OT Dan Moore Jr. dealing with ankle injury, could Troy Fautanu start?

[Mojouw]

This entire OT situation is just short of the definition of stupid.

Tomlin's insistence on sacrificing the long term for game by game incremental advantages makes me want to tear my hear out sometimes.

The bottom line is that the organization has 2 first round draft picks sunk into OTs. It has chosen to play one of them out of position and the other with some unknown starter status.

All so they can continue to play the LT that they have repeatedly said they need to upgrade from and is a FA after the season. Even if this is the year that Moore grows into a top LT; I seriously doubt he stays a Steeler. He will cost a boatload and they have two first round picks waiting in the wings. Khan is too smart to squander resources in that manner.

Jones and Fautanu are the future of the Steelers offensive line. Moore is the past. Play the kids and either trade Moore or make him your swing tackle.

I can not think of another franchise that would screw around with this in a similar manner. Just bizarre.

[Born2Steel]

Why is it bizarre to allow a young player time to learn? He is not yet as good as Moore. If he were he would be playing instead of Moore. The penalties are the evidence Jones is struggling currently. Jones won the RT spot over the incumbent Chuks last season. He has never been on the depth chart over Moore at LT. BroJo is not our future LT. Not from what he has shown to this point.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Why is it bizarre to allow a young player time to learn? He is not yet as good as Moore. If he were he would be playing instead of Moore. The penalties are the evidence Jones is struggling currently. Jones won the RT spot over the incumbent Chuks last season. He has never been on the depth chart over Moore at LT. BroJo is not our future LT. Not from what he has shown to this point.

Agree with this.

Jones wasnt impressive in the preseason as a rookie. He was up and down when he got in the rotation at RT, with run blocking being better than pass protection and this preseason and game 1 was not that good at all. The notion that he can only play left tackle that some fans have is about as credible as Derek Zoolander not being able to turn left.

Fautanu looked technically good in college and is one of the best athletes at OT to ever put in a workout at the combine. IMO its more likely that Fautanu is the LT of the future at this point, but I agree with you that its most likely that Moore and Fautanu are showing themselves to be better OT's than Jones at this point in time.

[Mojouw]

Why is it bizarre to allow a young player time to learn? He is not yet as good as Moore. If he were he would be playing instead of Moore. The penalties are the evidence Jones is struggling currently. Jones won the RT spot over the incumbent Chuks last season. He has never been on the depth chart over Moore at LT. BroJo is not our future LT. Not from what he has shown to this point.

Because in a salary cap driven NFL the best resource is premium players on rookie deals. By the end of Year 2 of his rookie deal, the Steelers need to know if Jones is the LT they planned on him being, a RT, or a bust.

It’s an aggressive and brutal timeline that can cause mistakes in evaluation and development. But that’s the deal.

If you look around the league, most first round OT draft picks that aren’t anchoring one side or the other by the end of year 2 don’t get second contracts and are sometimes dealt out.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Broderick Jones dropped to 2nd team for Steelers after strong debut by RT Troy Fautanu

JOE RUTTER | Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024

https://triblive.com/sports/broderic...-troy-fautanu/

[Born2Steel]

Because in a salary cap driven NFL the best resource is premium players on rookie deals. By the end of Year 2 of his rookie deal, the Steelers need to know if Jones is the LT they planned on him being, a RT, or a bust.

It’s an aggressive and brutal timeline that can cause mistakes in evaluation and development. But that’s the deal.

If you look around the league, most first round OT draft picks that aren’t anchoring one side or the other by the end of year 2 don’t get second contracts and are sometimes dealt out.

That may be why we drafted 2 first round OTs.

[dislocatedday]

It's quite possible Broderick Jones did not look good in practice/training camp at LT. I may be wrong, but I assume he got some practice and reps in at LT and that the team did not like what they saw compared to Dan Moore.

I just think there is a reason Jones is not playing LT and starting there already, and it is likely that he has not shown himself to be as good as Dan Moore........or his injuries currently are affecting him to a greater degree than anyone is letting on.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

It's quite possible Broderick Jones did not look good in practice/training camp at LT. I may be wrong, but I assume he got some practice and reps in at LT and that the team did not like what they saw compared to Dan Moore.

I just think there is a reason Jones is not playing LT and starting there already, and it is likely that he has not shown himself to be as good as Dan Moore........or his injuries currently are affecting him to a greater degree than anyone is letting on.

People still get in their head that somehow Left Tackle is this magical world that requires different skills from Right Tackle. So a player can look brutal at RT, but just flop him over to LT and suddenly he will be much better.

If a player jumps offsides, plays too high, holds, doesnt have good pass set and balance, leaves the inside gap open for inside counter rush at Right Tackle....all those similar habits and technique will be present in his game at Left Tackle. Its just that he will be on the QB blind side, so that it leaves him open to big hits from pass rushers.

Broderick Jones needs work, needs focus and technique improvement. The best way to get him reps is either as 6th O lineman or at RT where the QB can at least see if he has to run for his life if the OT doesnt play well. But if he shows himself to be good at RT (like Marvel Smith, Max Starks, etc) then there is trust to move over to LT if that is best for the team.

The long term goal is for Jones to be a starting OT for the Steelers and getting him a few series so that he and Fautanu both develop is a good idea, despite the whining of fans that dont get it. I still believe that Fautanu is the better of the 2 at this time and it might be more reasonable that Fautanu goes to LT next season and Jones to RT if Moore is gone. You want your better pass protector on the blind side.

[hawaiiansteeler]

‘You (mess) up, you get pulled’ — Broderick Jones at peace with benching, future with Steelers

CHRIS ADAMSKI | Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024

https://triblive.com/sports/you-mess...with-steelers/

[BlackAndGold]

Fautanu is out for the season per Dulac.

[86WARD]

It is Dulac reporting….

[Mojouw]

Welp. These things have a way of sorting themselves out.

Hopefully Cook builds on last season’s flashes as the swing tackle.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Welp. These things have a way of sorting themselves out.

Hopefully Cook builds on last season’s flashes as the swing tackle.

Isnt Cook on IR also?

So Anderson becomes the swing T if needed or maybe LeGlue gets the call up from the PS? Jones going to get all the reps he needs at RT now as long as he can stay active.

[tube517]

Isnt Cook on IR also?

So Anderson becomes the swing T if needed or maybe LeGlue gets the call up from the PS? Jones going to get all the reps he needs at RT now as long as he can stay active.

Cook is on IR designated to return so hopefully he is back after week 4

John Leglue was promoted to active roster.


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[tube517]

Fautanu is out for the season per Dulac.

Dislocated kneecap. Will have surgery.

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[DesertSteel]

It’s a shame. But injuries are happening to every team.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Dislocated kneecap. Will have surgery.

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I read that it could be a 6 month recovery or longer. He is likely done for season, despite some reports that he could be back for playoffs.

[DesertSteel]

I read that it could be a 6 month recovery or longer. He is likely done for season, despite some reports that he could be back for playoffs.