The Pittsburgh Steelers will only go as far as the offensive line takes them this season. A clear weakness for the team last year has filtered right back into training camp and preseason in 2022. The organization signed two offensive linemen in the off-season, adding center Mason Cole and right guard James Daniels, as well as recently trading for Jesse Davis. While the play from the right side of the line has been acceptable to date, the left has been a completely different story. According to the Post-Gazette's Ray Fittipaldo, no more changes are expected to be made barring injury.
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen, Chukwuma Okorafor (#76) and James Daniels (#78) during 2022 training camp. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
What may be the most efficient move wouldn't be trading for or signing someone else. It could be moving right tackle, Chukwuma Okorafor, who did not allow a sack in the preseason, to his natural position on the left side, but offensive coordinator, Matt Canada told Fittipaldo that the team is comfortable keeping Okorafor where he is at.
"I don’t view Chuks as just a right tackle,” Canada said. “I think Chuks is really, really talented. But I think right now, we feel like where we are gives us the best chance to win today."
Despite the questionable play throughout the last month, Canada said earlier this week that he trusts that this group of offensive linemen will improve and turn into a much more consistent group for the Steelers.
"That’s where we’re at. I would never pigeonhole us to say we couldn’t do something down the road, but right now that’s where we are. We’ve got great faith in where we’re at and we’re going to keep getting better."
Okorafor said that he wants to focus on playing right tackle and has not heard anything from within the organization that has suggests he may be moved to the other side in order to try and give the line a boost.
"I’ve never heard any talk of that this year so far,” Okorafor said of moving back to left tackle. “I don’t know if it’s a real thing or if it’s just something on Twitter where people are trying to bring something up. I have my mind focused on playing right tackle. That’s all I know right now."
Head Coach, Mike Tomlin also commented on the situation this week. His words seem to hint at no more changes being made and he expects the group to continue to get better and gel on offense.
"We’ll continually be a group in development,” Tomlin said. “I’m not going to come in here the next day or two saying we’ve solved our offensive line developmental issues. It is a process — individual and collective development."
Aug 12, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard Kevin Dotson (69) and offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. (65) walk off the field against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Tomlin and the Steelers have a young bunch on the line and he believes they will transition into a more reliable group as each day passes.
"We’ve got young people playing at that position. We’ve got people that are new to us playing at that position, and it is the ultimate cohesion position, much like the secondary, where you’ve got a bunch of people working together cooperatively, and so we’re not looking for fast fixes. We’re not searching for comfort. We’re just simply rolling our sleeves up daily and working."
Do you think the Steelers would be making a mistake not even trying out Okorafor at left tackle? Let us know in the comments below!
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