When the injury bug bites, it bites hard. The Pittsburgh Steelers experienced this firsthand in September. After losing offensive tackle Troy Fautanu and center Nate Herbig for the 2024 season, we learned that the offensive line will be without James Daniels. The impressive right guard has been placed on season-ending injured reserve.
But as one man goes down, another steps up to take his place.
In the Week 5 loss against the Colts, Spencer Anderson stepped into the right guard position when Daniels went down. Mason McCormick was given the nod to start at left guard with Isaac Seumalo nursing his way back from a pectoral injury.
However, Anderson's performance was underwhelming. The 2023 seventh-round pick was bullied in the pocket at times and had a tough time moving defensive linemen in front of him.
With Seumalo finally set to return to the field the Steelers had a decision to make: do they start Anderson at left guard or roll with the rookie McCormick? It appears we have our answer.
On October 2, McCormick spoke to Aaron Becker of Yardbarker where the big offensive lineman confirmed he is making the transition to right guard.
#Steelers rookie Mason McCormick on moving to right guard.
— Aaron Becker (@Aaron_M_Becker) October 2, 2024
“I mean, there’s not a big difference. A lot of stuff’s just flipped, and you do a lot of the same things on both sides. It’s just getting comfortable with it, and it’ll be a smooth move over there. I’m ready for it.” pic.twitter.com/yh6f6KKK8o
This is the move that Steelers fans hoped for, and one that offers both hope and upside on Pittsburgh's offensive line as the season marches on.
Mason McCormick was the correct choice for Steelers
Though Anderson has a year of experience already under his belt, it's easy to see that he doesn't possess the same traits or upside at the guard position as a player like McCormick. Everything about Anderson's game screams 'swing interior offensive lineman' and his versatility to play most positions on the line is his best trait. But as far as upside goes, it stops there.
On the other hand, McCormick has tremendous upside at guard, and starting him early could get him ahead of the learning curve. At 6'5'' and 315 pounds, McCormick has grown man strength to anchor at the point of attack and the tenacity to bury defensive tackles into the turf as a run blocker.
Assuming the O-line can stay healthy the rest of the way, it's not hard to imagine what an interior line combination of Seumalo-Frazier-McCormick could look like paving roads in the running game.
McCormick, Pittsburgh's 2024 fourth-round pick out of South Dakota State, was a tremendous player in college with all the tools to be a starting guard in the NFL. Now we'll see how the left guard by trade makes his transition to right guard for the Steelers.
This is a move every fan can get on board with, as McCormick has the potential to be a starting guard for Pittsburgh in 2025 and beyond if things go well.