‘Arrow up’: Broderick Jones Impressing at Steelers Training Camp

UNITY TWP., Pa. — Steelers rookie left tackle Broderick Jones has been repping with the second team for most of training camp. But through all of that, there have been little hints that Jones could be on his way up the depth chart. At times, he would face Alex Highsmith and Cam Heyward in one-on-ones. Yesterday, he worked alongside Isaac Seumalo in the two-on-two linemen drills, including passing off stunts and working on combo blocks.

That does not mean he has not experienced his share of ups and downs as a player this training camp, but prior to his first game with the team against the Buccaneers, it is clear that the team is encouraged by what they are seeing out there in Latrobe. Assistant general manager Andy Weidl backed that up.

“Well, you know, we know Broderick with the physical attributes he had, we saw that in the testing, and we saw on the tape,” Weidl said. “And I think the thing is, he’s coming out every day and he’s working. He’s working to get better and he’s seeking the knowledge. He’s receptive to it. You see him working with Dan Moore Jr.]every day and he’s just learning and he’s growing. And he’s out there, stacking days and you know, it’s a natural progression. And we’re watching him do it right now in front of our eyes. So, he’s an arrow up guy, and we’re excited to where he’s heading.”

Broderick Jones sees the game slowing down for himself in the running game. But he is starting to gel well with the starters as well as the second-team guys as well. If he is going to climb the ladder against Moore, it will be paramount that he shows out in the running game while his pass protection comes along in the ways that it should. But in the pass protection game, he loves going against Markus Golden.

“I’d say the running game since pads went on and I’m trying to focus on my run-blocking skills,” Jones said. “But I love going against Markus a lot. It’s good work for me and him. I look forward to that matchup every day.”

So, what is the mentality that takes Jones forward as he tries to nab the starting role? It is a micro view rather than a big picture one, and Dan Moore continues to help bring Jones along as the veteran in that battle. But Jones is far more focused on stacking days than making some big deal out of the battle. His time at Georgia paved the way for him to deal with the adversity of football and the competitions.

“When I first went in, there’s this thing they call a Dawg drill — basically one-on-ones,” Jones said. “I had to go against six people that all went first round as a freshman coming in and lost every single rep.”

Now, he has a chance to make some serious head way on Friday and into the future. He may not start week one, but the bet that he will start at some point this season is a good one as he builds to stack days.