As Dan Moore Jr. has proven, it’s too early to write the book on Pittsburgh Steelers OT Broderick Jones. He’s still 23, in his second NFL season, and was a raw player coming out of Georgia. While Jones’ confidence hasn’t been shaken by a tough season, Steelers’ o-line coach Pat Meyer thinks his focus could improve. With that, the rest of his game will follow.
“Broderick’s been awesome,” Meyer said via a team-provided video. “I mean, his attitude, he’s nothing but listening. He just gotta learn. He’s gotta focus, I think he’s just gotta focus each and every play. He plays a lot of good plays. You watch him and you’re like, ‘Wow, he’s does some really good things.'”
Jones has served as the Steelers’ starting right tackle for all but one game this season, Week 2 when rookie Troy Fautanu got the nod. Pittsburgh attempted to rotate both players but scrapped that plan midway through Jones’ first series after he was flagged three times and made other mental errors.
Simple mistakes have been costly this season. In that Broncos game, Broderick Jones screwed up the snap count and was flagged for a false start.
This one is really bad. Just doesn’t know the snap count. Thinks they’re going on one but they’re going on two. Fake head bob from Frazier. You can see Pat hold up “two” after the play. pic.twitter.com/rYrg4jzsWv
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) September 17, 2024
Or later in the season against the Las Vegas Raiders, thinking this pass play was a called run. It led to him sprinting upfield as LDE Maxx Crosby ran in free, QB Justin Fields bailing Jones out with his athleticism. If that’s Russell Wilson, the play ends in a sack.
All correctable issues but ones that show a lack of discipline and focus, as Meyer outlines. That doesn’t even broach the technique issues Jones has shown. Hands that are too wide, a weak first punch, getting his head too often in the block and giving up the corner.
But Meyer is preaching patience.
“Young, hasn’t played a whole NFL season. He’s 23 years old. He’s gonna grow. But the thing Broderick has, he’s confident. He plays hard. He loves the game. He’s just gotta continue to learn,” Meyer said. “We just gotta get him to learn it faster.”
Meyer dismissed concerns over Broderick Jones’ issues stemming from his switch to right tackle after primarily playing on the left side throughout his college career.
Moore was given up on by most of the fan base and has turned into a solid left tackle with a big payday ahead of him come March. Pittsburgh gave up on Kevin Dotson only to watch him flourish in Los Angeles. Jones could do the same.
The hard part is knowing when patience should run out. When a player deserves more time versus when he needs to be viewed as the wrong pick. The Steelers’ starting right tackle the rest of the year, if Jones can display his focus and improve his play, the team will be confident in him to switch to left tackle in 2023. If not, the team could be in a tough spot figuring out the best way to replace Moore, assuming he’s not retained.
