Steelers' Mike McCarthy Gives Context To Key Change On Offensive Line

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a massive bounce-back win in a game that they desperately needed to win. After having one of the worst offensive performance they have had in years, they followed it up with a 30-27 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. There were still some concerns that showed up throughout the game, but progress is progress, and it's something to build off of as Pittsburgh prepares for a quick turnaround as it goes on the road for Thursday Night Football in Week 4. If the offense can keep this up, this could be a playoff team. 

The offensive line did improve after its disastrous Week 2 showing. That unit did not play phenomenally, but it was vastly improved. There were more rushing lanes, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers was not pressured as he was not hit nearly as much as he was in the previous game. As mentioned before, progress is progress; although, this came with the caveat of having two new starters working in the game.

There were questions about if these changes would be made, and it ended up happening. In his postgame press conference, head coach Mike McCarthy explained what went into that decision in the first place.

"It's something that we talked about after the [Week 2] game," McCarthy said. "Max [Iheanachor] is a talented young man; I think that's evident... He's ready. It was time to give him that opportunity, and then Brock [Hoffman], he's been playing every position inside, and he's been pushing for an opportunity. To do that with both of those guys, that decision was made earlier in the week."

It became clear that the Steelers did not want to have first-round rookie Max Iheanachor start in Week 1, since he had just come off of a stinger that cost him the first two preseason games. However, he hasn't let that affect his mentality or his development. There were many reports about how pleased the coaches were with his development. Eventually, the kid just needed a shot to prove himself in a game. 

Iheanachor played well at right tackle overall, but it wasn't perfect. Either way, this is a great look for the young lineman as he was able to step in, hold his own, and help keep his quarterback upright. There is plenty for him to learn, but that should not be an issue. He was seen as a raw prospect when the Steelers drafted him, and he has already improved so much in limited time. 

Meanwhile, guard Brock Hoffman worked with McCarthy while they were with the Dallas Cowboys, and the coach loves giving his former players a shot to thrive. With the reported injury to Spencer Anderson, this was the perfect chance to see what the veteran could do. He didn't play as well as Iheanachor, but if the two can develop some level of chemistry, the right side of the line could develop well.

Steelers Did A Good Job Of Protecting Struggling Linemen

The other reason that the Steelers swapped out the right side was due to the struggles on the offensive line, although McCarthy wouldn't say that out loud. It was clear that the unit needed a spark, although everyone at that position was not playing well in the first two weeks. The obvious solution was to bench the former seventh-round pick and undrafted free agent in exchange for the free agent acquisition and first-round rookie.

This still isn't the worst thing for both Anderson and Dylan Cook. If Anderson truly does have a broken leg, he needs time to heal up and recover, no matter how minor the injury is. Meanwhile, Cook has been better at left tackle, and Troy Fautanu has dealt with some nagging injuries. He may need to come in and save the day like he did at the end of the 2025 season.

What do you think about the Steelers swapping out the right side of the offensive line? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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