LATROBE, Pa. -- Call it the battle that never was.
After the Steelers traded away former starting right tackle Marcus Gilbert in the offseason, Mike Tomlin made it sound as if there would be an open competition at the position between veteran Matt Feiler, second-year pro Chuks Okorafor and fourth-year pro Jerald Hawkins for the starting job in 2019.
But that competition has never really taken place here at Saint Vincent College. The job apparently belongs to Feiler, and has all along.
"Oh yeah. Matt proved himself last year," offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner told me.
Tomlin, it seems, was keeping that door open, allowing Okorafor and Hawkins hope that they could be in the mix for a starting spot. But it also served to keep Feiler on his toes, as well.
Not that the former undrafted rookie out of Division-II Bloomsburg needed that prodding. He's been hanging around with the Steelers since being released by the Texans in September of 2015. When you've spent time on practice squads and fighting not for a starting job, but just for a roster spot each year, you never really relax.
In fact, even when told of what Fichtner said, Feiler was happy but unfazed.
"I have never seen it that way," he told me. "Chuks, Hawk and (Zach) Banner, they’re all pushing me for that spot. It’s good competition and they’re all good guys."
When you've been through what Feiler has to make it to this point in his career, you never relax or take something for granted.
"I think so," Feiler said. "I wasn’t handed anything. I just have to keep working hard and getting better."
That doesn't mean the Steelers are intent to allow Okorafor, a 2018 third-round pick, to rot on their bench. In fact, when Tomlin gives one of the starting offensive linemen a day off, it's the perfect opportunity to get Okorafor some first-team snaps while also giving Feiler some work at guard.
Twice already in this camp -- including Saturday -- left guard Ramon Foster has been rested, with Feiler moving inside to guard and Okorafor playing with the first team at right tackle. That seems to be the team's contingency plan if an injury were to occur.
This came a day after Okorafor, who had been working exclusively at right tackle, was moved to left tackle with the second unit, swapping sides with Hawkins.
"We want to see what happens when they have to move from left tackle to right tackle," Fichtner told me. "We did it with Feiler. He moved from tackle to guard. We’re really looking around to see where they’re at in their development. To be able to play more than one spot is always going to be a plus.
"If you’re comfortable on the left side, we’re going to get you comfortable on the right side. And vice versa with the inside guys. I like that. It’s another competition that’s going on inside of this that’s exciting to watch."
But it's not a competition for the starting spot.
Okorafor understands that. He's just intent on showing he is versatile enough to be able to play on the left or right side, to be the primary backup at both spots.
"For sure. I know what to do in case someone goes down," he told me. "If I’m playing left tackle, I know what the left guard is doing. If I’m playing right tackle, I know what the right guard is doing. I think it does help."
Okorafor seems to have established himself in that role. So it would look as if he and B.J. Finney would have two of the backup spots secured. That would leave Hawkins, Banner, a former fourth-round pick of the Browns, seventh-round draft pick Derwin Gray and rookie guard Fred Johnson, a player the coaching staff seems to like, fighting for one or two more roster spots.
It's a nice spot for the Steelers to be in. They have what they feel are an excess of offensive linemen when good offensive line play is scarce league-wide.
Finding the right mix and match of those players to comprise the 53-man roster will be what happens from here on out in the preseason.
"That’s what we’re trying to do with those guys," Fichtner said. "Of those bodies, we want to keep the best. They’ve got to be multiple. I don’t care who they are. They could be all tackles or all guards. They’ve got to be capable of doing all of that. And we use them as extra tight ends, too. There’s a place for that, too. We've done that a lot in the past."
LOLLEY'S VIEW
The Steelers might have some tradable commodities on their offensive line if they play well in the preseason. But is offensive line depth something you might want to trade?
It's certainly something that a lot of teams are in search of. But, for example, if Hawkins plays well in the preseason, the Steelers could choose to try to move him in an effort to acquire another tight end.
He only has one year remaining on his rookie contract and has played in just one of his first three seasons because of injury. But, again, he would have to show he can play in the preseason.
