4 days ago
Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu: Steelers training camp is over, but focus on OTs only intensifying
LATROBE, Pa. — Hours after a victory that featured few snaps for the handful of starters actually active for the game, Troy Fautanu spent the flight home from Jacksonville poring over the game film, dissecting every series he played. All two of them. Watching. Rewinding. Re-watching.
'I've watched those 15 plays like nine or 10 times already, just trying to figure out what I could do better,' said Fautanu, the Steelers' second-year right tackle. 'Obviously, the end result of most of the plays were good, but it's the little things that really can separate you — where I'm placing my hands, what I'm doing to help the guy next to me, communicating to the tight ends.'
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In a similar way, the Steelers' young offensive line has been under the microscope this training camp — and will continue to be throughout the season. General manager Omar Khan has invested heavily in the trenches, beginning in 2023, his first draft as general manager, when he traded up to make left tackle Broderick Jones the first draft pick of a new era. The process continued in 2024 when Khan selected Fautanu 20th, with the goal of bookending the offensive line with high-level athletes.
The return on investment has yet to come. Fautanu's rookie season was marred by injury — first, a partially torn MCL delayed his debut, then, a dislocated right kneecap and torn medial patellofemoral ligament ended his season in mid-September. Meanwhile, Jones endured a bit of a sophomore slump. After flashing his athleticism as a rookie, he allowed 11 sacks last season, tied for second-most in the league.
'That's a hard question to answer right now,' Jones said when asked to evaluate his first two seasons. 'Both of those years are behind me. I'm just trying to focus on the year that's coming up.'
How much and how quickly the two young tackles develop will be one of the biggest factors that shapes how the Steelers' season unfolds. Through camp, both tackles experienced up-and-down moments. During Tuesday's practice, for example, star outside linebacker T.J. Watt bull rushed Fautanu into quarterback Aaron Rodgers. One of the two cleated the QB in the shin/ankle area. Trainers initially wrapped the QB in ice, but Rodgers didn't miss any team reps.
It appeared that someone stepped on Aaron Rodgers during a team period. Hard to tell from here but looks like he scraped his right shin. Trainers applied ice and a wrap.
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) August 12, 2025
Tomlin said the injury scare is 'nothing of significance.' However, the way the pass rush affected the quarterback might be. Later in practice, Watt again beat Fautanu and would have sacked Rodgers in a game. Under duress, Rodgers threw an interception to James Pierre. On the flip side, on at least one rep, Nick Herbig beat Jones with a speed rush and sent Rodgers scurrying.
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Yet, when coach Mike Tomlin zoomed out and looked at the complete body of work following the final training camp practice on Tuesday, the coach said he's noticed growth.
'I think they've gotten better every day,' Tomlin said. 'Broderick got slowed by a little day-to-day (groin) injury there for a spell, but has really been on the uptick since his return. Same with Troy. I like the trajectory of the group. But even though we're leaving (Saint Vincent College), man, we still are very much in development. (We've) got a lot of time in front of us between now and the opener.'
For each of the tackles, the ongoing developmental process is a bit different. In Jones, the Steelers knew they were getting an unfinished product when they drafted him, considering he started only 19 games at Georgia. Standing 6-foot-5 with 34 3/4-inch arms, he has the frame. And after running the fastest 40-yard dash (4.97) of any lineman at that year's NFL Scouting Combine, he showed the quick feet necessary to thrive on the left side.
By drafting a tackle with so little experience — but also so much upside — the Steelers were making a bet on their coaching staff to turn a ball of clay into a legitimate top-end tackle. Initially, they cast Jones in a swing tackle role and played him overwhelmingly on the right side. With Fautanu back, Jones has finally been able to focus singularly on left tackle in camp.
'I don't think it was ever about being comfortable,' Jones said. 'Just the repetition, just getting back used to that side. That's all it really is for me, just continuing to get reps at the left side.'
On his own, Jones lost about 20 pounds before training camp, which should help him regain the mobility that's a staple of his game. It also might show a sense of urgency for a player who is expected to be a difference-maker. Beyond the changes to his body, Jones needs to refine his approach to the game. Even during Jones' inconsistent sophomore season, he had standout reps on tape. The problem was that mental lapses or inconsistent effort led to uneven performances.
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'It's really never about the technique. It's always about the fight,' Jones said. 'That's all (offensive line coach Pat Meyer) ever wants to see. Finishing plays. Even if you're not doing the right thing, always just making sure you're getting hands on somebody and finishing, finishing around the pile, you know, little things like that.'
Steelers offensive tackle Troy Fautanu working on the final day of camp
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) August 12, 2025
On the other side of the offensive line, Fautanu has been trying to become more intentional with his footwork instead of just moving his feet 'just to move them.' But really, the biggest hurdle for him is a mental one. Coming back from a significant injury and a long rehab process, he's been trying to trust his anchor and his knee. Every step over the last couple weeks has checked a box: the first practice, the first padded practice and the first preseason game.
'Throughout all of camp, obviously, confidence is getting higher and higher every single day,' Fautanu said. 'I think the biggest thing was knowing that my knee was going to hold up, and it did (on Saturday). I think I'm pretty good now. I don't really worry about this (knee). I think Saturday was really like the biggest hump for me, and I got over it.'
Fautanu extensively studied the starting Jaguars that he squared off against on Saturday. While he was critical of his hands-to-the-face penalty, overall he held up reasonably well in pass protection against two-time Pro Bowler Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, the former first overall pick who tallied 10.5 sacks last year.
'Obviously, those are starters,' Fautanu said. 'I was happy that they were playing, because really it was a test for myself, honestly, just to know that going into the season I can hold up against the best.'
Building confidence in all areas is critical for Fautanu. He's a conscientious player and person who holds himself to a high standard, sometimes to a fault. Often in camp, Tomlin has praised the second-year tackle for what he's done well. Then, it's usually Fautanu himself who pinpoints the flaws. Finding the balance of addressing his miscues without letting it shake his faith will be an important part of his journey.
'I'm trying to be great,' Fautanu. 'I'm trying to be the best offensive tackle for this team and that ever played the game of football. That's my goal every single day. And as long as I keep striving high and continue the process that has got me here, I believe good things can come.'
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Now comes the big question: How much can the Steelers count on their two young tackles to pave the way in the running game and keep their 41-year-old QB upright? While everyone wants the answer, the sample size is still too small to make bold declarations — and they know it.
'You really won't know until the first game rolls around and you get to see different people,' Jones said. 'Training camp's great and all, but you never know until the real test when Week 1 rolls around and you get to actually put it on tape.'
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