Broderick Jones on track to start again at RT, appreciative of support from Steelers veterans

That the Pittsburgh Steelers produced a season-best 166 rushing yards during his second NFL start and first at right tackle is not a source of pride for rookie Broderick Jones.

“Honestly, for me, I don’t feel like that’s good enough,” the big offensive lineman said after Thursday’s practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “I came from Georgia. Not to dwell on the past, but we were big on running the football. I want to be 200-plus every time.”

High expectations for the Steelers’ highly drafted rookie, one who is set to start again at right tackle when the Steelers host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Jones confirmed he’s been taking first-team reps during practice this week. Last week, Jones had just a pair of walkthrough-like practices on a short week to move from left tackle to right, where coach Mike Tomlin decided to bench veteran Chuks Okorafor for something Okorafor had said during the prior game.

Though Jones by all indications performed well during the win against the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 2, in advance of the Packers game he will have the benefit not only of that experience but of a full week of practice and preparation time at right tackle.

“I wouldn’t look at it as an advantage, moreso just the preparation of it,” Jones said. “Which, that can be an advantage, but I don’t look at it like that. It’s just being able to prepare and get the feel for it throughout the week. I feel like that’s a big plus for me.”

While Okorafor has expressed he aims to get his job back, Jones credited the six-year veteran for helping to mentor him as a 22-year-old rookie. Jones spent most of training camp as the backup to Dan Moore Jr., whose started for the Steelers all three of his NFL seasons at left tackle.

“It’s not even awkward,” Jones said of his relationship with Okorafor. “It’s like basically the same thing that was going on with me and Dan. Chuks is like a big brother on the field, just being able to talk to me and coach me on the things he sees, things like I can do better, giving me little tips. So I feel like it’s a big help for me just being able to have him behind watching and being able to have basically an extra coach.”

Jones has starting experience at right tackle from early on his college career, but all 15 of his starts last season were on the left side. He said Thursday it’s his preference to play there fulltime eventually.

“I just feels more natural to me,” said Jones, who played the Oct. 8 Steelers game at left tackle for his first NFL start. “But you know what? At the end of the day I am just going to do what coach wants me to do. So if they feel like right now this is what is gonna help my team win, I will do.”

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