Steelers Finally Bench Right Side of O-Line, Throw Rookie Max Iheanachor to the Wolves
Ian Rapoport: 'The #Steelers will feature an entirely new right side of their O-line this week...'
The have finally seen enough of their offensive line doing a turnstile impression. According to Ian Rapoport, the team is completely overhauling the right side of the trenches this week, handing starting jobs to first-round rookie tackle Max Iheanachor and guard Brock Hoffman.
It is a move that feels about two weeks overdue for anyone who has watched this offense try to function. When your quarterback is spending more time on his back than a mechanic, you have to change the parts.
The numbers behind this switch are genuinely offensive. currently ranks in the bottom five of the NFL in both points and rushing yards, largely because they are averaging a league-worst -0.26 yards before contact per rush. That means running backs are getting hit behind the line of scrimmage before they even have time to read a block.
took four sacks in a brutal 20-3 loss to the last week, which was apparently the breaking point for the coaching staff. Out go Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook, and in comes the 21st overall pick from Arizona State to try and stop the bleeding.
Throwing a rookie tackle and a backup guard into the fire against the is a massive variable for anyone looking at the weekend lines. The Bengals currently boast the ninth-highest pressure rate in the league, meaning this new right side is going to get tested immediately.
If Iheanachor and Hoffman can just be average, it might be enough to keep upright and give this offense a pulse. If they cannot, the Steelers are going to be staring down an 0-3 start and a very long, very painful season in the AFC North.