Will Brock Hoffman compete for the Steelers’ starting left guard job?
Following initial reports, the Steelers finally signed free agent OL Brock Hoffman, but is he here for depth or more? While never a full-time starter over four seasons, he does have 16 starts to his name. He has logged 1,212 total offensive snaps, including nearly 1,000 over the past two seasons.
During free agency, Pittsburgh parted ways with Isaac Seumalo, who signed with the Cardinals at an amount they were never going to pay. Thus far, they have not signed anybody who is clearly a starter. Are the Steelers setting up a competition between Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman?
I would imagine they’re not about to shut the door on other options, particularly in the draft, either way. With five picks in the third and fourth rounds combined, they could easily add another lineman. With the recent signings of Hoffman and Ryan McCollum, the Steelers have secured depth, but one can always improve.
Right now, barring injury, the starting lineup projects as Broderick Jones, Spencer Anderson, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, and Troy Fautanu. Dylan Cook and Brock Hoffman could challenge for the Steelers’ left tackle and guard jobs, respectively. McCollum returns as the backup center. But they could use one more lineman, with Jack Driscoll the most notable of the remainder.
While Spencer Anderson has started for the Steelers, Brock Hoffman has started for this coaching staff. Or at least for new HC Mike McCarthy. And he is bringing over his former offensive line coach, James Campen, who is new to both of them. That provides a somewhat even playing field, at least in that respect.
Seumalo was a consistent and reliable starter, at least when he was healthy. Obviously, he had enough respect around the league to command a sizeable contract past age 30. But the Steelers felt they had to move on, or perhaps felt they could move on.
That isn’t necessarily because of Anderson, or at least not just Anderson. The Steelers presumably had Hoffman on their radar all along. And they know what the draft class looks like and where they have an accumulation of draft picks. They don’t have an overwhelmingly obvious starting left guard right now. But they do have multiple options to consider, including a rookie starter, something they’re obviously not afraid of.
The Steelers exited the playoffs in the first round yet again, a pattern going back to 2017.With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are facing another long, long offseason. No doubt we will see many changes, but none will top Mike Tomlin resigning.
The NFL has crowned its latest champion, but for us and the Steelers, we have been in offseason mode. That’s what happens when the team you coverloses by the middle of January all the time, but you’ve been around, so you know that already. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.
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