We are now over a week away from Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. It’s the week that officially feels like the start of football season, as the physicality ramps up. For the black and gold, there will be plenty of position battles and players to watch. It’s a team that looks much different than a year ago, as they have a bit more talent this time around.
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Steelers tackle Dan Moore Jr. is trying his best to keep his job over talented 2023 first-rounder Broderick Jones.
The left tackle position will be the most-watched battle. Will it be Dan Moore Jr. at LT for the third consecutive season? Or will the rookie Broderick Jones take over the job right away? We haven't seen the players on the field since minicamp, which led to obvious overreactions early in the summer. Mark Kaboly, who covers the team for The Athletic, thinks it's Moore's job to lose heading to Latrobe. In a recent appearance on 93.7 The Fan, he said he believes the team will play it safe to start the season.
"I could totally change my mind the first time I see Broderick Jones smack somebody upside the head and get out pulling on the left side. As of now, I just think they're gonna err on the side of caution right now and just see what happens with Dan Moore. I just want the best guy out there if I'm the Steelers [in] Week 1. The question I want to know is if Dan Moore comes out and has a spectacular first week, do you still move Broderick Jones in there as a first-team rep guy?"
From a competition perspective, the Steelers will likely continue to give Jones reps with the first team. It's the best way to get him to grow and get better, as he gets to go up against Cam Heyward and that first-team defensive line. Minicamp is always hard to judge, particularly in the trenches where physicality is limited. For what it's worth, Moore looked quite impressive in the early summer sessions.
Abigail Dean / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers rookie offensive tackle Broderick Jones participates in Organized Team Activities at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
The Texas A&M was labeled as a "winner" of the team's OTAs by many people who watched. He showed up looking like a different man, as he gained a few pounds of muscle. As for Jones, he was always seen as a bit raw coming out of the University of Georgia. He started just one full year in college, where he saw his draft stock boost immensely. Earlier this summer, left guard Isaac Seumalo said that Jones has the unique, raw tools to start right away for the Steelers.
Should Steelers begin with Moore due to difficult start to season?
That's just why they traded up with the New England Patriots to pick Jones as the franchise, cornerstone left tackle. From an outsider's perspective, it would make some sense to at least begin the season with Moore at left tackle. The Steelers face the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and Las Vegas Raiders in the first three weeks. What does that mean?
Well, they'll be going up against three of the best edge rushers in the NFL in Nick Bosa, Myles Garrett, and Maxx Crosby. Throwing a rookie into that kind of fire may not be the best idea for his confidence. Additionally, Moore has shown an ability to hold his own against players of star caliber over his first two seasons. He's particularly done well against Garrett, limiting the damage when the two sides face off.
USA Today
Steelers left tackle Dan Moore Jr. has been able to hold his own against Browns star Myles Garrett in their meetings over the past two years.
From the moment that Jones was selected with the 14th overall pick, everyone seemed to write off Moore. That held even more true when he began to take reps at right tackle, a sign that many thought was a foreshadow of things to come. Now, it's looking like this battle will come down to the last few weeks before the regular season. Either way, the competition should bring out the best in Moore and Jones, which should be a good thing for the Steelers.
Who do you think will ultimately win the left tackle job? Do you think the Steelers should throw the rookie into the fire or let him grow and learn from the bench? Are you concerned if Jones is thrown out there against Bosa, Crosby, and Garrett? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
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