Broderick Jones Developing into Leader for Steelers' Rookies
Fostering a revered, self-sustaining culture like the Pittsburgh Steelers in recent years means turning the locker room into a factory. Sometimes, veteran leaders have to leave town, but their impact on their greener teammates pays dividends down the road for the next crop of rookies to learn from.
But when does that transition happen? How many years until head coach Mike Tomlin entrusts a player with the responsibility of leading other men?
Ray Fittipaldo reported that second-year offensive tackle Broderick Jones’ locker was placed right next to rookie center Zach Frazier’s – just like he was introduced to veteran lineman Dan Moore Jr. the year prior. His ensuing conversation revealed Pittsburgh’s second-year plan for Jones.
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Just a year into his NFL career, it’s now on him to take the next step, both on and off the field.
“I like how he’s leading, how he’s helping out the younger guys,” Moore said. “It’s cool to see a younger guy who I was helping last year transition to leader and now help a younger guy. That’s what it’s all about.”
Jones won’t just be helping Frazier, the second-round center from West Virginia. Pittsburgh’s rookie class included first-round tackle Troy Fautanu and fourth-round guard Mason McCormick. As the future of the Steelers offensive line, that trio has incredible potential, especially with Jones holding down a tackle spot and showing them how it’s done.
“Coming in and knowing how it is, you have so much coming at you at once,” Jones said. “I try to take the edge off them. ( let them know it’s not all going to be peaches and cream. You’re going to get beat. You’re going to lose. You just have to adjust.”
Jones, notably, didn’t start from the jump despite his first-round status. He didn’t see consistent playing time until the second half of the season, and even then, he was inconsistent. Pittsburgh, though, remains confident in their former first-rounder. At the same time, Tomlin's trust is not an iron-clad grip on a starting job.
The second-year veteran knows there’s a lot to learn, and he is more than willing to pass on those lessons.
“There are a lot of different things you have to learn once you get to the next level,” Jones said. “You just have to take your time with it. You can’t try to rush through it. You have to focus on one thing, lock in with it, and make it one of your biggest assets. … For them, they have to figure out one thing at a time. I tell them not to rush because that’s what I did last year. I was trying to rush things, always trying to hurry up and get through stuff.
“Me talking to them, I hope it helps. Hopefully they can learn from it.”