Steelers Get An Unexpected Split Decision On 2 Young Tackles Protecting Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers allowed five sacks Thursday night, which makes handing out compliments to anybody responsible for protecting the quarterback feel slightly strange. Offensive-line performances are rarely as democratic as the final sack total makes them look, though. Pittsburgh's film apparently showed two young tackles leaving Cleveland with dramatically different answers to the same question.

Former Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex came away encouraged by Troy Fautanu, even after Pittsburgh's 27-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Essex graded Fautanu at 82% and believed the third-year tackle handled Jared Verse well. His evaluation of rookie Max Iheanachor was considerably rougher.

That contrast matters because the Steelers have invested first-round picks in both bookends and entered this season hoping their young offensive line could finally become a strength. Fautanu was Pittsburgh's 2024 first-round selection and moved from right tackle to the left side this offseason. Iheanachor, selected 21st overall in April, only cracked the starting lineup in Week 3 after an injury-shortened summer delayed his development. Pittsburgh's official roster lists Fautanu in Year 3 and Iheanachor as a rookie.

During a recent episode of The Snap Count, Essex praised what he saw from Fautanu against one of Cleveland's most dangerous defenders.

“Troy graded out at 82%. He handled Jared Verse pretty well… I thought Troy handled him pretty well,” Essex said.

That is meaningful progress considering Essex had been critical of Fautanu only a couple of weeks earlier. He previously questioned the tackle's punch accuracy after the move to the left side, arguing that one of Fautanu's best traits had become less reliable after switching positions. Pittsburgh's early concern with his technique made Thursday's response against Verse especially encouraging.

Verse was hardly an easy assignment. Cleveland acquired the former Rams pass rusher in June, and he entered Thursday as one of the Browns' primary disruptive threats. Pittsburgh was clearly aware of him, using extra protection and slides in his direction at points during the game. Even Verse noticed the attention afterward.

Across the formation, Essex saw a much different night.

“I-Max had his worst game. Somebody watched film on him. They saw that they could get underneath his arm on his punch and he got pushed back a couple of times in [Aaron Rodgers'] lap… He was still really good in the run game… I think he’ll bounce back strong,” Essex said.

The technical detail is more important than the phrase “worst game.” Iheanachor's punch is supposed to stop a rusher before that defender can work into his frame. If an opponent can consistently get underneath the strike, win leverage and get into his chest, the rookie's size starts working against him. A 6-foot-6 tackle being forced upright and backward gives a power rusher a direct route into Aaron Rodgers' lap.

That is also the part opponents will copy. One difficult rookie night is normal. A repeatable technical weakness appearing on NFL film is different, because Cleveland just handed the rest of Pittsburgh's schedule a tutorial. The Steelers should not panic over Iheanachor's second career start, but pretending the flaw is merely generic rookie turbulence would be equally foolish.

His first start gave Pittsburgh plenty of reason for optimism. Iheanachor stepped in against Cincinnati alongside new right guard Brock Hoffman and helped stabilize a line that had struggled badly through the first two weeks. Rodgers praised the new combination afterward, while Essex went considerably further by comparing Iheanachor's feet at his size to longtime All-Pro Trent Williams.

Cleveland supplied the next stage of the developmental process. NFL defensive staffs do not politely wait for a rookie to become comfortable. Once one opponent uncovers something exploitable, the next week's pass-rush plan tends to arrive with the same page highlighted.

The encouraging part is that Essex did not see a tackle overwhelmed everywhere. He specifically praised Iheanachor's run blocking, which matters because it suggests the physical tools did not disappear in a hostile road environment. The issue was narrower: his pass-protection punch created an opening that Cleveland repeatedly attacked.

That is coachable. It is also urgent.

Steelers Now Have Two Very Different Lessons To Build On

Fautanu's performance should not get swallowed by the five sacks Pittsburgh surrendered as a group. Essex had challenged him earlier this season and wanted more aggression and cleaner hands from the left side. Handling Verse well is the type of response the Steelers needed from a former first-round pick entering his third year.

Iheanachor gets a different assignment this week. He does not need Pittsburgh to protect him from the film. He needs to fix what the film exposed.

That distinction is important with young offensive linemen. Development is not a straight climb where every start looks cleaner than the previous one. Sometimes a rookie plays well, an opponent finds a vulnerability, and suddenly the next step becomes whether he can counter the counter.

Cleveland may have done Iheanachor a favor in the least enjoyable way possible. The weakness is no longer theoretical. He knows exactly what defenders are going to test.

Pittsburgh left Thursday with five sacks allowed and another frustrating loss, but its tackle picture was not uniformly bleak. One young bookend appears to have answered an early-season concern. The other just received his first real NFL adjustment.

How quickly Iheanachor answers back will tell the Steelers much more than one ugly night ever could.

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