One of the Steeler's biggest weaknesses in 2020 was their offensive line. Especially in regards to blocking the run. They finished dead last in the running game at the end of the 2020 season. It looks like they have finally realized the offensive line needs rebuilding. Maurkice Pouncey did not help the Steelers when he retired, but it looks like the Steelers could be in line to draft their future center in the 2021 draft. I thought it would have been a good idea to get a Veteran Center through free agency, but it looks like the Steelers could just settle with BJ Finney in free agency. They will need more than BJ Finney at center going into the 2021 season.
The Steelers have quietly been adding pieces back to their offensive line. Although they did lose Matt Feiler it looks like they just added Joe Haeg to replace him at a much cheaper deal. Haeg ended up playing 12 regular-season games and all 4 post-season games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He became a Super Bowl Champion in 2020. So Haeg has plenty of post-season experience.
Zach Banner is returning on a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. They desperately need him back in 2021 and they need him to stay healthy. Banner won the starting right tackle position in 2020, but his season quickly ended against the Giants just as he started to get going. It was a tough break for Banner, but his offseason regiment looks to be going great. He is eating healthy, exercising every day, and being patient with himself. I would expect the Steelers to ease him into the offensive line early into the season to help him get going since he missed the 2020 season with an ACL tear.
Center J.C. Hassenauer signed his exclusive rights contract to a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is a good backup center for the Steelers, but he is not going to be the starter they desperately need to fill in Maurkice Pouncey's place. That is where BJ Finney comes into play. The Bengals released BJ Finney who had a tough season in 2020 due to the Covid-19 restrictions, but he has found his way back home to Pittsburgh. Finney can start in Maurkice Pouncey's position, but the Steelers will need another center going into the 2021 season. Finney tends to get hurt and if he goes down the Steelers will be in a bad position. Ben Roethlisberger needs a stud center going into possibly his last season with the Steelers.
It looks like the Steelers have been quietly filling in holes on the offensive line, but there is still much work to do. They will need a center, tackle, and running back going into the 2021 NFL draft (barring any last-minute deal prior to the draft). Art Rooney II says the Steelers will be focused on fixing the running game going into 2021 and if they're serious about fixing it they will need to add key pieces to the offensive line in the 2021 NFL draft. One would be an elite running back and another should be focused on the offensive line. The Steelers may not be done adding pieces in free agency either. I fully don't expect the Steelers to resolve their full issues this season on the offensive line, but they should be better schematically with Adrian Klemm as their offensive line coach. The Steelers have a lot of work to do, but it looks like they are finally filling in the pieces they need to be a contender in 2021.
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