Steelers Super Bowl Champion has one key concern after preseason game: ‘Guys got knocked back’
(TNS) – Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Champion defensive tackle Chris Hoke saw a lot of positives from the Steelers’ 31-25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the team’s run game was the notable negative Hoke saw form the Steeler.s
Mostly coming from the second and third team offensive lines, the Steelers ran the ball 25 times for just 66 yards. The starting unit had three run plays called for them, totaling seven yards overall.
“Where I want to see improvement from preseason Game 1 to preseason Game 2 is at the line of scrimmage. They did a good job protecting the quarterback. Let’s do a little bit better at getting some movement at the line of scrimmage,” Hoke said. “I thought the guys got knocked back a little bit. There weren’t a lot of running lanes. I think they’ll see that when they watch the film.”
Steelers starting left guard Isaac Seumalo did not play in the game, forcing usual second-team left guard Spencer Anderson up with the first team. In addition, the second team was missing center Ryan McCollum and offensive tackle Calvin Anderson, who both suffered injuries.
Yet, it was not just the offensive line that concerned Hoke, but the wide receivers and tight ends, too.
“I saw a couple of guys when they brought the receivers in from the weak side, there was that fourth-and-1 that led to one of the touchdowns for the Jaguars and Kaleb Johnson ran the ball off the right side and Robert Woods got knocked back a little bit,” he said. “He’s got to be tougher in there and seal off the inside so Kaleb Johnson can get downhill so there’s some improvement. There’s some improvement [needed in] run blocking but overall physically they played well. It’s just getting a hat on a hat and moving guys.”
The Steelers will draw the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week in their second preseason game, this one happening at Acrisure Stadium. With a deep defensive line room, the Steelers will have another stellar chance to prove they should be feared as a run-first team.