Forget the Super Bowl Shuffle.
The Steelers' offensive line shuffles so much from day to day at training camp, the players themselves likely have to check the lineup sheets each day to find out who is going to be where in a given practice.
Continuity had long been preached about as a virtue on the offensive line for the Steelers when they were anchored for years by the likes of Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Ramon Foster and Alejandro Villanueva. Now, however, with all of those players now gone either in free agency or to retirement, it's been a daily turnstile of linemen in the starting lineup for the Steelers in training camp. They just hope the line itself isn't a turnstile when the regular season rolls around Sept. 12 in Buffalo.
"You'd always like to have some consistency, especially in our group," first-year offensive line coach Adrian Klemm said Saturday at Heinz Field, as the Steelers returned to practice following their second of four preseason games. "You want guys to get used to playing next to each other. But it gives you an opportunity to see what guys can do. It's valuable experience, especially for a lot of these guys who haven't played (in the NFL) before. They can showcase what they can do. But at the same time, can they handle the rigors of being in different positions, whether they can handle being on the right or left. If anything, it benefits us in the long run."
But could it lead to some short-term misery?
The Steelers' depth chart lists Chuks Okorafor and Zach Banner as the starters at left and right tackle, with Kevin Dotson and Trai Turner at left and right guard. Rookie Kendrick Green, a third-round draft pick, remains listed as the second-team center behind J.C. Hassenauer, but Green has started each of the team's first two preseason games.
Yet because of minor injuries, or in the case of Banner, recovering from a major injury, the Steelers have had precious few snaps with that grouping together on the field thus far in training camp.
Now, with less than a month remaining before they'll line up against the Bills, the tock is clearly clicking.
"I'd like to do that," Klemm said when asked if he would like to see his "starting five" line up together for the Steelers' next preseason game, this upcoming Saturday night against the Lions at Heinz Field.
"We'll see who is available. I'd like to kind of settle in. We have what, two preseason games before our regular season game. It would obviously be nice to get those guys in there."
But, he also noted, "Everything is up for grabs."
Saturday, Green was given an excused absence from practice -- his second of training camp -- allowing Hassenauer to get reps as the team's first-team center. Dotson, who returned from an early camp injury to get second-team snaps at left guard, moved into the top unit at that spot in place of Rashaad Coward, while B.J. Finney was at right guard in place of Turner, who was given the day off from practicing.
Okorafor and Banner were at the tackle spots -- at least early in practice, but rookie Dan Moore Jr., a fourth-round draft pick who lined up at left tackle when Okorafor was missing time with an injury early in camp, moved over to the right side in this practice and replaced Banner late.
Got all of that?
Mike Tomlin, who called Dotson out a week ago upon his return from an ankle injury, said his elevation had as much to do with a good first game in the Steelers' 24-16 win over the Eagles last Thursday night as it did with who also wasn't practicing.
"He was working with the ones. We gave some guys the day off and sometimes when you give some guys a day off, it gives some other guys an opportunity to elevate," Tomlin said. "We gave Trai Turner the day off. He did perform well in the game, but I wouldn't anoint him just yet."
In fact, nobody is "anointed" just yet, though the Steelers would certainly like to get to that point soon.
"Kevin has been getting better every single day. He was hurt early in camp. He's done everything that has been asked of him in terms of the training room," Klemm said. "He's progressing along. Is he where he needs to be? No. But he did some good things in the last game. He needs to work with that group and see what he needs to do and give them an opportunity to work with them, as well. We have a new center and Chuks is at a new position on the opposite side. We want to see how they mesh together."
The same thing goes for the center spot, where Green and Hassenauer continue to battle. Green has had some rookie struggles, but that was to be expected. The Steelers also know that Finney, their swing interior offensive linemen in four of the past five seasons, also could step in there if needed.
It's like putting a puzzle together. But this puzzle is one that is critical to the entire team's offense.
Not being settled at this point certainly isn't ideal.
"Some people might say that," Klemm said. "But I think it's been good for the group as a whole. Everybody is dialed in. There's a deeper sense of urgency because everybody doesn't know what's going to happen. They're on their Ps and Qs and not just knowing their position, but knowing the positions around them. I think's that going to be beneficial for us long term when stuff hits the fan and we've got to make decisions on the move.
"You'd like to have it settled, but it happens everywhere. The more you can do. There's high expectations for them. They've been asked to do a big amount, but they've all been up for it."