PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Steelers addressed offensive line again, this time in the fourth round. But much like with third round center Kendrick Green, the Steelers believe tackle Dan Moore, Jr. can start this year.
“I don’t view him as a project at all,” said Steelers offensive line coach Adrian Klemm. “Throwing him right in the mix in terms of competing. We haven’t decided if it’s right or left (tackle), he’s capable of playing both sides.”
“This is a guy who started over 30 games in the SEC. There are a lot of guys in that league that are here now. I think he’s more than ready to compete and accept the challenge that is ahead of him.”
The 6’5”, 315 pound Moore was initially a guard at Texas A&M, but by the third game of his career, had moved to tackle and started 37 games with the Aggies. Klemm said there is no plan for Moore to work at guard at all, but focus to be a starting tackle.
“This is a guy that’s more than capable of being nasty and playing physically,” Klemm said. “That guy has finished and pounded people in the dirt. We’ve seen him finish guys off and do the extra. He plays consistently at a high level at a high motor.”
“I think this year we showed with the A&M offensive line that we love to run the ball,” Moore, Jr. said. “That’s what we want to do, we want to run the ball. We get excited when our coach calls a run play. I think that tells you enough about the demeanor of myself.”
That mentality fits the mindset the Steelers are trying to build on the O-line.
“It weighed in big time,” Klemm said. “I’m not going to sit here and act like it hasn’t been a concern here. We want to improve our run game. We want to have guys on our team that can thrive on what we do schematically. We believe both of those guys can perform at a high level because we’ve seen them do it already.”
Moore already trains with Green and they texted each other right after Moore’s selection. He’s not sure where he might play or how it will end up, but he says he’s ready to work hard.
“It means everything,” Moore, Jr.
said. “Growing up and watching them win a Super Bowl, play in Super Bowls. I know the history of the black and yellow being a football fan myself. It runs deep up there with football. I definitely know people are serious about the NFL team they have.”
Yes, they are and if he can help them improve the run game. He will find out they’re very appreciative as well.