Steelers LT Dan Moore Jr. Continues Strong Training Camp

UNITY TWP., Pa. — Throughout the time in Latrobe over the last few weeks, the question has always been the same about the Steelers’ left tackle situation. Those looking to see Broderick Jones would wonder when he would kick Dan Moore Jr. to the curb and supplant the veteran. To this point, there have only been a few off days and reps here for Chuks Okorafor, which slides Moore down to right tackle and brings Jones in at left tackle. That largely is the extent of Jones’ first-team reps.

But the question remains how much of a bad thing that is right now. Pittsburgh’s draft pick had an up-and-down first game, especially in pass protection. That is to be expected for someone who frankly comes in as a raw in that department. However, the signs of growth in Jones’ game have become more evident this week at training camp, with Jones starting to learn from his mistakes in part because Moore is helping to mentor the young left tackle.

The one question that everyone else is forgetting is what about Moore? Early on, it appeared that Alex Highsmith had his number, and Highsmith continues to have a strong training camp. Moore is having a very good training camp for himself, though. There is very little that he is doing wrong, and the stuff he does that is wrong is often not cataclysmic to the play itself. He put together a nice showing against the Buccaneers as well.

Behind the watch for Jonee and his improvement, Moore reworked his diet and came into training camp with a new body and stronger. That offseason change is what Moore hoped would allow him to spur another leap forward after a second year where Moore proved to be much better than his rookie season. So far, Moore is proving to be a steady force that the Steelers should be able to rely upon.

Could Jones start at some point this season? I say it is still likely he does, just given the pedigree of the player and where the Steelers took him in the class. But so far, Moore has done nothing for the team to move off him as their starting left tackle, and he is only further entrenching himself at that spot over the past few weeks with continued strong performances on consecutive days.