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The offensive line for the Pittsburgh Steelers is looking much stronger heading into 2022 than it has in quite a while. Pittsburgh spared no expense bolstering their team, particularly the offensive line this off-season. The interior of the line is looking stout with the additions of James Daniels and Mason Cole. They retained their starting right tackle when Chukwuma Okorafor signed an extension that tied him to the team for the next three seasons. This is all encouraging signs for the Steelers line and the offense as a whole. It is a young and athletic line, that if coached up right, can start to build something solid for years to come. One of the biggest questions that remains however, is if the Steelers are set at left tackle position?
This last season, after injuries struck the Steelers offensive line throughout training camp, rookie tackle Dan Moore Jr. was thrust into action when he was the next man up. He had to transition from his natural position at right tackle into the starting left tackle for Pittsburgh. He started Week 1, and it was uncertain if he would maintain the position if guys got healthy again. However, this never came to fruition, and Moore ended up starting 16/17 games for Pittsburgh.
Moore had an up and down year, but ultimately showed growth and looked to have a lot of upside and plenty of room to grow. However, Moore was ranked 72nd out of 83 tackles, per PFF. This is not as exciting, but then again, it was his rookie year, and he was likely drafted to be a project rather than a day one starter. A fourth round pick out of Texas A&M, scouts saw his work ethic and his pass blocking ability, but ultimately was pegged as a backup. This was reflected in in Tony Pauline’s draft analysis of Moore that can be seen here.
Photo via Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
Moore was on paper a better pass blocker than he was a run blocker. He posted a pass block grade of 59.5 as opposed to a run block grade of 52. Both could use improvement, but clearly the projection and the production on the field show where Moore’s strengths reside. That again leaves us with the question; is this enough for the team to not potentially snoop around for someone to compete with or even replace Moore?
I believe all cards are on the table. The 2022 NFL Draft is loaded with talent at the tackle position, and there are guys who can be seen as an NFL starter who you can find after day one. Guys like Bernhard Raimann out of Central Michigan, Tyler Smith out of Tulsa, and Abraham Lucas out of Washington State are just three names of several guys who can be game changers at the position who could end up there beyond day one of the draft.
Bernhard Raimann #76. | Photo via CMUChippewas.com
The Steelers have other holes to fill other than tackle, but if the right guy is there, history has shown Pittsburgh will often draft the player they want rather than filling a position of need. If one of these guys is there when they are on the board, or even someone else the team is high on, it’s not hard to believe they would consider drafting and ultimately draft that player.
If they did end up going through and drafting a starting left tackle candidate, the job would still likely be Moore’s to lose. Experience is the best teacher, and he now has a full season as a starter under his belt, and in an unorthodox but not uncommon way. He did not shy away from the occasion, and despite the unflattering grades, the tape definitely has some highlights and shows the upside that resides with Moore as the starter. He held his own against some of the best pass rushers the league has to offer, namely Myles Garrett and Calais Campbell of the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens respectively.
With the draft now just days away, we will likely get more clarity on this very soon. Pittsburgh has already had its most aggressive and lucrative off-season in team history so far, so all cards are on the table and despite some of the promise Moore has shown, nothing would surprise me at this juncture.
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Steelers left tackle in 2021: Dan Moore Jr.
This last season, after injuries struck the Steelers offensive line throughout training camp, rookie tackle Dan Moore Jr. was thrust into action when he was the next man up. He had to transition from his natural position at right tackle into the starting left tackle for Pittsburgh. He started Week 1, and it was uncertain if he would maintain the position if guys got healthy again. However, this never came to fruition, and Moore ended up starting 16/17 games for Pittsburgh.
Moore had an up and down year, but ultimately showed growth and looked to have a lot of upside and plenty of room to grow. However, Moore was ranked 72nd out of 83 tackles, per PFF. This is not as exciting, but then again, it was his rookie year, and he was likely drafted to be a project rather than a day one starter. A fourth round pick out of Texas A&M, scouts saw his work ethic and his pass blocking ability, but ultimately was pegged as a backup. This was reflected in in Tony Pauline’s draft analysis of Moore that can be seen here.
Photo via Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
Moore was on paper a better pass blocker than he was a run blocker. He posted a pass block grade of 59.5 as opposed to a run block grade of 52. Both could use improvement, but clearly the projection and the production on the field show where Moore’s strengths reside. That again leaves us with the question; is this enough for the team to not potentially snoop around for someone to compete with or even replace Moore?
I believe all cards are on the table. The 2022 NFL Draft is loaded with talent at the tackle position, and there are guys who can be seen as an NFL starter who you can find after day one. Guys like Bernhard Raimann out of Central Michigan, Tyler Smith out of Tulsa, and Abraham Lucas out of Washington State are just three names of several guys who can be game changers at the position who could end up there beyond day one of the draft.
Bernhard Raimann #76. | Photo via CMUChippewas.com
The Steelers have other holes to fill other than tackle, but if the right guy is there, history has shown Pittsburgh will often draft the player they want rather than filling a position of need. If one of these guys is there when they are on the board, or even someone else the team is high on, it’s not hard to believe they would consider drafting and ultimately draft that player.
If they did end up going through and drafting a starting left tackle candidate, the job would still likely be Moore’s to lose. Experience is the best teacher, and he now has a full season as a starter under his belt, and in an unorthodox but not uncommon way. He did not shy away from the occasion, and despite the unflattering grades, the tape definitely has some highlights and shows the upside that resides with Moore as the starter. He held his own against some of the best pass rushers the league has to offer, namely Myles Garrett and Calais Campbell of the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens respectively.
With the draft now just days away, we will likely get more clarity on this very soon. Pittsburgh has already had its most aggressive and lucrative off-season in team history so far, so all cards are on the table and despite some of the promise Moore has shown, nothing would surprise me at this juncture.
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
