Steelers Practice Notes: Picking Larry Ogunjobi’s Brain about Bengals

PITTSBURGH —  The Steelers as a team have plenty of experience in facing the Cincinnati Bengals, but the offensive line, with two new starters, is one of the least experienced parts of the team when it comes to understanding the intricacies of AFC North football. 

Luckily for the Steelers, they’ve got something of a secret weapon in former Bengals defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi, who spent the entire 2021 season in Cincinnati. Cole said the line plans to pick Ogunjobi’s brain about how to best attack the Bengals.

“We’re going have a whole o-line meeting with Larry,” Cole said.

The Bengals had that advantage in 2021, when Mike Hilton made the switch from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, and the Bengals won both meetings between the teams. Maybe the Steelers can flip that script around this season.

FAMOUS DIGITS

Ogunjobi will wear No. 99 this season, after being unable to persuade tackle Dan Moore Jr. to give up his preferred 65, but Ogunjobi was philosophical about the change on Wednesday. 

“It worked for Kobe and Jordan,” he said.

DAVIS AT GUARD

After working mostly at right tackle and being listed there in the first depth chart of the season, new offensive lineman Jesse Davis worked at left guard on Wednesday.

Davis has played everywhere on the offensive line other than center, but him working behind starter Kevin Dotson shows the team’s continued lack of faith in 2021 third-round pick Kendrick Green.

Asked about what Dotson did to earn the starting job over Green on Tuesday, Tomlin said simply, “He was better than KG.”

PIPING IT IN

The Steelers practiced with crowd noise on Wednesday, but rookie linebacker Mark Robinson said the practice environment was a bit more subdued than training camp, with a focus on knowledge. 

“We just focused on our opponents, getting things down like matchups and stuff like that,” Robinson said.

I asked Robinson about the Bengals being the Super Bowl champs and if that gives any more juice to his first game. He said they’re “just another nameless great opponent.” So he’s picking up the lingo around here quickly.