The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the upcoming season with an offensive line composed mostly of returning and relatively inexperienced players. Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Bill Cowher recently commented on the importance of this group’s development to the team’s overall success.
“I think the biggest thing for them this year is development of the offensive line,” Cowher said during a recent appearance on CBS Sports‘ YouTube channel. “Say what you want. They’re young. And they need to be able to keep Aaron [Rodgers] upright. Hopefully, Arthur Smith can get the running game going. It takes a lot of pressure off Aaron.”
The Steelers made significant changes at other offensive positions during the offseason, including adding quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but chose not to make major alterations to their starting offensive line. With Rodgers entering his age-41 season, protection will be critical.
Several young linemen are seen as key figures in the unit’s performance this year. Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick both had solid rookie seasons, and along with veteran Isaac Seumalo, they are expected to anchor the interior line. Tackle remains an area of concern: Troy Fautanu impressed before suffering an injury last season and has received positive feedback during offseason preparations, while Broderick Jones is seeking consistency after two uneven years in the NFL but has reportedly shown improvement in training camp.
The Steelers have invested heavily in their young linemen and hope that growth across these positions will pay dividends throughout the season.
