The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't add any fresh faces to the offensive line via the 2022 NFL Draft, but they did go out and add two new veterans to the room via the free agency period. Many thought the Steelers would draft additional offensive linemen in the early rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft, but they refrained from doing so. The team spent an uncharacteristic amount of money during the free agency period this past off-season, but did they gain quality offensive line play with their two additions up front? That's yet to be seen, but center, Mason Cole and guard, James Daniels have shown strong potential early on in their NFL careers.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 2: Jesse Davis #77 of the Miami Dolphins walks off the field after a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on January 2, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Dolphins 34-3. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Early last week before final cuts were made and the 53-man roster was set, the Steelers executed a trade to bring in an additional reinforcement for the offensive line. The Steelers made a tadpole like "splash" by adding veteran OT/OG Jesse Davis via a trade with the Minnesota Vikings.
However, don't look for the Steelers to make any more moves to add any new faces to the offensive line after the Davis trade. The team will play the long game with the group up front, allowing them time to gel together during the season, but will it be a decision they regret later on?
Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
The Steelers will be playing the waiting game with their big guys up front. Head Coach Mike Tomlin knows it takes some time for an NFL offensive line unit to play cohesively, but he better be coaching the group up after wins and not losses!
"I'm not gonna come in here in the next day or two saying we've solved our offensive line developmental issues," Tomlin emphasized this week in the media work room at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex via Steelers.com. “It is a process, individual and collective development.”
“We got young people playing at that position. We have people that are new to us playing at that position. And it is the ultimate cohesion position, much like the secondary.”
"We're not looking for fast fixes. We're not searching for comfort. We're just simply rolling our sleeves up daily and working and we understand that every time we step in a stadium, we get a chance to measure progress. And while we do that we better win football games."
Pittsburgh Steelers guard, James Daniels (78) and Mason Cole (61) pass blocking during the Aug. 20 preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. (Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)
Tomlin was vocal towards the offensive line in meetings and practice after an awful performance up front against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second preseason game, but the group received less harsh words following their performance in the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions. The group did seem to perform more cohesively against the Lions, but Tomlin still expects more out of the group, as does Steeler Nation.
"It definitely wasn't as harsh," Steelers LG Kevin Dotson said via Steelers.com. “But he's gonna call you out, regardless. It doesn't matter if we had a great game, he'll be able to find that negative.”
"And it's not really a bad thing. You want to be able to know what you did wrong, and he's gonna call that every time."
As he should. The Steelers just cannot have the same abysmal performance up front as they did a season ago. Tomlin acknowledged the steps the group made in the right direction, but he also knows there's still a lot of work to do if the group is going to play well in the upcoming 2022 season.
"It was better in some areas, but there are some things that continually need to be addressed," Tomlin stated.
In a season where it seems there's only one place for the offensive line to go from a season ago and that's up, the Steelers playing the long game could lead to another abysmal season. If the offense is going to compete against some of the high-powered NFL offenses, they better be ready to give Mitch Trubisky or Kenny Pickett a little more time than they did in the preseason as well as open better running lanes for RB Najee Harris and company!
What are yinz thoughts on the Steelers playing the long game with the offensive line? Will they regret that decision? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
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