Steelers' Broderick Jones: "You F*** Up You Get Pulled" After Massive Disappointment In Denver

Pittsburgh Steelers fans have been tough on Broderick Jones, the team’s 2023 first-round draft pick. After a solid rookie season, expectations were high for Jones in 2024. However, the preseason revealed potential growing pains in his development.

Jones' preseason performances raised concerns, as he seemed to have regressed. Many hoped that by the start of the regular season, he would have ironed out these issues. However, Jones wasn't named a starter for the Steelers' Week 2 game against the Denver Broncos.

He did get a chance to play during the third drive, but his performance was shaky. Jones committed three critical penalties—two holding calls and one false start—that nullified a 51-yard pass to George Pickens and stalled the offense. Following the game, some of his comments were interpreted poorly. On Thursday, Jones addressed the media with a solid response, owning up to his mistakes and vowing to improve.

There are high expectations for Jones, especially since the Steelers traded up in the 2023 NFL Draft to select him. Watching him struggle and make three critical mistakes that negatively impacted the game was tough for fans. However, Steeler Nation should take heart from Jones' response to his challenging performance.

Following the Broncos game, the media were harsh in their criticism of Jones. Despite the tough feedback, he has maintained a positive attitude. Jones acknowledges his mistakes and is committed to learning from them, confident that he can improve moving forward.

Jones is in a unique position early in his career. After securing a starting role as a rookie, many were surprised to see him not in the starting lineup against the Broncos. Even more unexpected was the Steelers' decision to rotate tackles during the game.

At first glance, rotating tackles might seem like a smart strategy to rest players and keep the lineup fresh. However, it poses significant challenges since the offensive line operates as a cohesive unit. For the Steelers, 2024 first-round pick Troy Fautanu started at right tackle, while Dan Moore Jr. took the left tackle position.

After the win against Denver, Jones stated that if he’s not starting, he shouldn’t be playing. While his comments might have seemed like a critique of the coaching staff, and perhaps he could have phrased them differently, there’s some truth in his words. Rotating tackles can disrupt the offensive line’s cohesion, a challenge highlighted by Jones' false start and two holding penalties. These mistakes also underscore a larger issue: the coaching staff’s decision to put Jones in a difficult position.

Steelers' Broderick Jones Is Not A Bust

It’s too early to label Jones a bust. Despite some fans jumping to that conclusion, he is a young player still finding his footing and adjusting to playing out of his natural position. 

Steelers fans should remain hopeful that Jones will improve with time and that his next performance will be more promising. For now, it’s encouraging to see him stay positive during this challenging period in his career. It's also important to note that Jones has been playing through some sort of right arm injury. That may also be a reason for his recent struggles.

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