The most effective Steelers offensive linemen in latest historical past was C Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh’s first-round decide in 2010. Pouncey is a five-time All-Professional, so he is aware of a factor or two about offensive line play, and on a latest look on Ben Roethlisberger’s Footbahlin podcast, Pouncey advocated for the staff to maintain taking part in 2023 first-round decide OT Broderick Jones on each side of the offensive traces.
“When you’re caught in a single place, I’m telling you proper now, you’re not solely hurting your self, however you’re hurting the staff,” Pouncey stated. “There’s solely seven linemen that really go there on a gameday that you just guys can rely on to exit and substitute a man if he will get damage. So I feel Broderick has to do job of accepting, like, man, pay attention, you’re a deal with. Like, you’re gonna be a swing deal with in each place. Possibly you go in as a giant tight finish on some performs. Like perceive the sport of soccer, it’s larger than one place.”
Pouncey stated he feels Jones is doing a “good job” thus far and that Jones performed “phenomenal” in Week 3 in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers.
It was a strong rebound efficiency from Broderick Jones, who struggled when rotating in with OT Troy Fautanu in Week 2 in opposition to the Denver Broncos, committing three penalties on one collection. However with Fautanu coping with a knee harm that landed him on IR, Jones was thrust again into the beginning lineup at proper deal with.
The Steelers have stated that their long-term aim with Jones is to maneuver him to left deal with, and he would’ve labored on each and served as Pittsburgh’s swing deal with had Fautanu not gone down. With Dan Moore Jr. set to be a free agent after this season, it might make sense if Jones had been at left deal with long-term, however most of his NFL expertise now could be going to be on the precise facet, on condition that’s the place he performed nearly all of final season. It’s the place he’ll play everything of the common season this yr.
However he can do each, and Pouncey thinks that persevering with to coach to play on each side is the perfect transfer for Jones. The truth that he’ll have expertise at left deal with from faculty and now extra expertise within the NFL at proper deal with, it offers the Steelers some flexibility in relation to their long-term choices with him. Fautanu will seemingly function Pittsburgh’s proper deal with long-term on condition that’s the place the staff acknowledged they need him to play after drafting him.
Sort out-eligible packages might’ve been an choice, with Broderick Jones serving in that function till Fautanu received injured. Nonetheless, the Steelers rolled some out yesterday with Mason McCormick as an additional offensive lineman. Both method, it serves Jones finest to proceed to have the ability to play each side of the road, even along with his short-term future seemingly at proper deal with and his long-term future seemingly at left deal with. He’ll have to proceed to point out that he can play the best way he did in opposition to the Chargers to show that he can begin within the league. Nevertheless, it was rebound efficiency on Sunday, and hopefully, Jones can proceed to play that method.
