Upon Review: Grading the 2023 Steelers offensive line
Steel City Underground presents it’s ‘Upon Review’ series of Pittsburgh Steelers positional group grades for the 2023 NFL season with statistical analysis and performance reviews.
The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2023 anticipating that the addition of a first-round draft selectee and two free agents would solve some of the issues they’d experienced the season prior along the offensive line. Although there were improvements, some players did not perform at a high level, leaving the offensive front exposed as a mid-NFL group off and on throughout the regular season.
We analyze the performances of Dan Moore Jr., Isaac Seumalo, Mason Cole, James Daniels, Broderick Jones, Chukwuma Okorafor, Nate Herbig, Spencer Anderson, and Dylan Cook as individuals and as a unit.
Dan Moore, Jr
Moore faced a number of top pass rushers in 2023, including Nick Bosa, Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, Josh Allen (Jaguars), Trey Hendrickson, and Jonathan Greenard. Despite having help, many times, on the outside, Moore wasn’t nearly as successful at left tackle as the Steelers needed him to be.
Per PFF, Moore was ranked as the lowest graded offensive tackle in the league. The pressure he was under created opportunities for opposing defenses to enter the offensive backfield frequently and disrupt quarterback play across the board.
His final grade: C-
Issac Seumalo
Seumalo proved to be a nice free agent addition for the Steelers. He was especially effective in pulling and blocking for the ground game. Solid in pass protection as well, he received accolades from PFF as he was listed as sixth-best grade at offensive guard.
His final grade: A
Mason Cole
Cole played every offensive snap during the season. He struggled to hold his position when opponents placed a nose tackle over him and was often pushed back into the quarterback or running back. He was also inconsistent in snapping the ball, often creating a bad situation for Pittsburgh in shotgun formation. His play cost him his job at the end of the season.
His final grade: C-
James Daniels
Similar to Seumalo, but not quite as highly regarded by some analysts, Daniels helped create a more effective run blocking unit for Pittsburgh as the season progressed. He was above average in pass protection. Combined with Seumalo, Daniels received high marks among all NFL guard duos.
His final grade: A-
Broderick Jones
Jones was not initially set to be the “starter,” especially at right tackle. Due to injury to Moore and the decline in play by Okorafor, Jones was asked to step in as a rookie. What the Steelers got in return was great run blocking and effective pass protection. The Steelers posted a 141.6 rushing yards per game average after Jones became “the guy.”
His final grade: A
The offensive line as a group
The offensive line was riddled with injuries after the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers. Throughout the season, they also dealt with injuries that required a rotation of personnel. Moore missed one game, Daniels missed two, and Seumalo played through a shoulder injury.
As a result, Herbig was a decent replacement when given the opportunity to get snaps as a result of the need for rotation. His time on the field was limited, though. Anderson and Cook were depth pieces that had little to no effect on the Steelers offense but gave Pittsburgh options had the need arisen.
The Steelers gave up just 36 sacks on the season, ninth-fewest of all NFL teams. They also ranked tenth in pass blocking and tenth in adjusted rushing yard production.
Final positional group grade: B-
There are areas of improvement Pittsburgh has an opportunity to correct for 2024. It’s likely they address the offensive line during the 2024 NFL Draft and free agent additions to produce better results while getting the players they’ve kept from last season conditioned under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
