Steelers Blog: Moore of the same

Left, right, left: Fourth-round rookie pick Dan Moore Jr. was back as left tackle today, possibly to stay.

“I think so,” left guard Kevin Dotson said after another scorching workout at the UPMC Rooney sports complex. “Dan is definitely more comfortable on the left because he played that in college.”

Likewise, fourth-year pro Chukwuma Okorafor is better suited for the right tackle according to Dotson’s estimate.

“It’s also his original place, so I think it’s better for both,” he argued.

Moore started the first game of the preseason against Dallas on the left tackle and the preseason finale against Carolina on the right tackle.

Okorafor started off on the left tackle against Philadelphia, Detroit and Carolina.

He started 15 regular-season straight tackle games and the playoff loss to Cleveland last season after Zach Banner was lost for the season due to a knee injury sustained in the season opener. regular against the Giants.

Banner played a pre-season game this time around (12 snaps against Detroit).

Dotson has no preference as to who lines up immediately to his left.

“I’m comfortable with both guys,” he said of Moore and Okorafor. “I’ve practiced pretty much with both of them so I feel pretty comfortable with which one they’re putting in that position.”

Moore impressed Dotson as “a quick learner”.

Veteran defensive lineman Chris Wormley also liked what he saw of Moore.

“As a rookie, as someone you face every day, you want to see improvement,” Wormley explained. “I saw him every day with him.

“He played well in the pre-season games and in training as well. I am delighted that he continues to grow and continues to be a good player for us.

Wormley was less categorical about how long Moore would remain a left tackle.

“That’s where he was today,” Wormley said.

Going forward, “I have no idea,” he added. “I’m a defensive lineman.

“It’s the decision of coach (Adrian) Klemm (offensive line) and ‘Mike T’ (head coach Mike Tomlin).”

Dotson is encouraged by the direction in which the offensive line is heading, regardless of the specific setup.

“I really feel like we’re gelatinating,” he said. “We are getting a lot closer. We improve a lot with communication. We don’t ask ourselves every time now to really say it.”

– blog entry by Mike Prisuta