The Steelers have made it as clear as they can how their offensive line will be a more physically dominating unit than it was in 2020.
Whether it's been Kevin Dotson saying how offensive line coach Adrian Klemm is preaching a "run through their face" mentality or the selection of two physical offensive linemen in the NFL Draft in Kendrick Green and Dan Moore Jr., anyone paying attention can see there's a plan for this group to become bullies to defenses and open up the ground game for Najee Harris.
But how do they do that in the spring OTAs and minicamp, which wrapped up Thursday at Heinz Field, when they can't wear pads or hit? Mike Tomlin gave a simple answer to that after the last practice wrapped.
"With everything that we do, we have an opportunity to build and develop our personality," Tomlin said when asked about building on physical play at this time of the year. "Not only through physical labor, but mental approach. Although we are not wearing pads, yes, we are laying the foundation for that agenda."
Certain veterans such as David DeCastro and Zach Banner haven't been in the mix, with DeCastro on the sidelines in street clothes and Banner still rehabbing from his knee injury. Klemm said there's no projection on when either player will return and that he's been working with who he's had available each day.
But one expectation that does exist is that even when the Steelers can't be physical in practice, they're doing everything they can do make sure the group's members understand that they have to be more physical in 2021.
"You just can't stray away from (being physical)," Klemm said. "Set the tone for what it's going to be, create an environment in the room, carry that out onto the field and maintain that every single day. It's not about finding ourselves; this is who we're going to be. It's not a democracy. This is what it is. It's not about talking about it, it's about making it so. We want to not overcomplicate things so we can simplify what we can and they can be as physical as possible."
That's not easy to evaluate when the pads aren't on in the spring, which Klemm acknowledged when asked how he's comparing players now.
"Looks can be deceiving this time of the year," Klemm said. "I want to get the pads on and see guys mix things up. Some guys are power guys who don't look as good running around with no pads on. That's when you can tell, and when the dust settles, I can say things about where guys are and are going to be, but everyone needs their fair shot."
All eyes have been on Green and his transition to playing center full-time after only doing so sparingly at Illinois, but Klemm likes what he's seen so far. Center is the one position on the line that links everyone else to being on the same page, requiring a lot of communication skills and a thorough understanding of the offense.
"He's been doing fairly well," Klemm said. "Not just making the transition to the NFL, but also the transition to full-time center. All that considered, he's done an admirable job. He's embraced it and he's learning the offense, so that it comes more second nature to him. I think he's done a good job. We don't ease guys into this; we just put them into the fire. You know how Coach (Tomlin) is; it's not about putting your toe in the water. it's about tossing in them in there and letting them learn to swim. I'm pleased with his progression. He's got a ways to go, but he's doing a good job so far."
Moore, the other rookie, didn't get the same kind of praise from Klemm. But Klemm did make sure to explain why that was, with Moore adjusting to playing a different style of offense than Texas A&M's while also playing both right and left tackle in drills.
"I think there are a lot of different variables," Klemm said. "He comes from an offense that ran a lot of RPOs, where the ball comes out a little quicker and (with) concepts that ran a little flatter. I suppose we have some parts of that in our offense, but for the most part we're changing the way he sets up. But in addition to that, we ask a lot of our tackles.
"He has to do a lot of thinking because we're also looking at him at both left and right sides. But we tell him the best five (linemen) are going to play, so we tell him to be ready on both sides. But it is difficult going from right to left, based on the different hands you use. He's been adjusting and adapting, and some days he struggles, but we've seen he does well in practice the more he does the same thing. It's been a learning experience, but he's been energized when he comes here."
Of the projected starters, Chukwuma Okorafor is in a unique situation: He has starting experience, but still is one of the younger players who has yet to settle into a role. After playing left tackle through most of college, he started at right tackle in place of Banner after he was lost for the season to injury.
"I've always thought that Chuks was such a talented individual," Klemm said. "He is so athletic. The one thing you want to see is for him to be a little more physical. He's a natural left tackle that had to adjust to playing on the right. The thing I've seen so far is that there are things he can improve on, but he's been up for the challenge."
We'll see who actually can be more physical when the team puts the pads on in late July.
