5 for Friday: Moore has been a settling factor

Oct 11, 2024 at 07:00 AM

Dale Lolley

Contributing Writer/Editor

The Steelers have selected offensive tackles in the first round of the past two NFL Drafts in Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu with the idea they would be the team's bookends on the offensive line of the future.

Somebody forgot to tell Dan Moore Jr. that he was simply supposed to cede his starting spot at left tackle to one of the younger players.

As he has done in each of the previous three years, Moore has locked down the Steelers' left tackle position this season. And he's playing better than ever.

According to Pro Football Focus' grading system – which is not without its obvious flaws - Moore ranks 18th among all qualified offensive tackles this season in their grading system. Those grades are certainly subjective, but there is little doubt Moore is playing well.

For some, a team selecting two players in the first round in back-to-back years might have sent them spiraling into a tailspin. Moore, however, accepted the challenge and has continued to work. Hard.

"Dan is never moved by what's going on around him," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin recently said of Moore. "There's a maturity to his approach to business. Oftentimes it is reflected in the consistency of his play."

The Steelers have started four different offensive line combinations in their first five games. Four different players have made their first career NFL starts.

Moore, who has missed one start in his career, has been the one constant in an ever-changing lineup along with rookie center Zach Frazier. But Frazier was one of those players making his first career start this season, leaving Moore as a cornerstone.

For a player some couldn't wait to replace – perhaps even the Steelers – his durability and consistency has been appreciated.

"Dan, since I've been here, he's been the ultimate pro," said left guard Isaac Seumalo, who returned to the lineup last week after missing the first four games of the season with a pectoral injury. "I think he's playing the best football of his life. He's always had the talent. Sometimes, it takes three or four years for a guy, but I think he's playing great. I'm excited he's still here and balling. He brings a positive attitude every day."

Players are allowed to get better. In fact, it's expected if you want to continue to play in the NFL.

As Tomlin often says, players need to constantly be improving or they won't be in the league long.

A former fourth-round pick out of Texas A&M, the 26-year-old Moore has embodied that.

• While on the subject of PFF grades, Frazier is in some elite company when it comes to where that website has him ranked.

Per PFF, Frazier's grade of 81.8 places him fourth among all NFL centers and as its second-best rookie in the 2024 Draft Class.

The only centers ranked ahead of him are Eric McCoy of the Saints, who is currently injured and out for the remainder of the season, Kansas City's Creed Humphrey and Baltimore's Tyler Linderbaum. The only rookie ahead of him is Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers, whom the Steelers will be tasked this weekend with slowing down.

Frazier has been, by far, the best of the five rookie centers who have started games this season.

"He's been solid. I think his talent is pretty evident, even for as young as he is," Seumalo said of Frazier. "There are always going to be growing pains, but he's been great."

Graham Barton of Tampa Bay, selected with the 26th pick in this year's draft, has started all five games for the Bucs at center, but is ranked 27th among NFL centers per PFF.

Tanor Bortolini of the Colts is ranked 17th in limited playing time. Beaux Limmer of the Rams is 24th. Cooper Beebe with Dallas is 26th.

Jackson Powers-Johnson, whom the Raiders selected 44th, making him the second center selected in this year's draft, has appeared in three games, starting two for Las Vegas, who the Steelers face this week.

But his starts have come at guard, where he ranks 63rd among all players at that position per PFF. Mason McCormick, a fourth-round pick of the Steelers who has started their past two games, ranks 43rd, second among rookies behind Dominick Puni of the 49ers, who was a third-round selection.

• Despite the NFL's move to the "Dynamic Kickoff" rules this season, the Steelers have only had five kickoff returns this season, four of which came last week against the Cowboys when their primary kick returners, Cordarrelle Patterson and Jaylen Warren, were sidelined.

Having Patterson deep on kickoffs is a deterrent to opponents to kick the ball where it can be returned. After all, he's got nine kick returns for touchdowns in his career, the most in NFL history.

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. (31), Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Anthony Averett (18), Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back D'Shawn Jamison (5) and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 6 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)