The Steelers announced Gennings Dunker as a guard, and they’re already moving him. But could he play on the left or right side? We already know that Mason McCormick can play both guard spots, even if he has settled on the right side. And we also know that the Steelers have been working their linemen on both sides, trying to find the best combination of five starters.
So, how does Gennings Dunker feel about all of this, and where may he end up lining up? He noted that he started three years at right tackle at Iowa, so there may be more comfort on that side of the field. But the Steelers have an opening at left guard after Isaac Seumalo left in free agency. Unless they “fill” that spot by moving McCormick from the right side to the left, of course.
“Doesn’t matter to me”, Dunker said when asked if he minded playing on one side or the other, via the Steelers’ website. “Whatever they need”. But he did note that while he feels playing at Iowa helps to transition from tackle to guard, it’s still a transition.
Dunker pointed out that there’s more traffic inside than when you’re playing at tackle. “You’ve got to look for a couple different things, and it happens a little bit faster”, he noted. That will be an adjustment, and one he won’t fully experience until he’s in a game.
For now, though, he has merely dipped his toes in the water during rookie minicamp. To that end, he initially impressed Steelers HC Mike McCarthy. Of both Dunker and first-round T Max Iheanachor, he said that they look like Steelers linemen. The third-round pick’s ginger mullet doesn’t hurt that description, to be fair. Nor was his desire to swim in the rivers, nor his willingness to settle for fishing for catfish to eat.
As far as his immediate future goes, Gennings Dunker is just one of several candidates to start. Spencer Anderson has started in place of Seumalo before, and Brock Hoffman is familiar with McCarthy’s scheme. If he doesn’t start at tackle, Dylan Cook could be yet another option, as well.
While the Dunker selection was received positively, some have some questions. His story helped raise his stock somewhat, enough that many think Pittsburgh landed a bargain and didn’t draft him where he ought to have gone.
The fact that Dunker has to transition from tackle to guard adds to the risk value. And time will tell what sort of adjustments the Steelers feel are necessary to assemble this offensive line. There is talk of moving Troy Fautanu, for example, to left tackle, or even to guard. And they still don’t know whether Broderick Jones can play, and if he can, whether he would start.
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