The Pittsburgh Steelers are no strangers to nicknames. The Steel Curtain for the 1970s defensive line and eventually the whole defense is the gold standard. Blitzburgh, early in the Bill Cowher era, had a nice ring to it. Of course, you can't forget the Killer B's on offense with Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and Ben Roethlisberger who put up amazing numbers in the regular season but did not enjoy playoff success as a unit.
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Steelers Killer B's QB Ben Roethlisberger RB Le'Veon Bell and WR Antonio Brown
The latest nickname going around in Pittsburgh is the Pickett Fence. This refers to the offensive line that will be responsible for keeping Kenny Pickett’s jersey clean during the 2023 season. Offensive lines are not typically tapped with fancy nicknames, but there has been at least one famous one.
The Washington Commanders' nickname for their offensive line, The Hogs, rose to fame in the 1980s and saw the group produce multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections. It also put former Steelers offensive line coach, Russ Grimm into the Hall of Fame.
Defenses usually dominate the historical list of best nicknames. Last year in an article on CBS Sports, Bryan DeArdo ranked the top 10 unit nicknames of all time and only two offensive units made the list. The Hogs came in at number nine and the St. Louis Rams Greatest Show on Turf came in at number three. Those two units were the only offensive nicknames to make the list.
Associated Press
“Mean” Joe Greene was a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain defense and a team that became a dynasty in the ’70s.
The Monsters of The Midway nickname for the Chicago Bears cannot be attributed to any unit on the team directly. That puts the top 10 at seven defensive nicknames, two offensive and one not quite sure. The Steel Curtain came in at number one on the list as the best nickname in NFL history and since it was coined for the defensive line, it has evolved and stuck as the moniker for all the subsequent great versions of Steelers defenses.
The Pickett Fence has a lot to live up to if it is going to stick. About 70 percent of the cool nicknames on the top 10 list produced championships. Only the New York Jets Sack Exchange and Fearsome Foursome Los Angeles Rams failed to at least play in the Super Bowl or the NFL Championship game. Both offensive units in the top 10 produced multiple Super Bowl appearances. If the nickname is going to catch and stick nationally, the mission is clear.
Steelers Kevin Dotson Does Not Believe That Rookie Broderick Jones Will Play Much This Season
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The Steelers got their guy in the first round in left tackle, Broderick Jones.
The interesting thing about the Pittsburgh offensive line's new nickname is there is some debate about exactly who is going be part of it when the season starts. Isaac Seumalo is a lock to be the leader of the unit and Mason Cole barring injury will be the center.
The rest of the unit is in a state of flux, but James Daniels will likely beat out Nate Herbig and Kevin Dotson as the starting right guard. The Steelers traded up for Broderick Jones and he is the long-term answer at tackle. Both Dan Moore Jr and Chukwoma Okarafor’s presence on the roster is insurance in case he starts slowly.
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Steelers' New Guard Isaac Seumalo
The Hogs had multiple members, and depth on the offensive line is not a bad thing but the Steelers' unit was not dominant last season. They finished on a high note producing at a high level to close out 2022 but the team was aggressive through the draft and in free agency to improve the unit.
The newcomers in Seumalo and Jones probably need to seal the left side leaks from 2022 for this version of the line to become dominant in 2023. If Moore or Okarafor slides to the swing tackle with Herbig and potentially Dotson as the additional depth, the Steelers' offensive line has a chance to be one of the most improved units in the NFL. If that happens, maybe the nickname will stick.
What do you think Steeler Nation? Are you a fan of the Pickett Fence nickname for the offensive line? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
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