Unpopular Opinion: Pat Meyer can develop the Steelers young offensive line
When the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the dreaded long offseason, there are plenty of ideas to debate. As part of the triumphant trio on the Steelers Preview podcast, I’ve been known to often give a “Dave answer“ to various things as I often like to argue both sides of an issue. With this in mind, a new weekly segment has been born… Unpopular opinion.
There are plenty of arguments both for and against the Pittsburgh Steelers that might not go along with the majority of fans. Oftentimes I believe in these arguments, while other times I simply like to pose a counter argument for ones that are taking it too much to the extreme. For this reason, I’m going to offer some points about the Pittsburgh Steelers that go against the general fan narrative, or at least how I have heard things.
Next up is the question if the Steelers have the right man for the job in leading the offensive line…
Pat Meyer can develop the Steelers young offensive line
This weeks unpopular opinion was a submission from a listener on Twitter/X. I want to thank @ToddHall_TAS for suggesting the topic.
I will admit that I felt that the Steelers could have moved on from Pat Meyer at the end of the 2024 season. His “strike first“ philosophy is very different to the rest of the NFL and nothing about it has stood out as being outstanding. But after looking at things from this submission, I understand that he might be key in the Steelers offensive line development.
First, I do want to acknowledge that the development of young players also falls as much, if not more, on the assistant offensive line coach. Currently that position is held by Isaac Williams who started coaching with the Steelers in 2024. Is a combination of both of these coaches that can really bring out the best in the offensive line.
When looking at the players the Steelers have drafted, it is important to realize that unsuccessful draft picks such as Kendrick Green and Kevin Dotson both occurred before Pat Meyer joined the Steelers. Green was drafted in 2021 along with Dan Moore while Kevin Dotson was selected in 2020. Pat Meyer joined the Steelers coaching staff in 2022 when there were no offensive lineman drafted. So the development of those players coming up short, particularly Green and Dotson being traded away, might have been when Myers was on the coaching staff but ultimately it did not begin with him.
The Steelers have drafted five offensive linemen, all in the 2023 and 2024 drafts, since Pat Meyer was hired as the Steelers offensive line coach. While 14th overall pick Broderick Jones has been sketchy his first two NFL seasons, it was known when he was selected that he was a raw player that would need to develop. The 2025 season will be a big year for him, and will also bring Myers ability to develop young players more into focus.
But it’s the other player who was drafted in 2023 that shows that Pat Meyer has been able to develop young players. Selected at pick 251, Spencer Anderson has spent two years with the Steelers. Appearing in eight games as a rookie, Anderson was in all 17 games in 2024 and had four starts. Being selected that late in the draft, Anderson has developed into a quality backup offensive lineman.
In the 2024 draft, it’s hard to evaluate Troy Fautanu as he only appeared in one game before getting injured in practice the next week. It should be noted that, even though he was returning from injury in the preseason, Fautanu earned the starting job with a limited preseason. So his development was significant in the short amount of time before he was lost for the season.
Looking at Zach Frazier as a second round draft pick, he played like a player in his rookie season who should have been taken in the top 10. So looking at Frazier, there’s no reason to think that that was a dark spot on Meyer‘s resume. Throw in fourth round guard Mason McCormick, who came from an FCS school, and the fact that he landed in the starting lineup early in the season, the case could be made that Pat Meyer got these players ready to go early in their rookie campaigns.
While it’s entirely possible that the offensive line could struggle in 2025 and Pat Meyer’s time in Pittsburgh could be short-lived, there’s also just as much of a chance that he is the right guy to develop these young players and this line comes together in a big way in 2025.
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Agreed with you mostly, except for how Kevin Dotson is qualified. Dotson was certainly unsuccessful during his Pgh tenure, and has played pretty well with the Rams. Kendrick Green’s an altogether marginal NFL player.
What does Wiliams do to aid Meyers in training the OL on the daily? Can’t say I paid much attention to Klemm, Morgan, or Sarrett–until each left Pgh.
I don’t understand how draft year is germane. A good coach will get the best out of the players he has available. Looking forward to the expiration of his contract so we can move on.
Uh, Dave addressed this above, paragraph four, last sentence. And yes, you can disagree with what he wrote.
IMO, Teryl Austin, he’s the one who is past expiration… perhaps another unpopular opinion?
I’m rowing this boat too Matt.
Ya, I 100% disagree with that one buried sentence. You coach the players you have; it doesn’t matter if you helped to draft them or not.
Buried sentence, you mean the one in plain sight?! SMH. No one is granting Meyer sainthood, Trukk.
First sentence, final paragraph, that’s also buried. It is clear Meyer’s on notice. Heck, you may just get your wish…
Meyer has a different philosophy. The Steelers knew that when they hired him. Whether or not players could adapt to his philosophy or not they didn’t know, and chances are the reports of Dotson not being prepared could’ve had a lot to do with it. And you can’t blame Meyer for putting Dotson on the other side because that was done before he got there. If you have a player that simply won’t or can’t adapt to the new strategy of the team, that’s why you move on from them. You can’t change your entire blocking philosophy because one player can’t get it. You move home from that player unless they are too high of a pedigree. And Dotson was not.
I’m thinking you’re responding to me, not Trukk. The decision to trade Dotson was absolutely correct, and Dotson, while unsuccessful and possibly a meathead while in Pgh, currently is a success as a Ram. May Dan Moore, Jr. see such success in TN (want that one after 3rd round very much). I do not blame Meyer for anything Dotson-related. And Dotson surely isn’t a guy that could block well in the ouside zone scheme.
I remain interested in what assistant OL coaches do “on the daily” to enhance the lead OL coach.
That response was not for you, but this one is. What the assistant offensive line coaches often do is work with the players not on the first unit. This is why going through things and make sure the players are developing correctly is sometimes attributed to them.
My apology, and thanks. Tried sending same question earlier to Labriola and got TV Tizen-ed. I’m pretty sure he’ll recieve the letter C, only. Yeah, dumb on me.
No offense but I’m not exactly in the opinion that quality and Spencer Anderson are synonymous. He is a backup so there’s that.
There indeed is reason why Pgh should seek reserve OL, swing tackle and guard.
You make some valid points; however, Fautanu was a 1st round pick that was expected to start day one. I don’t follow where Meyer gets credit for him. His O line coach from college deserves credit for where he was before injury. Let’s see what he does this season then reevaluate.
McCormick didn’t take the position from Daniels because of Meyers tutelage, he was thrust into that spot due to injury. He played ok, just ok, and Meyer should get credit for that, but let’s not act like McCormick would have seen the field had Daniels not been injured.
This team has not exactly been an O linemen factory. Meyer isn’t going anywhere, so we’ll see how they develope this season. I hope I’m here eating crow later in the season, but I’m still of the opinion that they don’t have the right guy yet.
Agreed. Give the man his contract year–he’s not Canada-level, obviously incompetent.
You believe Troy Fautanu was a player who was drafted to start Day 1? I believe the Steelers don’t draft anyone to start Day 1, but sometimes it works out that way. Plus, they were having Fautanu switch sides. They really thought a rookie switching sides was gonna be penciled in as their starter day one? I don’t believe that for a second. He just happened to be good enough at it, even after missing half the preseason, to still be their best guy.
Yes I do believe they wanted him to start. Do you believe Meyer was responsible for TF being able to show he could do what he did? I believe that was 98% TF. If Meyer was that good there’s zero chance this article is written.
My point is he didn’t get in the way of it. And this was not my idea of a topic. I’m more “meh” on Meyer, but looking into making the argument I realized he gets blamed for more than what he should. I went much more into it in the podcast.
Thats on me Dave. I gotta get with the times, and listen to podcasts. If I do YOU are on my list! No promises, I’m not a social media podcast guy…but I can change….I think.
Really though “Not getting in the way of it…” perfectly sums him up, and that’s just not good enough. I’m tired of “he’s ok”, and I don’t understand the organizational reluctance to strive for the best. It’s why they can’t win in the post season, and are woefully behind the Ravens.
I’m not going to disagree
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s yes the Steelers start four are very young and needs to work together
I have posted this a ton now but the Steelers had a lineman make the Pro Bowl last year, another quickly became one of most highly regarded centers in the game in his first year, another was on road to starting as a first year player before getting hurt, a 4th round draft pick played significant snaps and played ok. I am having a tough time seeing how any of this makes Pat Meyers a bad coach.
Pat Meyers’ only wart is Broderick Jones but the jury is still out with him.
I am not the president of the Pat Meyers fan club or anything but I am having a tough time seeing why so many people are down on the guy. The arrow of the offensive line is pointing up, isn’t it?