Steelers Rookie Left Tackle Broderick Jones Taught Important Lessons In 1st NFL Game

The Pittsburgh Steelers hired Omar Khan as the franchise's General Manager before the 2022 season. Khan replaced the long-time fixturer, Kevin Colbert. One of his first moves was to hire one of his main rivals for the job in Andy Weidl, who had an excellent reputation in the NFL for identifying talent in the trenches. Khan and Weidl got their first opportunity to manage a Steelers draft with Mike Tomlin and Art Rooney II in 2023.

The first draft pick of the new Steelers regime involved a trade-up in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Steelers coveted a franchise left tackle, and when Bill Belichick saw the opportunity to screw over the New York Jets, Pittsburgh found a willing trade partner to get their man. The Steelers used their newly acquired 14th pick in the first round to select Broderick Jones from the two-time National Champion, Georgia Bulldogs.

The Steelers don’t hand out starting positions to rookies very often. Tomlin makes any newcomer earn their position through training camp and the preseason. Jones has been locked in a battle with Dan Moore Jr. and is currently the backup left tackle. On Friday night in Tampa Bay, Jones got his first opportunity to play against NFL competition. The rookie showcased his immense talent. He also showed that, like most first-year players, he still has much to learn.

Lesson 1

The rookie's first lesson came with under a minute to go in the first half. The Steelers were driving with Mason Rudolph at quarterback. On a second down play with 40 seconds left, Jones was matched up with Cam Gill. Gill is an undrafted free agent who has been with Tampa Bay since their Super Bowl victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020. He recorded a half sack against Patrick Mahomes in that game. Gill missed all of 2022 with a Lisfranc injury. 

When the ball was snapped, Jones does a good job pushing Gill wide and seems to have the play blocked. Rudolph could not find anyone and began to scramble. Jones, instead of moving Gill entirely out of the play when he had the advantage, seemed to relax a little when the Buccaneers edge rusher released towards the line of scrimmage. Gill was aware the Steelers quarterback was scrambling and was able to get the sack. 

Jones got his first taste of what a competent NFL edge rusher looks like. The rookie did not give up a sack in SEC play in 2022. He gave up his first NFL sack in less than one quarter of action. Jones had won the rep initially and just had to finish the play. He did not win it, and it should give Pat Meyer valuable tape to coach the rookie. 

Lesson 2

The Steelers rookie was touted as a significant force in the running game. The last two seasons have featured Pittsburgh tackles shoved around in the running game. That will not be the case when the former Georgia Bulldog is on the field. 

The first running play of the second half is a clear example of how physical Jones can be against run defenses. His assignment is to find the Tampa Bay linebacker, and he engages three yards past the line of scrimmage. Jones would end up pushing him five yards down the field, which allowed Greg Bell to pick up a solid three-yard gain.

Pittsburgh's tackles have had difficulty getting a push in the running game the since the beginning of the 2021 season. The 2023 first-round pick demonstrated clearly that the run blocking, now, could be in very good hands. On running plays in the third quarter, he routinely showed that he understood how to finish a block when the Steelers elected to run the football. 

Lesson 3

It was hot in Tampa Bay on Friday. Florida, in general, has been issuing daily excessive heat warnings. The temperature at the beginning of a Friday night game was 93 degrees. The big rookie appeared gassed when the fourth quarter rolled around. Jones put his worst rep on film in his last play from scrimmage. 

Tanner Morgan had finally settled down at quarterback in the fourth quarter. The Steelers were driving in Tampa Bay territory with just over six minutes remaining. On third and 12, Jones was huffing and puffing at the line and then got beat badly by Markees Watts. 

The result was a strip sack, a holding penalty, and a hustling Jones recovering the fumble that resulted from his poor effort. It was another critical opportunity for Jones to learn that in the NFL, up 17, there is no such thing as a play off. Jones did not return to the field in the Steelers' last offensive series in the 27-17 victory. 

Steelers Left Tackle Training Camp Battle Between Broderick Jones And Dan Moore Jr. Leaning In Surprising Direction

Jones flashed significant skill when run blocking and is ahead of Moore in that area. However, his inability to finish plays in the passing game has to give Tomlin and Matt Canada pause about how ready Jones is to take over the position. It is only one preseason game, and the Buccaneers do have a talented defense that is only three years removed from rattling the best quarterback in the game during a Super Bowl. 

The real test of the rookie's mettle is how he reacts now that he knows that being physically superior only gets you so far in the NFL. Motor and attention to detail are equally important traits for an NFL star. Pittsburgh drafted Jones to be a star franchise left tackle. He flashed the ability but not the consistency on Friday night. The next step is up to him. 

What do you think, Steeler Nation? How impressed were you with the rookie tackle in his debut? Let me know what you think. Please comment below or on my TwitterX: @thebubbasq. 

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