With a 41-year-old quarterback behind it, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line was the biggest question mark on the roster coming into the season. An offense typically does as well as its line allows, but the Steelers won games in spite of some poor play from the unit to begin the year.
Since then, things have improved. However, Aaron Rodgers’ trust in the pocket has not. He isn’t getting pressured at an insane rate but has looked uncomfortable behind the line in recent weeks. Now, the quarterback position is in flux as he deals with a left-wrist injury. Whether he plays through that, or it’s Mason Rudolph instead, former NFL GM Doug Whaley thinks the offensive line needs to make a statement this Sunday in Chicago.
“Obviously they’ve been getting the ball out quick. Get the ball out quick, and hey, o-line, this is your time to announce to the world you’ve arrived. ‘Our quarterback’s compromised, it’s on us. We gotta run the ball, and we gotta protect him.’ I think this game is gonna be won with the offensive line,” Whaley said Wednesday on 93.7 The Fan.
Whether it’s a distrust in the Steelers’ offensive line, or simply the result of an old quarterback not wanting to get hit, Rodgers isn’t comfortable behind the unit. And in the beginning of the season that certainly was a valid concern for him. He was sacked four times in the season opener and three times the following week. He then went on a nice stretch without being sacked but was sacked three times in each game from Weeks 8 to 10.
However, that may have more to do with Rodgers than the line itself. After Rudolph entered the game last Sunday there seemed to be a difference in the pocket presence between the two.
This isn’t anything major from Rudolph, but his comfortability in the pocket here shows how a quarterback can make his offensive line look better. This isn’t a great rep from the line, with Troy Fautanu losing direction and allowing a free rusher. But Rudolph stands in the pocket unfazed by the rusher and delivers a good ball to Roman Wilson, which ended up being a 17-yard gain. We’ve seen Rodgers bail from the pocket in similar situations plenty of times in recent weeks.
Fortunately, the Steelers don’t have the toughest test ahead of them this week. The Bears are no slouch, but their defense isn’t a dominant one. It’s registered 21 sacks on the year, the 21st-highest total in the NFL. Against the run, their defense allows 133.3 rushing yards per game and 5.2 per attempt.
It’s definitely a unit the Steelers’ offensive line can beat. But they’ll still have to play well up front, especially if Rodgers is back there. It’s slowly trending toward him playing in Chicago. And the Steelers can’t afford any more injuries with six regular-season games still remaining after Sunday. Protecting Rodgers is paramount, and the Steelers’ offensive line needs to be on point.
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