Max I starting RT

Enjoy another season of watching poor safety play undermine the entire defense like last year.

If you want an even better example, look at the Lions last year. Their defense was good when they had their two stud safeties. When they lost them both to injuries, the defense fell apart.

Position bias like that leads to poor decisions. The value pick was Thieneman, who was consistently ranked among the top 20 prospects. Most rankings had Iheanachor going No. 30 or later. Sure, these are prosepects and things can always change, but it sure looks like the Steelers passed on a sure thing at a position of need for a reach.

 

The safety room is a major issue with Elliot hurt. I’m afraid the WR room could be as well although Khan did try to strengthen that at least.

 

Obviously on the Steelers board WR and OL were the top positions to address, if they waited until the second round I doubt Max would've been still on the board.

 

In the beginning I would say absolutely yes

But they didn’t draft Max to sit

All he is getting now is first team reps in practice

This certainly does not correlate to him starting game one

 

There were no OT taken in the second round. Interesting.

Athlon sport magazine had IMAX listed as a 2nd-3rd round prospect. That's why I was very surprised we took him. One magazine didn't list IMAX in their list of top 10 OT prospects to draft.
I'm curious to see how it turns out. We got it right if he ends up being a starting RT for a few years.

 

That was a good one!

 

Did you mistake Cook and Broderick pre-trade

 

Just because it is what the Steelers wanted to do doesn't make them right. Of course, Iheanachor wasn't going to be there for them in the second round, at least not without them trading up. The point is they took the weaker player.

 

I hear the DB room has been moved next to the trainer's room. Or is it now part of the trainer's room?

Our DB's are stacked with IR, PUP, and questionable tags.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/depth/_/name/pit

 

We drafted a seventh rounder that is going to see significant snaps this season, so unless that safety is the next Troy P you are correct.

 

Difference is Max is a freak and Jones was a project.

Dunker if he tightens up the pass protection should be starting next season or if Anderson fails. Anderson's contract is up after this season.

 

Well one of the DB's has a faux back injury. Does he count in the mix?

I would not be upset if they go with a safety in round one in 2027. Although finding another Troy is impossible. He is one of a kind and I am grateful he donned the Black & Gold.

 

He goes into the contract room. He needs to get with it . He is getting tagged and took the whole summer off.

 

He is not getting tagged he is under contract for 2026.

Now on February 17, 2027 there may be a discussion on tagging.

Isn’t it fun to learn?

 

Well, we know why we took him at that spot, imagine if internally they'd whiffed at their actual pick via a catastrophic **** up, and the pick who must have been 2nd on their board, by hoping he'd have been there with their next pick?

They could not have known he wouldn't be taken, these lists are all well and good, but teams all have their own boards and their own evals of players which offer differ wildly from an assumed consensus of pre draft listings.

Thier eval of him spoke very loudly when they picked him in round 1, they just have to get this right. I hope he goes on to start for 10 years, but we'll see.

 

I hope he turns out to be an anchor for that line for 10 years, too, but they passed on a safer bet with just as much upside.

 

By the end of this season the media will be talking about how the Steelers have the best young OL in the league. I don't think they can handle injuries too well, but once they get Max up to speed things will settle in.

RG is the big question mark as I don't think it's a good idea to throw two rooks to the wolves on one side. Especially when neither excelled in preseason. However if they just throw Max to the wolves and help him a bit over the first stretch of the season with the TEs, I think he is going to be ok.

 

If only poor Mike Tomlin could have had this situation and two young quarterbacks on rookie deals to develop. Then he would have been able to spend an even greater percentage of the cap on defense and dominate the NFL.

Mike McCarthy has all the luck....

 

I guess there has not been an official starter named at RT. Want to see Max I week 1 but if Cook starts have to think it’s only a matter of time.

 

Ah yes Spears. He was a late round find.

"He's a guy that can play in the box," said Whitt ( steelers secondary coach ) . "He has the speed to play in high zones. So, he's not limited by anything from a skill set standpoint. But we'll use him depending on the guys around him."

Measurables & Body Composition

• Height: 6'1" / 6'2"
• Weight: 205 lbs
• Arm Length: 32 ½”
• Hand Size: 10 ⅜”

Workout Drills

• 40-Yard Dash: 4.32 seconds
• 10-Yard Split: 1.51 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 35.0 inches
• Broad Jump: 10' 5" (125 inches)
• 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.43 seconds

Those are some impressive #'s. He has stood out in camp and the pre-season games. I see him as good special teams guy who can play deep safety in packages due to his speed and size. Strong vs. the run in the box. There is a lot to like. It one thing to have to play due to injuries. It another thing to earn it. Spears is a case of both.

 

Dylan Cook

https://www.steelers.com/team/depth-chart/

 

Right side of the line is scary.

 

Yup, and not in the good way. I'm not entirely sold on left tackle, either.