Building a cohesive offensive line requires timing, familiarity, and banked repetitions. Following a difficult pass-protection performance in their devastating loss to the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged that constant summer shuffling disrupted the unit's continuity, though he defended individual position changes.
In his regular Monday afternoon press conference, McCarthy addressed the offensive line struggles as reported by beat writerNick Farabaugh on X.
"Mike McCarthy summed a lot of the line's issues up to a lack of chemistry since they tried so many different combinations together in the summer. He also said that he doesn't see any rust on Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick moving from the right
to the left. He doesn't think that move is why they've struggled,” posted Farabaugh.
Mike McCarthy summed a lot of the line's issues up to a lack of chemistry since they tried so many different combinations together in the summer.
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) September 21, 2026
He also said that he doesn't see any rust on Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick moving from the right to the left. He doesn't think…
Farabaugh added that McCarthy may realize the offensive line might have suffered a setback due to the constant rotation during camp.
"Very clear that McCarthy regrets shuffling the OL around this much in training camp. The OL's communication and chemistry to pass off twists, stunts, and other blitz looks was extremely poor in Week 2. They allowed far too many free runners. Not crazy to think this could be part of it," noted Farabaugh.
Very clear that McCarthy regrets shuffling the OL around this much in training camp.
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) September 21, 2026
The OL's communication and chemistry to pass off twists, stunts, and other blitz looks was extremely poor in Week 2. They allowed far too many free runners.
Not crazy to think this could be… https://t.co/QouUCz7TiS
Pass protection relies heavily on unspoken communication. Fronts frequently show complex pressure packages, requiring five linemen to process information as a single unit. When defenses unleash defensive line stunts, games, and delayed blitzes, offensive linemen must seamlessly pass off rusher assignments to prevent immediate pressure.
Without steady snaps alongside the same teammates, that communication breaks down. That friction showed up vividly in Week 2, leading to missed assignments and free runners charging unchecked into the backfield. McCarthy’s comments suggest that constantly rotating line combinations in training camp hindered the unit from establishing fundamental execution.
Interestingly, McCarthy brushed off concerns about moving Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick from the right side to the left side, asserting that side-switching was not the root cause. Instead, the problem stems from overall line fluidity rather than individual assignments.
Establishing a permanent starting five is now critical. By curbing constant rotations and settling on a fixed lineup, McCarthy hopes to build the chemistry necessary to stabilize pass protection moving forward.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Mike McCarthy blames Steelers line struggles on lack of chemistry
