This week of OTAs for the Steelers was intended, principally, to offer Mike McCarthy and staff an opportunity to see less of the known, more of the unknown. Which is why, aside from the unexpected appearances of, say, Nick Herbig and Jamel Dean, most veterans weren't around for the first couple sessions Monday and Tuesday.
Oh, and the offensive line.
Like, the entire room.
All five of the currently designated starters -- left to right, Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook -- were present, as Chris Halickereported Tuesday, and I've pieced together that it went even further. Meaning that it was every offensive lineman on the 90-man roster and, to boot, that it was done with a dual collective cause:
1. There's no position that demands more cohesiveness, so every shared snap's vital, even in summertime drills in shorts. They can communicate, and they can correct.
2. The competition's authentic. Out of the aforementioned five, I'd peg only Fautanu, McCormick and Frazier as cemented. Anderson and Cook will face real challenges from rookies Gennings Dunker and Max Iheanachor, respectively, and possibly others. Imagine if the starters showed while any of the rest didn't.
THE ASYLUM
DK: Voluntary? Not for the big boys
This week of OTAs for the Steelers was intended, principally, to offer Mike McCarthy and staff an opportunity to see less of the known, more of the unknown. Which is why, aside from the unexpected appearances of, say, Nick Herbig and Jamel Dean, most veterans weren't around for the first couple sessions Monday and Tuesday.
Oh, and the offensive line.
Like, the entire room.
All five of the currently designated starters -- left to right, Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook -- were present, as Chris Halicke reported Tuesday, and I've pieced together that it went even further. Meaning that it was every offensive lineman on the 90-man roster and, to boot, that it was done with a dual collective cause:
1. There's no position that demands more cohesiveness, so every shared snap's vital, even in summertime drills in shorts. They can communicate, and they can correct.
2. The competition's authentic. Out of the aforementioned five, I'd peg only Fautanu, McCormick and Frazier as cemented. Anderson and Cook will face real challenges from rookies Gennings Dunker and Max Iheanachor, respectively, and possibly others. Imagine if the starters showed while any of the rest didn't.
Just sharing.
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