Max Iheanachor may not win a starting job right away as a rookie, but that doesn\u2019t mean that he won\u2019t be on the field. The Steelers have a longstanding tradition of using extra offensive linemen, especially with young, up-and-coming draft picks. Spencer Anderson has been the most recent one in that role, but it really started with Mike Adams under Todd Haley.<\/p>\n
Now, there\u2019s some question over whether the Steelers will even use the tackle-eligible under Mike McCarthy. He has a preference for using a fullback, and they used a draft pick on one in Riley Nowakowski. But they used a fifth-round pick on Nowakowski and a first-round pick on Max Iheanachor.<\/p>\n
That alone is sufficient incentive for the Steelers\u2019 new coaching staff to keep the tackle-eligible role going if it means getting a first-round pick work who hasn\u2019t quite cracked the starting lineup yet. They\u2019ve done it with a number of linemen over the years, and it\u2019s usually been successful.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe previous coaching staff, how do they like to bring up their young guys? \u2018Hey, let\u2019s see if you can do this extra tackle stuff first. We\u2019ll get you onto the field, we\u2019ll see how you perform, and then when you\u2019re ready, you\u2019re gonna be the starter\u2019\u201d, Ray Fittipaldo said on the Steelers Collective<\/a>. \u201cIf James Campen has a similar philosophy to the previous offensive line coaches, it very well might be Max Iheanachor. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if that happened. I think that\u2019s actually a good way to introduce guys to the NFL, and especially guys you\u2019re looking to get their feet wet, I think that\u2019s a perfect way to do it\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n In an ideal scenario, the Steelers would watch Iheanachor win a starting job right away at right tackle. Given his lack of lifelong experience playing football, though, most seem to believe it will take some time. He may well prove the skeptics wrong, but if he doesn\u2019t, there\u2019s still a way for him to play.<\/p>\n And whether the Steelers feel compelled to use the tackle-eligible role may hinge on how quickly Max Iheanachor progresses. Now, even if he were to win the job, they could still use an extra blocker with Spencer Anderson (if he\u2019s not the starting right guard), Dylan Cook, or especially Broderick Jones if he\u2019s healthy (and, also, not starting).<\/p>\n