Steelers Now
Change has been the topic of the offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it’s no secret that their offensive line is going to look much different this fall. With veteran steady hand Isaac Seumalo moving out West to finish out his playing career, that left a starting opportunity up for grabs. To make things even more interesting, new offensive line coach James Campen is deploying a very unique tactic, moving both Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick to the opposite side where they played their college snaps. By doing so, this leaves the right guard spot as the most interesting and pivotal gig up for grabs as the team departs for training camp in Latrobe.
The three names worth watching in this competition are Spencer Anderson, Brock Hoffman, and Gennings Dunker. Essentially, the front office’s approach was to give themselves as many bites at the apple instead of taking a bigger swing on a younger, likely more expensive, replacement. Today, we’ll discuss each of the candidates in depth—the primary skills that they bring to the table, what they need to prove, who has the best odds to be in the lineup for the season opener and what will be the determining factor in that decision.
As the lone holdover from the Mike Tomlin regime, Anderson should begin the summer as the incumbent starter next to Zach Frazier at the pivot. In each of the past two seasons, he’s made a handful of starts at both guard slots, while also moonlighting as a tight end in the Steelers’ jumbo sets. Beyond his positional versatility, his calling card is his athleticism—Anderson moves extremely well for a big fella, is quick-twitched in short areas, and can be a weapon as a space player in the run game. On the flip side, his play on the interior has been more inconsistent due to mental miscues and losses to longer rushers in pass protection. Now 26 and entering a contract year, there’s a ton at stake for him over the next few months.
The Virginia Tech product was able to scratch and claw his way onto the Dallas Cowboys roster as an undrafted free agent, making 16 starts with the club throughout his rookie contract. He signed a modest, one-year prove-it deal this spring, which made a ton of sense because not only is he incredibly familiar with Mike McCarthy’s scheme, there’s a legitimate path to playing time here. Hoffman’s physicality stands out in the run game; he’s consistently straining through the whistle in an effort to get underneath his opponents’ skin. In pass protection, quicker rushers can cross his face and access his edges, occasionally leaving him trailing early in the rep. His experience at center makes an intriguing swing piece as a reserve, but a competitive camp against the Steelers’ talented front could push him up the depth chart.
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