The Steelers should have their best offensive line in years, and it shouldn’t take long to show, one reporter believes. Even with the potential of losing two starters from last season, Mark Kaboly sees a unit in great shape. And unlike past years, with the new coaching staff, he doesn’t see them needing to warm up to it.
“I’m quite enamored by this offensive line”, Kaboly said recently on 93.7 The Fan. “Not just the fact that they have high draft picks invested in these guys, but the coaching staff. When you’ve got Campy [James Campen] there, one of the most well-respected offensive line [coaches] in this league along with a soon-to-be Hall of Famer [in Jahri Evans] and about three others guys on the [coaching staff] that have offensive line [playing] or coaching experience”?
“I don’t anticipate this being a gradual buildup”, he added, believing the Steelers’ offensive line can hit the ground running. “Remember the last two or three years, they struggled early. They can’t afford to do that, and I don’t think they will. I think this is a very interesting coaching staff to be able to get these guys in place right away”.
Since last season, the Steelers lost Isaac Seumalo from their offensive line in free agency. It also seems likely they will move Troy Fautanu from right tackle to left tackle and put guard Mason McCormick with him to the other side. It’s unclear where that leaves Broderick Jones, who is recovering from a neck injury with no set timetable for return. He started at left tackle last year, but at right the two previous seasons.
If he is available later, the Steelers will have many different potential offensive line combinations. The timing of his availability could be important, though. If he isn’t ready by the start of training camp, I can’t imagine any scenario in which he plays left tackle. At best, he would have to join the fray on the right side at some point.
The Steelers recently addressed their offensive line in the draft. In the first round, they drafted T Max Iheanachor, who is a candidate to start right away. Though he started dozens of games in college, many view him as somewhat raw, even if Pittsburgh doesn’t. if he can’t start, Dylan Cook or the aforementioned Jones would be the other options.
With guard being the only position at which they lost a starter along the offensive line, the Steelers also drafted Gennings Dunker in the third round. Fourth-year Spencer Anderson and free agent signee Brock Hoffman will also compete at guard. As long as they can fill the void left by Seumalo, they should be in good shape.
Especially, as Kaboly says, with the coaches guiding the Steelers’ offensive line. Mike McCarthy brought with him James Campen, one of the league’s most respected at his job. He has Jahri Evans, a potential Hall of Fame guard, as his assistant. If this staff can’t have that group up and running immediately, nobody would.