Steelers' 2-Time Super Bowl Champion Sends Fierce Warning To Offensive Line Coach Pat Meyer
The Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line has struggled to return to being a strength for several seasons now. They've made multiple attempts to rebuild the unit, investing both draft capital and free agent signings to get it back on track. With Broderick Jones entering another year of development and 2024 first-round pick Troy Fautanu expected to take on a major role in 2025, there is real optimism that the offensive line could finally become a reliable group.
If both players come together and perform at a high level, the Steelers have the potential to field a top-12 offensive line, which would be a huge boost for an offense that now revolves around Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers have high hopes for this new look offense with Rodgers. However, it will be critical that Rodgers gets time in the pocket.
Former Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex, who won two Super Bowls with the team, weighed in on the current state of the offensive line during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan. Essex did not hold back, calling out Offensive Line Coach Pat Meyer for failing to step up and take command of his group.
"It's inbred in offensive-line DNA. You're supposed to pick up your quarterback," Essex said while talking about Rodgers having to scold his offensive line for not picking up Skylar Thompson. "It's just our nature as offensive linemen to be protective of the guys that are running and carrying and toting the ball."
According to Essex, Meyer should be the one who teaches, standing in front of his players, protecting his quarterbacks, and ensuring accountability across the line.
Instead, Essex believes Meyer has been too passive, leaving Rodgers to do the job of motivating and challenging the offensive line himself.
"It's good to see that A-Rod spoke up, and I'm glad it got addressed before the season started. You don't want things like that bleeding into the season," Essex said. "But as an offensive lineman, that's something that I hope they took to heart. Coach Meyer, I hope, heard that loud and clear, because that's an environment that should've been set forth already in that room."
This criticism came shortly after Rodgers went viral for ripping into his offensive line during a practice, where they failed to pick up Skylar Thompson on a blitz. The quotes quickly spread across social media, sparking conversations about the discipline and leadership within the Steelers’ offensive line room.
Steelers' Pat Meyer Has A Chance To Impress Fan Base With Young Offensive Line
Essex’s comments only fueled the fire as fans and analysts began questioning whether Meyer is the right coach to maximize the talent that Pittsburgh has assembled. With Rodgers under center and Super Bowl hopes on the line, the performance of the offensive line and the leadership behind it could determine just how far the Steelers go in 2025.
Meyer took over as the offensive line coach in 2022. He has not done much so far, as his unit has consistently ranked in the lower half of offensive lines across the league. The good news for Meyer is that he now has a great chance to seriously impress the fan base.
He has young stars across the line, and if he can show he can develop Jones and Fautanu while Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick continue to grow, the Steelers' offensive line could become a real strength, as it should. If that happens, Meyer will deserve the credit. Until that point, he has to prove himself to this fan base in the minds of many.
How much blame do you place on Pat Meyer for the offensive line not being formidable under him for the most part?
