The Broncos didn't exactly throw the kitchen sink at the brand new right side of the Steelers offensive line on Sunday, but they didn't take it easy on guard Kevin Dotson and tackle Chuks Okorafor, either.
Denver ran a variety of overloads and stunts at the two new guys, to no avail. Denver recorded just one sack of Ben Roethlisberger in the Steelers' 26-21 victory at Heinz Field, hitting him just three times, despite Roethlisberger dropping back to pass 42 times.
Both Okorafor, a third-year pro, and Dotson, a rookie fourth-round draft pick who was making his first start, said they felt they were better in pass protection than in the run game. And both credited that to the players they have faced daily in their practices with the Steelers.
When you work daily against the likes of Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree, the games are easy.
"I've been taking practice reps with Tuitt and Cam and TJ during these weeks, (so) getting into that game, I have confidence going against anybody defensive line-wise," Dotson said Monday.
Facing players such as those three, Dupree or even backups such as Ola Adeniyi or Alex Highsmith in practice is what the Steelers often refer to when they speak of "iron sharpening iron."
It's one of Mike Tomlin's pet phrases, but in this case, it's absolutely the case. The Steelers have led the NFL in sacks in each of the past three seasons and have 10 in their first two games. Facing that on a daily basis in practice is certainly going to make a player better.
"I feel like everyone here is good, whether it's TJ, Bud, Ola, Highsmith," Okorafor said. "Everyone here is good."
It didn't hurt that they were able to lean on each other throughout the game, as well, especially for Dotson, with Okorafor on one side of him and All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey on the other.
"Maurkice, he's definitely the leader. I'll do whatever he says, I'll tweak my game to it," Dotson said. "Chuks definitely was a big help. Really, the entire o-line was helping me to just be comfortable in the game. Another thing about me being nervous, I don't get too nervous about playing in games or football. I think I've done football enough to know what possibly could happen that I don't get nervous."
So, try as they might, the Broncos couldn't turn that inexperienced right side of the offensive line into an issue for the Steelers.
Okorafor was making his fifth career start and first in place of Zach Banner, who suffered a torn ACL in the season opener against the Giants. Banner, who had surgery to repair his injury on Friday, won the starting job over Okorafor in a training camp battle.
Dotson, meanwhile, was a completely unexpected starter in just his second professional game. The rookie out of Louisiana was expected to be something of a redshirt player this season, especially after missing about a third of the Steelers' padded training camp practices with a knee injury.
But David DeCastro has missed the first two games with a knee injury — though the Steelers are hopeful he'll return this Sunday when they host the Texans. And veteran backup Stefen Wisniewski suffered a pectoral injury against the Giants that landed him on short-term injured reserve.
So much for easing the rookie into the NFL.
"I just appreciate the efforts and the attitude, particularly of the young guys," Tomlin said of their first game together. "Kevin Dotson starting his first game and missed quite a bit of time in team development. You got to tip your cap to him for his efforts. And Chuks, we know what he's capable of, so we're not surprised by his performance. But it was enough to win."
And get Dotson a game ball.
His father, Kelcy, is a longtime Steelers fan. And Dotson hasn't been shy about telling Roethlisberger of that fact.
So, following Sunday's game, Roethlisberger gave Dotson a game ball to send back to his father in Plaquemine, La.
"It was a really cool experience to be able to get that ball," Dotson said. "I've been talking to Ben and telling him about my father, so it was really cool to get that gift and be able to send that to my dad, who I know is going to appreciate it.
"He called me as soon as the game was over. I got to talk to him as soon as it happened. This was the most excited I've ever seen him."
The expectation is for Okorafor to be the starting right tackle for the remainder of the season. The Steelers are hopeful, however, they don't have to use Dotson again anytime soon. That would mean DeCastro or left guard Matt Feiler had suffered an injury or something else bad happened on their offensive line.
But at least now they know the game isn't too big for the rookie.
And no, he didn't tell the Broncos what plays were coming, as he did in college, when he was so dominant he would do so on a regular basis with opponents, knowing they couldn't stop it even if they knew what was coming.
"No. I can't do that. It's a different type of league," Dotson said with a laugh. "I can't be giving that kind of information."