Former Steelers tackle on mental challenges for Jones

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A two-time Steelers Super Bowl winning tackle told the Fan Morning Show the issue with Broderick Jones is between the ears.

Trai Essex joined Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson Tuesday morning saying he doesn’t notice issues with the elbow that has a brace on it. There’s nothing physical that he really sees watching Jones. He’s got to get his mind right.

“It’s mental,” Essex said on 93.7 The Fan. “It’s all mental. He has the physical tools. He’s shown he can play the position, albeit it he really wasn’t pushed at the right tackle last year.”

That’s where Essex thinks the first issue could be. After Chukwuma Okorafor got hurt opening the door for Jones to start last year, he believes Okorafor checked out and didn’t provide much resistance for Jones. That opinion was probably verified by Okorafor doing something similar in New England this year.

“I don’t think there was a whole bunch of competition for Broderick, but now that he has somebody there, pushing him and he hasn’t really made any inroads at left tackle with Dan Moore,” Essex told the Fan Morning Show. “He (Moore) has been on every fan’s cutting block on the last two or three years, but he still manages a way to perform and play solid enough to give coaches confidence.”

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin praised Moore later on Tuesday saying he’s mature and consistent. That doesn’t mean Jones couldn’t outplay Moore, but right now he’s listed as the back-up right tackle.

“It is troubling that it’s gotten to his point where you got a rookie coming off of injury already impeding minutes at the right tackle position,” Essex told the Fan Morning Show. “That is more of an indictment against Broderick than anything else.”

Essex did say it’s probably tough for Jones right now because he doesn’t know where he fits in. That would match up to the numerous times Jones was interviewed between the time Troy Fautanu was drafted and now. When asked what side he would play he would shrug his shoulders saying he didn’t know. Essex said Jones probably thought it would be the left tackle, but Moore keeps fighting. Jones hasn’t earned that spot according to Essex and on the side he started half of the season last year, he’s facing a rookie who is hungry.

“Broderick has some work to do,” Essex told 93.7 The Fan.

From one former Steelers tackle to a current one, Essex said you can’t give confidence to someone. They have to find that on their own. Essex said Jones has to show some intestinal fortitude and get out there and ball out.

“He’s a grown-ass man,” Essex told Crowley and Dickerson. “You are getting paid a million dollars to play this game. You don’t need to be coddled, especially on the offensive line.”

“Get out there, play ball and get the job done.”