Pittsburgh Steelers rookie T Troy Fautanu began for the primary time yesterday within the second recreation of his profession. Whereas he dressed for the season opener, he didn’t see a snap, appearing strictly as a backup. The sudden change occurred as a result of he was recovering from a knee harm and didn’t get sufficient observe to start out.
The Steelers even put the coaching wheels on yesterday, starting with a rotation, which failed miserably. Not on Fautanu’s half, however slightly on the a part of Broderick Jones, rotating in, who didn’t final a full collection. He dedicated three penalties in brief succession, together with two holding penalties. One negated a 51-yard reception, in addition to the remainder of his theoretical taking part in time.
And presumably the Steelers did intend to play him extra. Troy Fautanu performed the primary two collection, Jones coming in for the third. They might have hoped to alternate each third collection, however the recreation outcomes dictated that they alter their plans.
In actuality, neither Fautanu nor Jones actually sound like they knew what was happening. I don’t know in the event that they actually didn’t know or in the event that they suppose it’s within the workforce’s finest curiosity to not reveal that, however both manner, in hindsight, I suppose it doesn’t matter how they clarify the mess.
“I’m undecided what the plan was for me”, Fautanu stated after the sport, by way of the Pittsburgh Put up-Gazette, in reference to his taking part in time inside a rotation with Jones. “They advised me I used to be gonna get to go, and no matter occurred with the rotation, I can’t management that sort of stuff. For me, it was simply ensuring that each drive that I did get was taken benefit of”.
Does Fautanu actually imply to say that the Steelers coaches didn’t make it clear to them how the rotation labored? I suppose that may very well be true—the coaches simply inform one participant to go in earlier than every drive. That apparently didn’t work effectively in any respect for Jones, sadly, who admitted he “wasn’t locked in sufficient”.
Broderick Jones has spent the vast majority of his profession as a starter, and has began each identical since getting into the lineup full-time. I’m certain it was one thing of an ego blow to him to have Troy Fautanu begin in his place. He is aware of he responded to it very poorly and that he can’t afford to do it once more.
Jones additionally admitted after the sport that he “didn’t know” how a lot he would play beforehand, and that he “actually wasn’t an excessive amount of frightened about it”. He added that he is aware of his job is to provide the Steelers no matter they want from him, even taking part in sporadically.
Offensive linemen hardly ever rotate the way in which another positions do, and there’s a cause for that. That doesn’t excuse Broderick Jones’ play in any respect, and the Steelers have used a rotation efficiently earlier than—briefly. An offensive line rotation is, after all, executed to ultimately choose one over the opposite. On at the present time, Jones misplaced his edge to Fautanu, decidedly, so I don’t suppose both must fear what the plan is subsequent week.
