When you are transitioning from a veteran offensive line that has, in the past, played at or near an elite level, both individually and collectively, you would generally prefer to make that transition gradually. One player retires here, another walks away there. The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t really have that luxury in 2021 for a variety of reasons, pretty much ripping the band-aid right off.
Not one single player who has started this season along the offensive line had ever started a game for the Steelers before as an intended, non-injury-replacement starter, entering this year. Granted, the starting five consists of two rookies, a second-year guy, and a veteran free agent, so that’s not exactly a shock, but there’s a reason there’s been a learning curve this year, something head coach Mike Tomlin and the team was fully expecting.