Tag: Spencer Anderson

Should Pittsburgh target an offensive lineman at the trade deadline? 

Poor penalty management by Steelers’ RT Broderick Jones, and injuries to the offensive line may need to be solved via trade by the deadline.

It is truly miraculous how the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to win games given how injured their offensive line is. In Week 8, the Steelers were missing three starting offensive linemen, with two out for the entirety of the regular season. The interior depth on the o-line has been great, but the tackle position may need an upgrade before the upcoming trade deadline on November 5th. 

LT Dan Moore Jr., whose play has been outstanding this season, was banged up and had to sit out one play late in Week 8’s contest. Backup offensive lineman Spencer Anderson replaced him and immediately allowed QB Russell Wilson to get sacked. 

RT Broderick Jones continues to commit penalties that kill offensive momentum, and while it is probably time for HC Mike Tomlin to bench him, there is truly no quality starter who could take his place. 

Offensive tackle trade targets such as Cam Robinson, Andrus Peat, or Walker Little could help alleviate the injury woes. This team looks primed to make a deep playoff run, but they’ll first need to address depth issues on the offensive side of the football. 

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Steelers add second rookie to starting offensive line vs Colts

Mason McCormick gets the start at left tackle tis week.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Indianapolis Colts in Week Four, they will do so with two rookies on the offensive line. According to Steelers beat reporter Gerry Dulac, guard Mason McCormick will get the start at left guard over Spencer Anderson.

McCormick replaced Anderson in the lineup last week against the Los Angeles Chargers and played well. According to Dulac, Anderson could still rotate in with McCormick.

The Steelers selected McCormick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft out of South Dakota State. Most pundits considered the selection of McCormick a bargain for the Steelers and the pick was highly regarded as solid value.

https://twitter.com/gerrydulac/status/1840390217326293190

The Steelers also have Zach Frazier in the starting lineup as a rookie at center and if he didn’t go on IR, it’s like a third rookie, offensive tackle Troy Fautanu would be starting this week against the Colts as well.

McCormick gets the start while starting left guard Isaac Seumalo continues to inch his way back from a pectoral injury. There was some hope that Seumalo might play this week but he was ruled out late.

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Steelers vs Falcons: Mike Tomlin names starting right guard for this week

Spencer Anderson will get the nod at right guard vs the Falcons.

With starting right guard Isaac Seumalo out for the foreseeable future, the Pittsburgh Steelers will debut a new starter this week against the Atlanta Falcons. Head coach Mike Tomlin met with the media on Tuesday ahead of this week’s game and named his starter.

According to Tomlin, Spencer Anderson will get the start versus Atlanta as opposed to rookie Mason McCormick. The Steelers signed Anderson last season as a rookie and he was active for eight games.

We thought the Steelers might opt for the rookie McCormick who has been impressive in training camp and the preseason. But it makes more sense to play it safe with Anderson, especially given the Steelers will be starting rookie Zach Frazier at center.

The Steelers took strides to improve their offensive line this offseason but through three preseason games, we haven’t seen it. The new Steelers offense is predicated on the run game so having consistency along the offensive front is a must.

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Position battle for starting offensive line heats up after injury

The Steelers will have a new starting left guard in Week One.

Just when we thought things couldn’t get more stressful for the Pittsburgh Steelers and their offensive line, another injury has popped up and set a new position battle into motion just a week from the start of the season.

First, we had rookie offensive tackle Troy Fautanu suffered a knee strain ending the position battle for starting left tackle for the time being.

However, when starting left guard Isaac Seumalo went down with a pectoral injury in practice, a whole new position battle arose. Seumalo’s injury isn’t expected to be season-ending however, he is sure to miss several weeks.

This means it will be a competition between veteran Spencer Anderson and rookie Mason McCormick for that spot in the starting lineup. McCormick has been impressive in the preseason but the Steelers might opt for the veteran experience of Anderson due to the fact that another rookie, Zach Frazier, is now the team’s starting center.

Pittsburgh kicks off its season in Atlanta against the new-look Falcons. It is imperative the Steelers get off to a fast start this season to keep pace in a crowded AFC.

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Steelers rookie OT Spencer Anderson claims he was almost drafted by Chiefs

A #Steelers rookie offensive tackle says that the #Chiefs were targeting him and a defensive back at pick No. 250 in the 2023 NFL draft.

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Did the Kansas City Chiefs almost go a different route with pick No. 250 in the 2023 NFL draft?

The Chiefs selected Ball State CB Nic Jones in the seventh round, and to this point in the offseason program, he’s been a standout. Apparently, Jones wasn’t the only player the team was considering at pick No. 250.

Speaking on the Three Point Stance podcast with Kaleb Everhart and Derwin Gray, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie OT Spencer Anderson revealed that he thought he was going to be drafted by the Chiefs.

“When we were getting towards the final round of the draft, the phones start picking up more and more. Teams start reaching out, the 49ers, the Ravens, whoever it was. I had no clue that I was going to go to Pittsburgh,” Anderson said. “I was on the phone with Kansas City and I remember that Kansas City had the pick right before the Steelers. Kansas City had told me they were going to with me or a DB. If their DB went off the board, they were going to go with me. I remember, I was on the phone with Andy Reid, I was talking to him. He was just like, ‘Sit tight.’ And I was like, ‘Cool.'”

Anderson said that he saw a defensive back or two get drafted leading up to pick No. 250 and he thought that he was in the clear to join the reigning Super Bowl champions. But then a few picks before the Chiefs came on the clock, something happened.

“I was still supposed to be staying on the phone with Andy Reid,” Anderson said. “He’s like, ‘You’re a heck of a player.’ And all of that stuff. . . and then I got a call from (Steelers GM) Omar (Khan) . . . He put me on the phone with Coach Tomlin. He was like, ‘Hey, man, versatility is your calling card, so we’re going to go ahead and submit you with our next pick.’”

The Steelers held pick No. 251, one selection following Kansas City. They took Anderson there with the Chiefs selecting Jones at pick No. 250.

What Anderson says he can’t discern is whether Kansas City passed him over because he hung up on Andy Reid to speak to Khan and Tomlin or if Jones was actually the defensive back they wanted in the first place. I think the latter is probably the most likely, but it’s certainly interesting to hear that the Chiefs had an interest in this offensive tackle. It’ll also be unique to follow the careers of both players to find out whether Brett Veach got it right.

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