Never in my life did I expect to hear a crowd roar in any football stadium over the announcement of an offensive lineman as an eligible receiver, and yet, here we are.
Zach Banner has quickly become a fan favorite as an underdog story on the Steelers roster while being a backup offensive tackle. Whenever an NFL referee announces that Banner is an eligible receiver, the crowd at Heinz Field cheers like the Steelers just gained a first down.
He's also become an asset in the team's run game as an extra blocker on the outside to help against stronger edge defenders. Let's take a closer look:
Banner has bounced around the NFL with numerous teams but found a roster spot with the Steelers during their 2019 training camp. His 6-foot-8 360-pound frame makes for the prototypical build of an NFL offensive tackle. He's not a starter yet, but he's filled into the role where other ex-Steelers like Chris Hubbard used to make a name for themselves.
Banner uses his size and strength to overwhelm defenders, while Randy Fichtner and the Steelers' offense use him to seal edge defenders to open up opportunities for other lead blockers.
Watch how Banner crashes his man on the right side on this 45-yard Trey Edmunds run. The Steelers can afford to pull both Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro from the interior of their line to become lead blockers because they can rely on Banner to seal his man to the inside and not allow Edmunds to be blown up in the backfield:
Reliable blocking like that sets up opportunities for the Steelers' best offensive linemen to get in space and be used for mismatches. Watch how that worked out when they got Tony Brooks-James space for an eight yard run on the same scheme. Both DeCastro and Pouncey pull and get their targets out in space.
But none of that happens without Banner's seal of Sebastian Joseph-Day. Banner's seal to the inside is so well executed it also allows Nick Vannett to freely advance to the second level and pick off linebacker Cory Littleton from helping:
It's not an advantage the Steelers can ride for an entire game, but it's another trick to add to their list of looks for opponents to consider. Heavier offensive packages force defenses to consider heavier defensive packages, which can lead to finding mismatches in alignments and assignments.
Even when a Steelers' run doesn't pull off many yards, you can usually see Banner dominating whoever is in front of him. Watch this pancake of Jabaal Sheard from the Colts game. Banner establishes inside hand position, and even as Sheard fights to the interior gap, Banner is able to turn him away from Edmunds' desired gap and eventually put Sheard on his back:
Banner is extremely strong but still polishing his game. He doesn't always bring the best footwork when he engages a block and can sometimes rely too much on his upper body. But he's also just getting used to working with the Steelers. He's played well in his role as an extra offensive lineman and especially against the team that drafted him in the fourth round only to cut him, the Colts.
He gets another shot at a former team Thursday night when the Steelers take on Browns at First Energy Stadium. Banner has averaged over 16 snaps in the seven games he's appeared. As the Steelers try to neutralize Myles Garrett and take advantage of the absence of Olivier Vernon, look for Banner to be sprinkled in for some off-tackle run plays.
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MORE CLASSROOM
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Nov. 10: Put respect on the Edmunds name
Nov. 8: How Steelers can help Rudolph
