Steelers Offensive Line Breakdown Play By Play Versus Jets AFC Championship Game

Below is the play by play break down of the offensive line from the Sunday AFC Championship Game versus the New York Jets. It is merely a pass or fail grade on if I think the lineman did his job or not. It also should be noted that we go under assumptions that we know what the assignment on each play was and sometimes it is not obvious. We have to grade on what we see and go from there. We added small notes to each play as well. As always if you disagree with any play, do so respectfully in the comments and give your reason so I can go back through and re-watch your disagreement.

Overall the line played great on Sunday. Everyone held their breath after Maurkice Pouncey left early with an injured ankle, but as we have seen time and time again this season, the next man up did the job. Without much drop off as well. Jonathan Scott was channeling his inner Max Starks on Sunday and played his best game of the season by far. Chris Kemoeatu had his struggles, but was not awful. Flozell Adams and Ramon Foster made some nice creases and turns in the game and overall the pass protection was very strong on the night. The Jets are not a ferocious pass rush defense and often times choose to use extra bodies in coverage instead of getting after the quarterback. The Steelers were running pretty much at will in the first half and had the Jets way off balance. As the offensive line had to wait through several long Jet drives in the 2nd half, they seemed to get a bit sluggish and not as near as dominate as they were in the first half.

Overall Rating

Run Blocking Rating

Pass Blocking Rating

First Half Rating

Trai Essex – The Steelers might have had more plans of using Essex as an extra end tackle/tight end during the game, but after the 1st touchdown by Rashard Mendenhall, he was never seen again. It could of been to keep him upright once Maurkice Pouncey was deemed not fit to return from his high ankle sprain. Regardless, Essex did his job on the one play and the Steelers scored.

Jonathan Scott – I am not sure who was wearing the uniform of Jonathan Scott on Sunday night, but I hope that same guy plays again in the Super Bowl. Scott looked like an all-pro left tackle in the game against the Jets. Of course the level of competition was not what Scott has seen in the past, but his mechanics, footwork and heart all seemed in line for the most part. Some bad footing on a few plays were his downfall and he is still not the best cut blocker on the team. This was by far the best effort he has had all season and it could not of come at a better time. One more game like that is all we need from him. He certainly has it in him.

Ramon Foster – Foster was Foster on Sunday. Not dominate, but not bad. His pass protection was fine for the most part, but he had his struggles in the run game, where he was not winning the one-on-one matchups or not staying on his blocks long enough. This is pretty much on par though for what we have seen all season from him. Most of his problems see to be from a leverage and quickness deficiencies. He has shown when he is on his details, that he can drive defenders forward and he managed that a few times on Sunday. I have seen much worse from him this year though, so he has made some huge gains this year. He is good for an inside pressure or two a game that I expect will carry over to the Super Bowl.

Chris Kemoeatu – The nastiness is there with Kemoeatu, but he is not the best he has been in his career. When he pulls right, he is 50/50 on hitting the man he is designed to make contact with. Of that 50%, he is 50/50 to finish them off on a play. His seems to trip more this season as well and even tangled up Mendenhall in the backfield a few times on Sunday. He still allowed himself to get pushed back into the pocket a few time against the Jets for pressures and was not his best at gap control with Doug Legursky next to him. He works much better with Pouncey to his right as you would expect.

Flozell Adams – Adams looked a bit rusty on Sunday. This is to be expected after missing half the game against the Ravens and having a week and a half off before that. Flozell did not finish on several plays, but I also was a bit harder on the critique of the line this week as well. Do not read too much into 74% run blocking rating for that very reason. He has it in him, if healthy, to be dominant against the Packers. His pass protection was much better against the Jets once his motor got started and in gear. He also seemed a little more nimble in space this past week and that could be because he was not as run down.

Doug Legursky – I charged both the fumbled snaps to Legursky. It is hard not to. In my opinion, it always goes on both the center and the quarterback. Legursky is a much better center than he is a guard. That said, he is not as mobile as Pouncey is at getting off blocks and getting to the second level. He has short space quickness indeed, but not as athletic as Pouncey is in space. He lost the leverage war and point of attack battle quite a few times and allowed some gap pressures to his left as well. Both he and Kemoeatu are like two bowling balls playing next to each other and the A gap is very easy to pressure with them. On his good run blocks, he was far from dominating, but was indeed adequate. Hopefully Pouncey returns for the Super Bowl, but both he and Pouncey are likely to struggle with B.J. Raji from the Packers. Time will tell.

Maurkice Pouncey – Before getting injured, Pouncey was not off to a great start against the Jets. He had 2 demerits in pass protection and was not dominate in the run game to start. I was a little tough on him grading wise though, so this is nothing to be concerned about. The biggest concern is if he can be ready in 2 weeks and not lose his mobility and leverage in the process as his strong suit this year has been his second level play.