With Maurkice Pouncey and others gone, Ben Roethlisberger adjusts to Steelers' new O-line

It was almost three-quarters of the way through what was Ben Roethlisberger’s first media availability in almost five months before Maurkice Pouncey’s name was brought up.

“You trying to make me cry?” Roethlisberger said to a reporter over video conference call. “Is that what we are doing here, talking about Pounce?”

Roethlisberger chuckled. It was a reference to the tears he shed while sitting alone with Pouncey on the bench of the Steelers sideline after the team’s playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns in January. Roethlisberger’s longtime friend and teammate, Pouncey played his final NFL game that day. He announced his retirement a month later.

The organized team activities sessions of the past two weeks at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex represented the first official on-field work the Steelers offense has conducted without Pouncey being part of the organization since 2009.

“I joked that it’s not quite set in yet that he’s not here,” Roethlisberger said. “It almost just feels like he’s just not here at practice right now.

“It’s going to be a tough thing to be out there and not have him. Not just because of his football presence, but because of his friendship and what he meant to all of us, me especially. It’s going to be different, but I think the other guys are excited for the challenge.”

The specific challenge over the long term in replacing Pouncey likely falls to rookie third-round pick Kendrick Green, who took Pouncey’s No. 53 and has been pegged by the Steelers as Pouncey’s heir apparent.

In the meantime, though, J.C. Hassenauer and B.J. Finney are options at center. Second-year player Kevin Dotson is penciled in as the new starter at left guard, and Zach Banner is expected to serve as the starting right tackle in 2021 despite never having started and finished an NFL game on the offensive line. Also, Chuks Okorafor is slated to take over for longtime starting left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, who signed with the rival Baltimore Ravens. And another rookie, tackle Dan Moore, was added via a fourth-round draft pick.

“The guys are working hard. They are busting their butt,” Roethlisberger said of the young offensive linemen. “They are here, and they are trying to get better and that is what matters.”

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.