The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line has played horribly for the majority of the 2023 NFL season. Fans have been begging to see first-round pick Broderick Jones in the starting lineup since the beginning of training camp. It seems fans have finally gotten their wish, as Jones has been the Steelers starting right tackle in both Week 9 and Week 10 after Chukwuma Okorafor was benched. The Steelers are 2-0 in those games, and former Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert believes Jones is a future star in the NFL.
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Steelers rookie Broderick Jones in his first NFL start at right tackle against the Tennessee Titans in 2023.
Steelers Former Linemen Believes Jones Will Be A Star
Gilbert was the Steelers right tackle from 2011 through 2018, before he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals prior to the 2019 season after missing most of 2018 with a knee injury. The Steelers selected Gilbert in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and he went on to start 87 games for the Steelers. He knows a thing or two about being a right tackle in the NFL, and especially in Pittsburgh. He spoke with The Athletic's Mark Kaboly at the Steelers alumni day, and Kaboly transcribed his remarkable praise for the rookie.
"Spoke with Marcus Gilbert. He was effusive in his praise of Broderick Jones. Truly believe he's going to be a superstar in this league for a long time. Nice little vote of confidence for the young tackle."
Jones was selected by the Steelers with the 14th overall pick in 2023. He started one game on the left side for an injured Dan Moore Jr. and when Moore Jr. got healthy, Jones went back to the bench, which many fans were not happy about. Due to Okorafor being benched in Week 9, Jones had the opportunity to start on the right side of the line against the Tennessee Titans and he did not disappoint. The entire offensive line seemed to play better with Jones in the lineup. The Steelers had 166 rushing yards thanks to the push from the offensive line with Jones.
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Steelers rookie Broderick Jones gives the offensive line a necessary boost
The success in the run game continued into the Steelers Week 10 matchup with the Green Bay Packers. The Steelers had 205 rushing yards, which is, by far, the most they have had all season. Jones stated earlier in the week that he wanted the Steelers offense to be able to run the ball for over 200 yards every week, and so far that is exactly what has happened.
Both of the Steelers running backs found success in the Week 10 victory while running behind Jones and the rest of the offensive line. Jaylen Warren led the way by recording his first 100-yard game of his young career. He finished with 101 yards on 15 carries, averaging over six yards every time he touched the ball in the run game. Najee Harris finished with 82 yards while averaging over five yards per carry. Both backs were able to get into the end zone, which is the second time that has happened in 2023 for the Steelers.
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Steelers' Jaylen Warren attempt to get away from a defender against the Green Bay Packers
The Steelers are undefeated so far in games that Jones has been in the starting lineup. They were able to beat their divisional rival, the Baltimore Ravens, when Jones started the first game of his career at left tackle. After defeating the Packers in Week 10, they are now 2-0 in games he has started at right tackle. The offense looks like it runs smoother and more efficiently with Jones in the game, and the production has definitely increased as well.
Following the Steelers Week 9 victory over the Titans, Steelers Head Coach, Mike Tomlin spoke about how he thought Jones would provide the offense with a much needed spark. After two weeks of experimenting with Jones at right tackle, it is clear that Jones has certainly been a spark that has allowed the offense to take a much needed step forward.
Do you agree with Gilbert's comments? Let us know in the comments below!
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