It was a tumultuous preseason and training camp for the Pittsburgh Steelers, including more than a few eyebrow-raising decisions regarding the offensive line. With starting Left Guard Isaac Seumalo lost to injury for four weeks, it is another in a series of rough moments in the trenches for Pittsburgh. However, the Steelers have faith in the depth of the offensive line. Will that depth end up paying off?
More Talent Than Experience
On Wednesday, Seumalo suffered a pectoral injury at practice that won’t require surgery but will still sideline the veteran blocker for four weeks. With a haphazard, confusing approach to the revolving door of offensive tackles, the Steelers will look to the interior as the squad’s strength. Starters Seumalo, Zach Frazier, and James Daniels represent a stellar blocking unit but don’t discount the depth behind them. Spencer Anderson, who could be the temporary replacement for Seumalo during his injury, was kept on the roster mainly due to his versatility in playing any spot on the line/
Granted, he doesn’t have anything close to the experience that Seumalo brings. The former Philadelphia Eagles standout has Super Bowl appearances and Pro Bowls under his belt, while Anderson has played in eight NFL games without a start. A 2023 seventh-round pick by Pittsburgh, Anderson has already defied expectations by remaining on the roster, but now he could be called upon to protect Russell Wilson, who will be the starting quarterback when the Steelers play the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 of the 2024 regular season.
There is a reason why the Steelers have Anderson on the 53-man roster, and this is precisely the situation that allows him to prove the team right.
Steelers Have Faith In McCormick
Mason McCormick has yet to play a down of NFL football that counts, but he has a ton of experience at the collegiate level. Many players forgo longer runs in college for the chance to enter the NFL Draft, but McCormick became a consistent, foundational piece of the South Dakota State football program. The rookie offensive lineman put together an incredible stretch of 57 consecutive games he started in college. It doesn’t just display his remarkable availability; it gave him a treasure trove of knowledge from which to draw.
With Seumalo injured for the first four games of the 2024 season, the Steelers could be betting on that experience to help McCormick acclimate to the NFL level in Seumalo’s absence. Despite a resume without professional experience, McCormick brings an excellent record from South Dakota State.
From 2021 to 2023, the offensive lineman only allowed two sacks, two quarterback hits, and an impressively-low 16 total hurries in those three seasons. If he can find a way to translate that blocking success to the NFL, it will be a massive boost to a Steelers team that will be breaking in quite a few new offensive components. Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle Allen are the names in the quarterback room, which is a complete overhaul compared to what it looked like at the end of the 2023 season (Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph.)
Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith will also be rolling out a brand new offense, so it is all the more important for the offensive line to control the trenches. Otherwise, it will be a long, frustrating season for Steelers fans.
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