The Steelers have a few question marks going into the 2021 season and not the least of which is at one of the most important positions - left tackle.
When they open the season in Buffalo September 12th, they will have a new starting left tackle for the first time since October of 2015 when Alejandro Villaneuva took over for an injured Kelvin Beachum.
Villaneuva not only started the next 78 games, including playoffs, but he played every snap in 76 of those games, missing just 8 snaps in all. His declining play and advancing age led to his departure, but Villaneuva will not be easy to replace. Thus the question - can Chuks do the job?
Chukwuma Okorafor has never started an NFL game at left tackle, but he does have 18 starts under his professional belt, all on the right side. Maybe that's why Okorafor doesn't appear overwhelmed.
"It isn't any more pressure than playing left guard or center," he said during OTAs. "It's still having to block for Ben or Najeh or whomever. I feel like right side, left side or center it doesn't really matter much to me. It's just having to block well."
While Okorafor will have to get used to playing - and thinking - other-handed after playing last season a right tackle, offensive line coach Adrian Klemm says it shouldn't be a problem. "I think he's a natural left tackle," Klemm said after mini-camp. "He's playing be been playing right so he's a little more comfortable there but he's taking to (left tackle). I've liked what I've seen so far."
"I've always thought that Chuks is such a talented individual. He's so athletic," Klemm continued. "The one thing you'd like to see is for him to be a little more physical. That's one of the things that even without pads we seeing little more (from him)."
Of course, that is actually Klemm's message for all the linemen not just Okorafor and Chuks has gotten the message. "We will be more physical this year," he said. "It's most important for us to actually go and move guys out there."
Which is why Okorafor is looking forward to training camp.
"There isn't much you can really tell now. You can't really punch a bag or block a coach right now so you can't really know," he explained. "When we actually go out and play against Cam Heyward, TJ, Alex Highsmith, Tuitt, all of them then I think it's going to really tell what we need to do better."
Klemm is also anticipating practice closer to the real thing and he is confident that Chuks will measure up. "He still has some things he can improve on but he's been up for the challenge," Klemm smiled. "He's done some things that we can be excited about."
Certainly one of the things to watch when the team reports for camp late next month.
