The Steelers drafted Gennings Dunker to play guard. While his college coach understands it, he also thinks he could play tackle. That’s where he played for Kirk Ferentz all these years at Iowa. And Ferentz is confident that, with time to develop, he could be an NFL starting tackle, too.
“I just think it’s a natural fit at guard to start with”, Ferentz said of Dunker on 93.7 The Fan. He noted that Dunker dealt with injuries at Iowa, which played a role in delaying his progression. “I still think he’s got a lot of really good football learning in front of him. I think he’ll be a candidate. I’m not all that familiar with the depth chart there in Pittsburgh, but I think he’s a guy that’s gonna come in and compete for a guard spot”.
A third-round pick, Gennings Dunker should indeed be in the mix to start at guard this season for the Steelers. After losing Isaac Seumalo in free agency, they have several candidates, but none who have previously held starting jobs.
Spencer Anderson is in his fourth season with the Steelers, though that may mean little given that the coaching staff, including the offensive line coaches, are new. They also brought in Brock Hoffman, who spot-started for Mike McCarthy in Dallas. Gennings Dunker is the fresh blood, but also has the highest pedigree.
Prior to the draft, analyst Matt Williamson noted that there were several college tackles in this class who could begin their careers at guard and move to tackle later on. Although I didn’t mention him specifically in the article—the subject was Max Iheanachor, whom the Steelers ended up drafting in the first round—Gennings Dunker was, I recall, another lineman he named. I’m sure Kirk Ferentz would be pleased to know that.
“I would not rule out him playing tackle later on in his career”, he said of Dunker; “I wouldn’t rule that out at all. I think he just needs a little bit more work and repetition. But he’s a guy that’s gonna work hard, he’s gonna listen, he’s gonna learn. He’s got all kinds of potential that way”.
For now, he has to focus on playing guard, though. That’s where the Steelers have an opening, or at least an obvious opening. They already have Troy Fautanu, Broderick Jones, Dylan Cook, and Max Iheanachor at tackle. That’s three first-round picks, two of them with starting experience, and a player who filled in very well last season.
Dunker does have the size to play tackle in the NFL, but does he have the rest? Ferentz might think so, but that won’t matter unless his NFL coaches do. And more importantly, he has to play where he’s needed. For now, the Steelers need Dunker at guard, first and foremost. Maybe that changes at some point in the future, perhaps years from now. But the only thing he should worry about right now is proving he can start in the NFL, wherever that may be.
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