Max I starting RT

Not sure if this is official but I believe I heard a reporter ask AR yesterday how he felt about a rookie protecting him at tackle to start? Hope this is correct because he obviously has way more upside than Cook.

 

They were talking about that on 93.7. The reporters at practice aren't allowed to report what they see but they can circumvent the rule by asking questions like this. If Max hadn't been practicing with the first team the reporter wouldn't have asked the question.

 

So O Line I assume is

Troy McCormick Frazier Anderson Max

 

But by circumventing the rule a reporter might find himself persona non grata at all future practices.

 

True.

 

I guess Dylan Cook can put away his gold jacket that some in here had given him.

 

Agreed, but he is just one injury away from starting, so he better keep ready.

 

In other words, don't send the jacket to the cleaners.

 

It's probably best for Cook to not be a starter because he will be the swing tackle backup.

 

McCarthy said Max needs to stack successful practices.

 

Cook was spotted at practice this week;

 

Can't argue the statement BUT Cook's experience may overtrump Max's raw ability this early in his learning.

 

As far as I can tell, Max has looked good in a few practices, but that’s a tiny sample. In his only preseason game he struggled. Over about 35 snaps he showed the expected growing pains: he allowed a sack and committed a couple of penalties. The positive is he also made a key block. Extrapolate that over three preseason games that is roughly six quarters of action and you’re looking at something like three sacks and about six penalties. That’s not a starter’s tape.

Cook didn’t have a great preseason either, but he’s much more prepared to play pro ball. Max is still raw. My take is Cook will play close to the level he showed last season, then hit free agency and get paid.Cook also played a heavy tackle workload in the preseason over 100 snaps across three games, including a start at left tackle in the finale. Maybe the Steelers wanted a look there in case Troy Fautanu has issues a LT during the season? The plan is for Max Iheanachor to start at tackle in 2027. Talk of him starting this year outside of an injury to another tackle is just media and fan chatter. It’s not happening anytime soon.

 

So has Max played a bunch of games in college at tackle? Or is he a project like Jones?

 

Jones had 19 college starts at tackle and that was on a loaded Georgia line. He gave up 2 sacks and about 11 hurries. That’s why there was a buyer-beware tag. Not many starts, and he was protected by one of the best OL rooms in the country. The Steelers gambled and we saw how that turned out.

Max has 31 college starts.The catch with Max is the football background. He barely played in high school. He came from soccer to football, and the game isn’t part of the culture he grew up in. I have no question about his feet. Those are grade A. The issues are his tiny hands for a tackle and the high number of penalties.

 

So again we choose a tackle with downside in experience? I'm not sure how not playing much in high school has to do with his development now. 5 of the top 7 tackles were taken before Max so I guess he fits there. I'm just really uneasy with the draft picks the steelers have spent on tackles. Gennings Dunker was rated highly as well. Draft Buzz has him at number 8 right behind Max. Maybe we can get something out of them

 

I get their desire to build the line, but they need to stop picking projects and hoping they put it together. They could have had a plug-and-play starter at safety, which is also a significant need.

 

We are doomed.

 

Heard an interesting thought that maybe we should look to see if Daniels would be interested in coming in to play on the PS for a conditioning stint and maybe get promoted to RG. I think he's unemployed. But has also only played 5 games in 2 years. So he's probably just done.

 

MAX STAX

 

I think Max really entered the conversation at the Senior Bowl. IIRC he handled some of the top rushers in the country in practice that week which opened a lot of eyes. I think he has a much higher floor than Jones ever had.

 

LoL. That's pretty good. LoL

 

I agree, but hope Max proves us both wrong.

 

I wouldn't draft a safety in the first round over OL unless he's a Polamalu type of playmaker.