Steelers shouldn’t overcomplicate an already dicey O-line situation
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effyou515
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effyou515
Posts : 5170 Join date : 2011-09-28 Location : from upper Ohio Valley to Conyers Ga.
Subject: Steelers shouldn’t overcomplicate an already dicey O-line situation Fri Sep 18, 2020 9:09 am
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.
Posts : 6343 Join date : 2011-09-30 Location : State of Confusion
Subject: Re: Steelers shouldn’t overcomplicate an already dicey O-line situation Fri Sep 18, 2020 9:34 am
effyou515 wrote:
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.
Wisnewski's off to IR for at least a few weeks... Decastro didn't practice... Dotson will get the start... hopefully they will get the ball out of BBs hands quickly ornits gonna be a long day.
Here's to hoping Dotson can show he is for real and make a statement.
LambertWardSteel likes this post
LambertWardSteel
Posts : 1643 Join date : 2015-05-14 Location : Myerstown PA
Wisnewski's off to IR for at least a few weeks... Decastro didn't practice... Dotson will get the start... hopefully they will get the ball out of BBs hands quickly ornits gonna be a long day.
Here's to hoping Dotson can show he is for real and make a statement.
I'm with you. Tomlin seems a little nervous but I hope Dotson rises to the occasion. I want Dotson to do well, but hoping Decastro and Wis back very soon. Maybe it's just perception, but it always seems to work out that when there is a unit that is thin to begin with that matters very often go from bad to worse quickly.
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LambertWardSteel
Posts : 1643 Join date : 2015-05-14 Location : Myerstown PA
Subject: Re: Steelers shouldn’t overcomplicate an already dicey O-line situation Sat Sep 19, 2020 12:07 am
From an article at Pitts Post Gazette. It looks like McFarland could be active this week:
Quote :
Offensive line is set
As expected, Steelers interior linemen David DeCastro and Stefen Wisniewski did not practice again Friday, and Wisniewski has been placed on injured reserve. That means rookie Kevin Dotson will make his first NFL start at right guard, playing next to another lineman who began the season as a backup, Chuks Okorafor, at right tackle.
While it might seem like an overload of inexperience on one side of the line, Dotson and Okorafor do have some level of familiarity working in their favor. Okorafor’s other two starts on the offensive line at this level came at right tackle, and Dotson exclusively played right guard all four seasons he started in college.
“Dotson’s been eager to learn, and he’s been showing good stuff ever since training camp,” Conner said. “Running back is all reaction anyway, so I trust those guys are going to do their job.”
With Wisniewski on injured reserve, it should be noted the NFL has changed its IR rules this year. Wisniewski will be eligible to return after missing three games. In his place, the Steelers promoted Derwin Gray from the practice squad. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Gray was the team’s seventh-round pick last season, but spent all of his rookie year on the practice squad. The team officially lists him as an offensive tackle, which he played in college at Maryland, but he’s a guard. That’s why he’s taking Wisniewski’s place on the active roster.
Other roster moves
With Curtis Riley being signed by Arizona, the Steelers brought back safety John Battle to the practice squad. Battle had been with the team all year until not making the roster or practice squad out of training camp.
Given that DeCastro will be one of the inactive players again Sunday, the Steelers will have a number of options for their final slot on the game day roster. DeCastro figures to be joined by No. 3 quarterback Josh Dobbs, as well as rookie defensive lineman Carlos Davis again. Tight end Zach Gentry was inactive last week, so if he’s the fourth, the Steelers will have a couple other decisions to make on who will dress for the game, and it could come down to an extra linebacker or extra running back.
Due to NFL rules for expanded rosters, eight offensive linemen must suit up, which means Gray will join J.C. Hassenauer and Jerald Hawkins as the backups there. Teams can call up two practice squad players per week, but the Steelers didn’t elevate anyone in Week 1. More likely is that they’ll choose to make running back Anthony McFarland active for his NFL debut after he didn’t dress last week.
