Entering training camp, the big question surrounding Pittsburgh Steelers rookie first-round pick Max Iheanachor was how much time he’d need getting up to speed in the NFL.
Turns out, at least through the first two padded practices in Latrobe at Saint Vincent College, not much time at all.
The Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo said Wednesday morning during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan that Iheanachor looks better than former first-round pick Broderick Jones ever has. Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora has also been rather impressed with Iheanachor.
In his piece breaking down each of the 10 draft picks so far in training camp, Kozora stated Iheanachor has been really good in the first two padded practices, holding his own in pass protection against the likes of T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig, Alex Highsmith and Jack Sawyer. Although he did have some tough moments as a run blocker, Iheanachor is looking like the player Pittsburgh drafted him to be, Kozora wrote.
That should be music to the Steelers’ ears, even if the selection process of him was a bit messy in the moment.
For former NFL GM Doug Whaley, who appeared on 93.7 The Fan’s morning show Wednesday after Fittipaldo, Iheanachor’s development is a positive sign and should be making everyone in the organization very happy.
“That’s great news, because the scouting report was had all the physical tools and skills to be able to ascend to an elite level tackle, but just hasn’t done it before, hasn’t done it on a consistent basis and needed some fine tuning on the technical aspects of the position,” Whaley said of Iheanachor, according to audio via 93.7 The Fan. “So for him to be able to assert himself technically this early in his career and in this early in camp is nothing but a positive sign. Now the next step will be able to take that technical aspect and meld it into a team setting and be able to work with the guard, being able to recognize and pick up TE stunts, end-tackle stunts, knowing who’s the…closest pressure and being able to get the guy coming off the edge and being able to identify pressure coming off.
“So those are the things that are gonna come and they’ll come with experience and playing in a team setting,” Whaley added. “But for him to be able to ascend, like I said, this early in camp with the technical aspect of playing position, everybody should be grinning ear to ear.”
It’s been just two days in pads and there is still preseason action to come for Iheanachor, but for a guy who was labeled raw by the NFL Draft community due to his limited exposure to the game of football, he certainly doesn’t look raw in training camp.
Early observations before the pads came on were that Iheanachor looked a bit overwhelmed at times. That’s important to learn from, because you can’t judge linemen without pads on. Since those pads came on Monday, Iheanachor has stood out.
The Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac said Iheanachor has been the standout of camp, so the rave reviews are rolling in for the former Arizona State product.
For now, he continues to run behind Dylan Cook at right tackle as the backup, but he’s had some first-team work sprinkled in recently. With an eye on the preseason opener next week against the Green Bay Packers, Iheanachor has a real opportunity in front of him to continue generating positive momentum and push for a starting role faster than expected.