The Pittsburgh Steelers chose not to address their offensive line during the 2015 NFL Draft, but after it was over they made sure that they’d have plenty of lineman to sift through this coming weekend when their annual rookie camp takes place.
Signed as undrafted free agents Saturday night were Kansas State’s B.J. Finney, Penn State’s Miles Dieffenbach, Auburn’s Reese Dismukes, Indiana’s Collin Rahrig and Utah State’s Kevin Whimpey. Additionally, it is being reported that Texas at San Antonio’s Josh Walker will be allowed to tryout with the team.
Finney is perhaps the player the Steelers will have their eyes on the most next weekend as the center was a consensus All-Big Twelve Conference first-team choice last season. He also received league co-Offensive Lineman of the Year honors from the head coaches association and was named to the watch lists for both the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Awards. The scouting report on Finney says he delivered 84 knockdowns with 14 touchdown-resulting blocks last season on his way to recording a blocking consistency grade of 88.08%. Additionally, he did not allow any full sacks last season.
Dismukes is yet another high-profile undrafted free agent after winning the Rimington Trophy last season. That award is given annually to the top center in college football. Last season Dismukes registered 83 knockdowns, 14 touchdown-resulting blocks and an 85.62% grade for blocking consistency at center, according to the scouting report I have on him. The Steelers listed him as a guard, however, so he could get time at two spots this coming weekend.
As for Rahrig, he is also versatile as he started 19 times at center, 12 times at left guard and five times at right guard during his career at Indiana. Last season he played a team-high 808 snaps and allowed just two sacks while finishing second among the linemen on his team with 56 knockdowns. Like Dismukes, the Steelers listed Rahrig as a guard.
Dieffenbach mostly played left guard during his career at Penn State so one would think that’s where he will get the majority of his snaps this coming weekend. Last season he played in the final five games and started the last three after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during spring practice in 2014.
The 6-5, 306-pound Whimpey is listed as a tackle by the Steelers and that’s not surprising being has he started 40 games at left tackle at Utah State. His bio says that he finished the 2014 season with 64.0 knockdowns on his way to an overall performance grade of 84 percent.
As for Walker, who reportedly will be a tryout player next weekend, it looks like he played right tackle at Texas at San Antonio. Being as he is listed at just under 6-3, the Steelers might give him so work at right guard as well, if he indeed is invited.
