Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger talks lack of cohesion on Pittsburgh’s O-line

SiriusXM NFL Radio’s Training Camp Tour recently stopped in Pittsburgh and visited with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

During the chat, former Steelers quarterback Jim Miller (co-host of Movin’ the Chains) asked Big Ben for a state of the union on Pittsburgh’s offensive line.

“There are questions,” said Roethlisberger. “You just mentioned a lot of guys and a lot of things, but how many of those guys have played together?”

“Anybody that plays line or knows anything about football knows that it’s about cohesiveness up there. And that’s what we’ve always had here.”

Roethlisberger rattled off well-known players like Maurkice Pouncey,  Alejandro Villanueva, David DeCastro, Matt Feiler, who are no longer in Pittsburgh.

“Those guys played together for a good chunk of time. That cohesiveness, knowing that guy to your left, knowing that guy to your right… they’re on a fast track; they’ve got to learn each other really quick. There are going to be bumps in the road.”

“[Dotson] is going to be our starting left guard next to a brand-new center,” Roethlisberger said. “They’ve got to start getting some reps together.”

Dotson has yet to take reps with the first team due to what was confirmed as a lingering ankle injury.

Big Ben also mentioned Trai Turner, a once Pro Bowl-level player, signed to replace the retired DeCastro. “[Trai] has not played in this system or played next to a rookie or next to [Zach] Banner who just had his first practice the other day.”

“There are a lot of unknowns, a lot of question marks, but the challenges that are in front of them, they’re up for it.”

Of the three “veterans” on the Steelers O-line, Chukwuma Okorafor, who started in place of Banner last season, has the most starts with 19. Dotson played sparingly last season for DeCastro, and rookie Kendrick Green is at the center of it all (pun intended).