With rookie minicamp now in the books, we know that the Steelers are working Max Iheanachor out at right tackle. Assuming no other player is moved, Troy Fautanu is the incumbent at that position and isn't about to lose his job. So, is Iheanachor destined to start his rookie season on the bench?
Make no mistake about it: The Steelers truly like Iheanachor. He's not just a consolation prize for them because the Eagles sniped them and snatched Makai Lemon away. And the first impressions from rookie minicamp seemed to be very positive from Mike McCarthy's perspective.
"They definitely look like Pittsburgh Steelers linemen," McCarthy said of Iheanachor and third-round pick Gennings Dunker. "I think you look for young men that definitely have the anchor to play the style of football we want to play. Huge emphasis and focal point on the O and D line here as far as how we want this team to look and play, and those guys fit right in."
Iheanachor's demeanor may fit right in, but there's much to discuss regarding how ready he is to play at the NFL level. The Nigerian-born Iheanachor is still very new to the game of football, having just started playing it in 2021. He's unsurprisingly considered a raw prospect, and needs to refine much of his technique.
"We're working on everything," Iheanachor said Saturday following rookie minicamp practice. "My hand placement, just still trying to get that more figured out and right. But, really everything -- steps, pass pro, run block."
That being said, Iheanachor's base raises his floor quite a bit. Despite being a raw prospect, Iheanachor's footwork is very advanced for how new he is to the game, and dare I say it looks effortless on occasion. And, he's seldom off balance or out of control. His background in basketball and soccer surely helps in this regard. However he has his footwork in an advanced spot, it immediately puts him in a more primed position to start as a rookie, as opposed to when Broderick Jones was drafted in 2023.
We have yet to see if Fautanu will be moving to the left side. We might get an indication of that when OTAs begin next Monday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Either way, if Iheanachor is going to have a chance to start as a rookie, something is going to change. Fautanu could move to the left side, which is where he started multiple seasons in college. Also, what about Dylan Cook or Jones? Cook played great down the stretch for the Steelers last season, and trust me, that has not been forgotten. And while it's easy to forget about Jones with his neck rehab in an unpredictable place, if he's healthy, he's likely going to start.
So, the best pathway for Iheanachor is quite simple: Have the rest of his technique catch up with his footwork and go into training camp and give McCarthy no choice but to put him on the field. Considering his size, length and athleticism, Iheanachor's ceiling is very high, perhaps good enough to be an All-Pro. It may take some time to get there, but he's already moved quickly in a short time playing this game, so it's probably not smart to doubt him this summer.
However it plays out, this is a great problem for the Steelers to have.
THE ASYLUM
Iheanachor's path to become first-year starter
With rookie minicamp now in the books, we know that the Steelers are working Max Iheanachor out at right tackle. Assuming no other player is moved, Troy Fautanu is the incumbent at that position and isn't about to lose his job. So, is Iheanachor destined to start his rookie season on the bench?
Make no mistake about it: The Steelers truly like Iheanachor. He's not just a consolation prize for them because the Eagles sniped them and snatched Makai Lemon away. And the first impressions from rookie minicamp seemed to be very positive from Mike McCarthy's perspective.
"They definitely look like Pittsburgh Steelers linemen," McCarthy said of Iheanachor and third-round pick Gennings Dunker. "I think you look for young men that definitely have the anchor to play the style of football we want to play. Huge emphasis and focal point on the O and D line here as far as how we want this team to look and play, and those guys fit right in."
Iheanachor's demeanor may fit right in, but there's much to discuss regarding how ready he is to play at the NFL level. The Nigerian-born Iheanachor is still very new to the game of football, having just started playing it in 2021. He's unsurprisingly considered a raw prospect, and needs to refine much of his technique.
"We're working on everything," Iheanachor said Saturday following rookie minicamp practice. "My hand placement, just still trying to get that more figured out and right. But, really everything -- steps, pass pro, run block."
That being said, Iheanachor's base raises his floor quite a bit. Despite being a raw prospect, Iheanachor's footwork is very advanced for how new he is to the game, and dare I say it looks effortless on occasion. And, he's seldom off balance or out of control. His background in basketball and soccer surely helps in this regard. However he has his footwork in an advanced spot, it immediately puts him in a more primed position to start as a rookie, as opposed to when Broderick Jones was drafted in 2023.
We have yet to see if Fautanu will be moving to the left side. We might get an indication of that when OTAs begin next Monday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Either way, if Iheanachor is going to have a chance to start as a rookie, something is going to change. Fautanu could move to the left side, which is where he started multiple seasons in college. Also, what about Dylan Cook or Jones? Cook played great down the stretch for the Steelers last season, and trust me, that has not been forgotten. And while it's easy to forget about Jones with his neck rehab in an unpredictable place, if he's healthy, he's likely going to start.
So, the best pathway for Iheanachor is quite simple: Have the rest of his technique catch up with his footwork and go into training camp and give McCarthy no choice but to put him on the field. Considering his size, length and athleticism, Iheanachor's ceiling is very high, perhaps good enough to be an All-Pro. It may take some time to get there, but he's already moved quickly in a short time playing this game, so it's probably not smart to doubt him this summer.
However it plays out, this is a great problem for the Steelers to have.
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