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Assessing the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line performance, particularly with Dan Moore at left tackle, Isaac Seumalo at left guard, Zach Frazier at center, Mason McCormick at right guard, and Broderick Jones at right tackle, reveals several areas of concern. We look at the overall analysis and what the Steelers can do during the offseason to improve in the trenches to become a more proficient offense overall for 2025.
Areas of concern
The Steelers’ offensive line allowed 49 sacks during the regular season, ranking them among the higher totals in the league. This suggests challenges in pass protection, potentially due to issues in technique, communication, or handling complex defensive schemes.
The team’s rushing attack averaged 4.1 yards per carry, totaling 2,166 yards over the season. While these numbers are respectable, they indicate room for improvement in creating consistent running lanes and sustaining blocks to enhance the ground game.
The offensive line contributed to 38 first downs for opponents via penalties, indicating lapses in discipline that extended opposing drives.
During the 2024 NFL regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line demonstrated notable improvement compared to previous years. Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranked the Steelers’ offensive line within the top 10 units prior to the season, reflecting optimism about their revamped lineup.
However, as the season progressed, the unit faced challenges, particularly in pass protection.
In contrast, top offensive lines in the league, such as those of the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions, exhibited superior performance. The Ravens offense achieved the “triple crown,” ranking first overall, as well as first in both run blocking and pass blocking. The Lions, when healthy, were considered arguably the best unit in the NFL. Both exited the NFL playoffs, as did the Steelers, even though the teams outperformed Pittsburgh offensively during the postseason.
In summary, while the Steelers’ offensive line showed progress in 2024, they remained a mid-tier unit, falling short of the elite performance levels demonstrated by the league’s top offensive lines
Recognizing Frazier’s rookie success
During the 2024 NFL regular season, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie center Zach Frazier earned a Pro Football Focus (PFF) overall grade of 77.9, ranking him as the sixth-best center in the league by mid-season. His run-blocking grade was particularly impressive at 79.8, placing him fifth among all centers. In pass protection, he received a grade of 65.2, allowing just four pressures and no sacks over 457 snaps during that time.
Despite missing early games due to the Steelers’ choice to start Mason Cole, Frazier’s performance garnered significant recognition, including being named to the Pro Football Writers Association’s All-Rookie Team.
Where the team needs to focus
To improve the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line in 2025, the team can focus on several key areas:
Pass Protection Improvements
At the tackle position, Pittsburgh would benefit from refining players’ hand placement, footwork, and balance to reduce pressures and sacks. Improving the line’s ability to recognize and pick up blitzes, stunts, and twists more effectively would also alleviate many of the issues they experienced this past season. Enhancing pre-snap reads and adjustments, especially between the center and the tackles, would be a big first step.
Run Blocking Consistency
If the Steelers continue using a zone-blocking scheme, linemen need to improve lateral quickness and timing to create consistent rushing lanes. This became an issue on and off throughout the season, often limiting the ability for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren to make much headway in the ground game.
Development of future talent
As a potential star, Frazier can improve his pass-blocking efficiency with more NFL experience and coaching. He looks to retain his starter role, for now, and the offseason will be an opportunity to build upon what he learned in 2024.
If he remains a starter, McCormick’s development in handling bull rushes and quick interior moves will be key, as well.
The Steelers should consider signing a veteran offensive lineman for depth and leadership, especially someone proficient in pass protection while also targeting versatile linemen via the 2025 NFL Draft who can play multiple positions, adding scheme flexibility and injury insurance.
Coaching Adjustments
A strong, detail-oriented offensive line coach can make a significant difference in technique and unit cohesion. Whether that is one of the positions being considered for a swap-out remains to be seen. Regardless, tailoring the offensive scheme to fit the strengths of the line, whether that means quicker passes, more play-action, or diverse run plays, could give Arthur Smith – presumably remaining with the team as offensive coordinator – a leg up on future competition.
Adding a quarterback that has a quick release can naturally alleviate some pressure on the offensive line, reducing sack totals and hurries. The Steelers are in a tough spot with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields currently free agents and on a bubble. Neither are particularly quick in their releases, and Fields often misread what the opposing defense offered or honed-in on a predetermined receiving target. The quarterback quandary and comparisons are ones we’ve previously covered.
Final thoughts
If the Steelers address these areas effectively, they can transform their offensive line into a more dominant and consistent unit in 2025.
The overall assessment reflects a mid-tier performance in 2024, indicating areas where the offense excelled and others where improvement is badly needed. The Steelers’ offensive line, which underwent significant investments through the draft, showed promise, but isn’t at a level anyone should take comfort in.
To get to the next level, the Steelers – as Art Rooney II indicated – will focus foremost on quarterback, but will absolutely need to look at dropping players who offered little to the team over the course of the season in order to bring in fresh talent along their offensive line.
How the Steelers offensive line can move past mediocrity appeared first on Steel City Underground.