Don’t Look Now, But Our O-Line is Playing Well?

[LakecrestSteeler]

I am seeing pretty good protection. And I am seeing holes for the RBs, and I am seeing walls and seal-offs during tosses. I am seeing us get 3rd and 4th down conversions when we use KP and Warren.

Our line is actually pretty decent. Najee is a bigger problem than our Oline. Derek Watt is a bigger problem than our Oline. DJ and Claypool are bigger problems than our Oline! Canada is the biggest problem, but god damn if our offensive line hasn’t come together. If we used Warren as RB1, we’d have some hundred yard games and several more TDs!

[Steel Bingo]

Pulled the below link from a SteelersDepot article.

https://twitter.com/PFF_Steelers/status ... 2262794240

After some of us called Dotson out a bit after his performance vs. Tampa Bay, he did have an impressive game against the Dolphins. Not sure what criteria goes into PFF's game scoring, but KD was moving the man in front of him backwards every play, or finding someone to smash down the field. Definitely encouraging.

In general, it looked like the interior line play was strong vs. Miami.

[RemoAZ]

I don't see what you are seeing. Teams are getting pressure without blitzing and I don't see any results in the running game.

[Burghboy]

They've drastically improved since preseason. I'm not going to say they are a strength since this offense doesn't really have a strength not named George Pickens. But they can no longer be considered the problem either.

[Mick]

I don't see what you are seeing. Teams are getting pressure without blitzing and I don't see any results in the running game.

maybe my standards dropped after last season, but i’m happy with the protection as is. Some plays where pickett has to scramble away from pressure, but plenty where he has time.

Things clearly observable in the run blocking: (1) big holes at times (2) far less hit in backfield than last year (3) that brilliant play where the defense overloads on the weak side of the o line and we run…straight into the weakside with a slow back on 3rd and 1.

[PennyBacker]

The Dolphins run blitz on the 3rd and 1 was a sharp play call. Dotson was destroying his man on a consistent basis, so it made sense for Pittsburgh to try to convert behind him. The opponent wasn’t blind to that and saw it as well. A proverbial ‘tip of the cap’ there.

The Steelers have some pedigree on the line. Daniels is a high 2nd rounder, Cole a 3rd rounder, Chuks a 3rd, and Moore, Jr. is simply a large athlete. The unit as a whole turned in an improved pass blocking job last week.

[Steel Bingo]

Philadelphia will be an intriguing test up the middle. Fletcher Cox is one of the top interior DL in the NFL, and we know about Hargrave from early in his career. Jordan Davis is big, but also looked disinterested at times as a college player. Milton Williams is usually lauded for his skills as pass rusher. All that’s to say, the Steelers look like they might be the bully here, and should have an advantage when the interior line play is kept inside a phone booth.

[Kodiak.]

I mean, they look better than the JV unit they were in preseason. But at their best they are still mediocre in run blocking, and bottom quartile in pass pro.

Just because they open an occasional hole for the RB doesn't mean they are good. Nor is throwing the ball in 2.0 seconds a function of good pass blocking. We do a lot of moving pockets and not much PA, so that tells you A LOT about the play of the OL.

IMO, they've gone from college-level to bottom-5 or so in the NFL. Honestly, how many OL are you seeing that are objectively worse?

[LakecrestSteeler]

I mean, they look better than the JV unit they were in preseason. But at their best they are still mediocre in run blocking, and bottom quartile in pass pro.

Just because they open an occasional hole for the RB doesn't mean they are good. Nor is throwing the ball in 2.0 seconds a function of good pass blocking. We do a lot of moving pockets and not much PA, so that tells you A LOT about the play of the OL.

IMO, they've gone from college-level to bottom-5 or so in the NFL. Honestly, how many OL are you seeing that are objectively worse?

I don’t think the O-line is holding the offense back at this point were my observations.

It is most likely RB, WR, and QB at this point, in that order. Canada of course is in the pole position! Still need to upgrade OL, and get guys that get to the next level consistently!

[Kodiak.]

I don’t think the O-line is holding the offense back at this point were my observations.

It is most likely RB, WR, and QB at this point, in that order. Canada of course is in the pole position! Still need to upgrade OL, and get guys that get to the next level consistently!

And to my point - if they are indeed bottom quartile (and I see no argument how they are not) - they absolutely ARE part of the problem.

I agree the skill positions are not enough to compensate or elevate the OL. But the OL and Canada remain the two biggest problems with this offense.