PITTSBURGH — Dan Moore started off Tuesday at Steelers OTAs working at left tackle, but that does not mean that the third-year player is not thinking about how the job may shake out. With first-round pick Broderick Jones likely to start at some point this year, Moore is beginning to think ahead.
On his own motivation, Moore began to start repping at right tackle. During the offseason when everything else was going on, Moore decided to start working on the other side of his game in addition to left tackle. For Moore, the decision was a relatively easy one.
“I have started (working at RT) on my own,” Moore said. “Nobody asked me to do anything personally, that’s just something I did.”
That’s commendable and something that Mike Tomlin talks about with his preparedness doctrine. Dan Moore will have an opportunity to prove he should start at left tackle to begin the year. By giving him the day-one left tackle reps, the team has at least made it clear that Moore will have a chance to show what he is made of as a young player heading into his third year.
However, if he loses out, Moore suddenly becomes the swing tackle. That is exactly why it is so imperative that he learns right tackle. Omar Khan said two weeks ago that he believes Moore can play multiple positions on the offensive line and give the Steelers flexibility.
“I’m confident he can play multiple positions, I believe that,” Khan said. “Our job is to bring in as much competition as possible and then when it all shakes out, I’m confident that the top five offensive linemen will be playing.”
Moore now must prove that he is one of those top-five offensive linemen at this point in his career. Pittsburgh made significant investments in the offensive line to help protect Kenny Pickett and give Najee Harris a brigade in the rushing game. It will up to Moore to prove he is part of that.