Steelers Left Tackle Dilemma Grows as Roethlisberger Voices Concern Over Protection
The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves grappling with a familiar issue: uncertainty at the left tackle position. Broderick Jones, now in his first complete season as the starter after Dan Moore departed in free agency, has struggled significantly on the field.
Jones’ Struggles Continue
Through the first three games of the season, Jones has surrendered four sacks and faced nine pressures, leading to a disappointing Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade of 47.5, placing him 78th out of 101 eligible offensive tackles. While he managed to avoid allowing a sack in Week 3, his performance still left much to be desired. He conceded several pressures and recorded his lowest pass-blocking grade of the season at 36.7.
Roethlisberger’s Critique
In a recent episode of his podcast, Steelers icon Ben Roethlisberger didn’t hold back in expressing his lack of confidence in Jones’ capabilities. Reflecting on the offensive line’s performance, he remarked, “No sacks, congratulations. Aaron still got hit a bunch. There’s a play where Broderick Jones is standing completely upright, and the guy basically runs right through him.”
Roethlisberger emphasized the importance of leverage for a tackle, noting, “You can’t stand upright as a tackle. You’ve got to get low because guys are just gonna get underneath you. If James Harrison were to go against Broderick Jones, he would have 15 sacks a game… Broderick has to be better at protecting.”
Growing Concerns
Despite the natural inclination to grant a young player like Jones more time to develop, the evidence suggests his performance has not improved since 2024. In fact, many observers believe he may be regressing. If these trends continue, the Steelers may need to consider alternatives.
Potential Alternatives
Calvin Anderson and Troy Fautanu could be viable options to explore if Jones’ struggles persist. Given Jones’ current standing as one of the least effective tackles in the league, the team may have little to lose by testing other players in the crucial left tackle role.
As the season unfolds, the Steelers will need to address this pressing issue to ensure they can adequately protect their quarterback and maintain the integrity of their offensive line.
