Steelers shouldn't overcomplicate an already dicey O-line situation

That was interesting for Steelers fans.

While it lasted.

Technically, did it even start?

After months of discussion surrounding a revamped Steelers offensive line in 2020, it’s entirely possible the chosen unit will never play together in a regular-season game.

Upon the retirement of left guard Ramon Foster after the 2019 campaign, the coaching staff deemed that right tackle Matt Feiler should bounce inside and assume that spot. Feiler’s job was absorbed by Zach Banner. Newly signed Stefen Wisniewski and newly drafted Kevin Dotson would be backups.

And the hope was that left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, center Maurkice Pouncey and right guard David DeCastro would all retain their usual starting spots.

Unfortunately, the best of intentions with that unit — although I’d argue, that wasn’t the smartest plan — never manifested. DeCastro couldn’t start Game 1 against the Giants thanks to an injury. So Wisniewski slotted in his place. But both Wisniewski and Banner left that contest due to injuries.

Reports are that Banner has a torn ACL and that Wisniewski has a pectoral injury. Banner confirmed during a social media post that he is out for the season. And if Wisniewski’s pec injury is a significant tear, he could be as well.

On Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin wouldn’t go further than ruling out Banner for this week. He only described Wisniewski’s status as “more favorable” than Banner’s. And he claims to be unsure if DeCastro is going to be able to practice this week.

In a worst-case scenario — meaning DeCastro, Wisniewski and Banner all can’t play — the most logical thing to do would be to replace Banner with Chuks Okorafor at right tackle and start Dotson at right guard, leaving the other starters in place

After all, Okorafor was said to be in a neck-and-neck race with Banner to win that job throughout training camp. And Dotson flashed with a few nice blocks when he was pressed into late-game service during the team’s 26-16 win over New York.

Tomlin sounded confident in starting Okorafor.

“I thought both (Banner and Okorafor) were starter-capable and I still feel that way,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “So, I’m extremely comfortable with Chuks and his ability to play.”

He came off less convinced about Dotson, the fourth-round rookie from Louisiana.

“Dotson is another story,” Tomlin said. “He’s a young guy who hasn’t had a lot of work throughout this process because of injury (in training camp) and lack of availability. There is some angst there. So if he is called upon this week, it is going to take a tremendous effort by him and by us. And by us, I mean us putting him in the very best position to perform.”

In other words, scheming to help Dotson via double teams and other measures.

Plus, while praising Feiler’s play at guard, Tomlin didn’t rule out the notion of moving him out to right tackle again. That’s something the team has repeatedly stated it didn’t want to do.

“I do know that he is tackle-capable and so I’m sure that will be an element of the discussion at the appropriate time,” Tomlin said.

That all seems overcomplicated to me. If the battle between Okorafor and Banner was truly as close as we were led to believe, then just start Okorafor.

Even if it wasn’t, start Okorafor anyway.

Because if the Steelers move Feiler back to tackle and all three injured options can’t suit up, you’ll probably have Dotson and J.C. Hassenauer at guard. Hassenauer got one special teams snap Monday. Dotson got six offensive snaps and one on special teams.

Another option is to sign someone new. There were some reports that the Steelers reacquired tackle Jerald Hawkins off the Houston Texans’ practie squad. But that move has yet to be confirmed.

Despite all the offensive line chaos on Monday, Benny Snell ran for 113 yards on 19 carries and Ben Roethlisberger was only sacked twice. The unit looked shaky early. But much like the rest of the offense, it was good for the final 32 minutes.

One thing is for sure. The Steelers should be counting their lucky stars Von Miller isn’t playing for the Denver Broncos because of his ankle injury. Through coaching and execution, Okorafor got himself through that matchup versus Miller relatively well in emergency service back in 2018.

With all the other moving parts present this week, the Steelers should be glad they don’t have to tempt fate again in that showdown.

Chris Adamski and I get in-depth about the offensive line issues in this week’s post-Tomlin-presser podcast. We also banter about whether James Conner or Snell should be starting at running back, how the Steelers defense will attack Denver’s offense, and that two-minute drill that Ben Roethlisberger executed to perfection against the Giants.

Listen: Tim Benz and Chris Adamski discuss the Steelers offensive line issues, running backs and the Broncos matchup