This Steelers Offensive Line Isn’t What We Thought It Would Be

The biggest question mark for the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason wasn’t the Quarterback position or who is going to be the WR2. No; the biggest question for Pittsburgh was always the development of the Offensive Line.

Through 2 weeks of preseason action, we’re beginning to get some clarity — just not in the way most expected. This unit, rebuilt with physicality and trench dominance in mind, was supposed to pave the way for a punishing ground game. Instead, it’s the pass protection that’s quietly emerging as the more reliable strength.

Broderick Jones looks more comfortable in his sets at LT, Troy Fautanu is a rock in Pass Pro, and the interior led by Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick have held up well against interior pressure. While the run game has sputtered this preseason — with rookie Kaleb Johnson getting a lot of run but struggling to find lanes and often getting hit at or behind the line of scrimmage — Mason Rudolph has had time to operate, even against aggressive fronts. The pocket has been cleaner than expected, and that’s no small feat given the youth and turnover on this line.

It’s not a finished product, and the run blocking could still gel as the season progresses. But the early returns suggest a potential shift in identity: this may be a finesse-first unit, more adept at mirroring rushers than mauling defenders off the ball. That’s a notable development for a team that wants to lean on play-action and run the ball first. Arthur Smith may have to re-evaluate his schematic philosophy if this trend holds.

It could reshape how Pittsburgh calls games — and how we evaluate the success of this offensive line rebuild.