The Pittsburgh Steelers had an overall disappointing performance on Saturday night when they took on the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium. The defensive unit for Pittsburgh looked pretty good without the presence of key starters as they held the Bills to just nine points. On the other hand, the offense looked atrocious. The Steelers were only able to produce three points on the night, and a lot of that had to do with the quarterbacks not having enough time to throw in what was a poor performance from the offensive line.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones gets ready to block Buffalo Bills pass rusher Leonard Floyd during their 2023 AFC Wildcard matchup in Orchard Park, NY.
Perhaps the most concerning part of Saturday night's game was the play that was seen from former first-round pick Broderick Jones. The organization invested a lot into Jones after trading up for him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and General Manager Omar Khan and co. are relying on him to pan out. The second-year offensive tackle was taking a lot of heat after the game was over, and former Steelers guard Trai Essex took to X to ensure fans that the young player will bounce back.
Also, 77 will be just fine. He’s having a tough game today. A very tough one. EVERY OLmen, no matter the pedigree, has had one of em. Sometimes multiple ones.
— Trai Essex (@TraiDay79) August 18, 2024
An important factor in Jones' poor performance is that he was playing with an elbow brace on his left arm. It is unclear what the specifics are on what is ailing him, but it must be difficult to take snaps as a right tackle with something like a big brace on your right arm. It probably hinders his performance, which means it may be an issue if it is something he has to wear to start the regular season.
Tyler Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers offensive lineman Broderick Jones readies himself for the rush during a Week 18 game against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2023 season.
Jones declined to speak with the media following the preseason game because he had to go meet with doctors, which could even be a sign that whatever he has been dealing with has gotten worse. Hopefully that isn't the case, as the Steelers are counting on him to play right tackle while rookie Troy Fautanu is recovering from his minor knee injury.
Jones struggled in pass protection on nearly every snap against the Bills. He is known for being a better blocker in the run game, but it looked like he wasn't even trying at times while pass blocking. The second-year player gave up two sacks on Russell Wilson on just three possessions, which Essex also took to X about.
Cmon 77 https://t.co/uXHOS97uom
— Trai Essex (@TraiDay79) August 17, 2024
The young offensive lineman is going to have to move on quickly from this poor performance as the regular season is quickly approaching. He may get a chance to go back to his natural position on the left side of the offensive line once Fautanu returns to full health, and that could fix all of his problems.
Jon Willey / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Zach Frazier snaps the ball in a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills in 2024.
Steelers Can Only Rely On Their Interior Offensive Linemen At This Moment
Both tackle spots may be a variable thanks to Jones' regression, Fautanu being a rookie dealing with an injury, and Dan Moore Jr. being himself. Pittsburgh may only be able to rely on the linemen on the interior. This includes rookie Zach Frazier, who Head Coach Mike Tomlin had glowing things to say about following the loss.
This also includes the two veteran guards in Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels. Both guards have been great for the Steelers, and maybe their veteran leadership can help turn things around for the two young guys that are expected to start at tackle at some point in the regular season.
Do you think Jones can turn around his poor play? What do you expect from the offensive line in 2024? Let us know in the comments below!
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