to being one of the most experienced guys in the room,” Daniels said, “but we all work with each other and it doesn’t matter if it’s your first game or if it’s your 20th game; if it’s third-and-8, you’re expected to block.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers participate in Organized Team Activities (OTA's) Thursday May 26, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)

Kevin Dotson spoke about the leadership role that Daniels has taken on with the Steelers' offensive line room already during OTAs.

“I would say our overall [leader] probably [is] James,” Dotson said. “James came in and he’s kind of taking kind of control of it. But he’s not like, ‘You need to do this; you need to do that.’ It’s more, ‘I used to do this when I was over here, so I just think this would help us’ kind of thing. He has some real good ideas when it comes to different [techniques].”

After an abysmal 2021 season due to many factors, the Steelers' offensive line looks to rebound in a big way and pave the way for guys like Najee Harris behind the leadership of newcomer, Daniels.

James Daniels at an off-season workout April 27th on the South Side. (CAITLYN EPES / STEELERS)

“That’s crazy, man, crazy to think about that, how there are players coming into the league that are my age or just a little bit younger or even older,” Daniels said. “But it is pretty cool that I am still a young guy and I still have the experience.”

Daniels played every down for the Chicago Bears since he took over 7 games into his rookie year in 2018, other than the 11 games he missed in 2020 due to a pectoral injury. He played 823 snaps at left guard and played right guard for the Bears as well. In 2018 and 2020, Daniels had a very low number of penalties and didn't allow a sack in either of those seasons. Daniels looks to be a solid contributor and leader for this Steelers' offensive line room for years to come.

Can James Daniels' experience in the NFL aide the Steelers' offensive line? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!

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