Ben Roethlisberger Thinks Dan Moore Jr. is Steelers’ Franchise Left Tackle
A fourth-round rookie who was unlikely to start right out of the gate, Dan Moore Jr. was thrown to the wolves with some training camp injuries to Zach Banner and Chuks Okorafor at the start of the 2021 season.
However, rather than ever give up that job, Moore never did relent on his hold. Up to this point, he has started sixteen games for the Steelers at left tackle.
More importantly, not only has Moore been durable, but he has improved steadily. Monday night’s effort against Myles Garrett, injured or not, was impressive. In fact, according to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Moore suffered a high ankle sprain early in the game, making his performance even more impressive.
Roethlisberger has seen more than enough from Moore to believe he will be a key cog in the future of the team.
“Dan Moore gets a high ankle sprain in the first quarter and he might have missed one play,” Roethlisberger said on the DVE Morning Show Friday. “He’s got talent, he’s got passion, he’s smart, and he’s very, very good. He’s going to be the left tackle of the future for this team. He cares about his job so much, in protecting the quarterback. That’s what you want out of your lineman. He’s going to sit there for a long time at left tackle.”
That is high praise coming from someone who is battered and bruised behind Moore. Roethlisberger has been sacked 37 times and on 6.2% of his drop-backs, both his personal highest since 2013.
But Roethlisberger has seen plenty of bad offensive linemen and plenty of good ones, too. So, if he thinks Moore is going to end up pretty good, that is not a word to take lightly, especially from a quarterback. While Moore may not play Sunday against Baltimore with his ankle injury, there is a very good chance he starts in 2022 at left tackle.
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