Sunday Morning Joe: Steelers Offensive Line Has Stayed Consistent Through Challenges

In the midst of an injury-ridden season, the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line has done whatever possible to keep their team, and their season, alive.

In a season highlighted with injuries, mishaps and losses, the Steelers have show one constant - an offensive line. Possibly their strong link over the last five years, Pittsburgh's five down linemen have done whatever possible to keep whoever's behind center, on their feet. 

It's a statistic that's allowed not one, but two, quarterbacks to step into a starting role and win football games. Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges have hit the ground a total of three times this season, staying on their feet for 97.4% of their drop backs.

An NFL-leading line, the Steelers' efforts to keep two young quarterbacks upright has been a group effort. Not just the linemen, says guard David DeCastro, but everyone working within the offense. 

"Good guys all around," DeCastro said. "Protecting the passer with the guys upfront, receivers getting open quick or being on time and the running backs know who to pick up."

This group has seen it's fair share of challenges. From three starting quarterbacks to having a new coach step in to lead them, the offensive line has stayed strong through times many would not. 

When Mike Munchak left for Denver, Shaun Sarrett stepped in to fill Hall of Fame shoes. With only five-years of experience, Sarrett began coaching a group that's seen plenty of success throughout their time together. They've also seen the same coach. 

That hasn't effected them too much. Despite losing one of the best offensive line coaches in football, the Steelers say Sarrett has filled the role well, and is keeping their success level just as high. 

"I think he's done a really good job," Alejandro Villanueva said about Sarrett's performance so far. "His philosophy is to go out and win football games. Not much has changed from that perspective." 

It's never easy losing a coach as good as Munchak, but Sarrett is bringing his own leadership, and it's working with the group of players around him.

"It's tough to replicate someone like Munch because he's got so much experience and everyone has so much respect for what he says," Villanueva said. "He's very insightful and has gone through many lessons, so as you get older it's a lot easier to rely on his teachings. Sarrett doesn't have that but we can help each other out and cover for the things we might miss from Munch."

Villanueva says the offensive line hasn't paid much attention to their ability to keep the quarterback safe. According to the left tackle, there's more to go into a sacks stat line, and the men up front aren't too worried about what the statistics says. 

"There's a lot more variables than just sacks - hurries, pressures, quarterbacks hits, how much are you throwing the ball, are you throwing the ball when you're ahead, are you throwing the ball when you're ahead, are you going against a good defense that's built for the pass rush, are you going against a defense that's build to stop the run - there's a lot of variables, so those metrics are not something that us as an o-line really look at," Villanueva explained.

As for Coach Sarrett, he knows the challenge his group has been up against. A new coach, two new quarterbacks and a team fighting from behind. The list is lengthy, and the season remains young, but even with their backs against the wall, the Steelers offensive line is ready to fight. 

"I think it's the idea that they take it as a challenge," Sarrett said. "Our job is to make whoever's back there throwing the ball feel comfortable in the pocket. I think those guys really took to the challenge, even after 7 [Ben Roethlisberger] went down, with Mason [Rudolph] and with Duck [Hodges], they take it as a challenge and we're going to make it as comfortable as possible for him and try to make his job as easy as possible."