Ever since Mike Tomlin took over the reins as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach in 2007, one phrase has been drummed into the heads of his players: "The Standard is the standard".
The axiom is written on the walls, and is meant to coexist with the league-wide mantra, "Next Man Up". The phrases mean that regardless of the situation faced by the team or players, the standard being upheld never changes. Backups are expected to play to the same standard as the player being replaced.
Rookie offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor has been indoctrinated into "The standard," and as the youngest lineman in one of the NFL's best and most experienced offensive line groups, Okorafor has found himself in a situation most would hope to fall into.