Troy Fautanu Mason McCormick
Troy Fautanu Mason McCormick
Did the Steelers make a mistake moving Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick?
Of all the things taken for granted this offseason, perhaps Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick were among the very top. Zach Frazier would be even higher, but that’s as much because he didn’t change positions as it is his play. Outside of maybe Jaylen Warren, and perhaps Darnell Washington, there were questions about everything.
But while the right side of the offensive line, which is new, has struggled, so has the left side. And the middle. And the group as a whole, which is the biggest issue. But Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick were stalwarts last year, the latter for the past two years. Why are they struggling so far this year, particularly in the last game?
Granted, two games is a very small sample size, but at what point should we question the Steelers’ decision to move Fautanu and McCormick from the right side to the left? While they are both familiar with playing there at the college level, they already found NFL success on the right side.
In effect, the Steelers entered this season—with a new coaching staff, including a new offense—with only one stable piece along the offensive line. Everybody who is starting has been with the team for multiple years, but two players are new to the starting lineup, and two—Fautanu and McCormick—are playing new positions. Zach Frazier, the center, is the only returning starter returning to his own position.
Perhaps we’re simply overreacting to some early-season hiccups, part of the process of a new offense. Not just a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator, but also a new offensive line coach. Say what you will about Pat Meyer, but the unit had a number of years learning the same thing. James Campen may be revered, but it still represents a significant change.
The thing is, it would be hard for the Steelers to revert Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick at this point. In theory, Dylan Cook and Spencer Anderson could play left tackle and left guard, respectively. In the past, as backups, they have both started games there, in fact. But they just spent the vast majority of the offseason working, typically together, on the right side. In other words, they need this to work and, they can’t afford to wait for it to turn around.
The Steelers have a long road ahead of them under Mike McCarthy, along with his cadre of quarterbacks.With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are under fire for their repeated playoff failures. While we have seen many changes, none could dream of topping Mike Tomlin resigning.
We’re already into the regular season. The Steelers, of course, are used to early offseason mode as a team thatloses by the middle of January all the time. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.