To say Broderick Jones didn’t play well against the Buffalo Bills would be an understatement. In the Pittsburgh Steelers’ second preseason game, Jones looked underpowered and was underwhelming on many plays. This isn’t ideal for a former first-round draft pick in his second year. He may have injury issues, but if he’s not healthy enough to play well, he shouldn’t be on the field. However, Russell Wilson still seems to have faith in Jones.
in 93.7 The Fan Twitter video, Coach Wilson spoke after practice on Wednesday about how much he believes in Jones’ potential.
“Everybody knows how good Broderick Jones is,” Wilson said, “Broderick is a great football player. One of the reasons I came here is because of his talent.”
Wilson wasn’t as highly rated after his time with the Denver Broncos. In fact, he wasn’t considered the franchise quarterback he once was. That’s one of the reasons the Steelers were able to get him on such a cheap contract. But it was also Wilson’s choice. He likely had other suitors, but he chose to come to Pittsburgh.
Jones likely played a role in Wilson’s decision, which makes sense considering he’s been sacked numerous times throughout his career. He’s an older quarterback who’s endured a lot of hardships, and seeing the Steelers doing all they can to improve their offensive line clearly caught his attention.
Jones didn’t have a spectacular rookie season, but he did show flashes of flashes. He was better last year than many predicted going into this preseason, and while he was a bit rough in pass protection, he wasn’t nearly as bad as we saw against the Bills.
Moving back and forth between right tackle and left tackle won’t help Jones’ development. The Steelers don’t seem keen to force Jones into a position, which may be hurting him more than anything in the process. Going forward, hopefully they pick a position for him and stick with it.
Wilson clearly believes Jones is a player who will continue to develop in the NFL. With the starting offense playing in the final preseason game, Jones has a chance to prove his doubters wrong. If he could just look more calm and stable, most people’s fears would be eased. But a performance like the one against the Bills would only increase the anxiety surrounding him, and no one wants that.
