The Pittsburgh Steelers must decide whether to use Spencer Anderson or Mason McCormick to replace LG Isaac Seumalo. The veteran lineman is out two games with a torn pectoral muscle, and with Nate Herbig’s season-ending injury, their short-term options are two guys with virtually no experience.
Anderson, a seventh-round draft pick in 2023, made the 53-man roster for the second straight year but didn’t play as the eighth lineman last year as a rookie. The Steelers saw McCormick’s potential as a starter and selected him in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Both players had strong offseason efforts and shared practice sessions with the first team on Seumalo’s rest days, but Anderson has had more quality practice sessions than McCormick, which is one reason head coach Ray Fittipaldo has him as the Steelers’ final selection.
“Spencer [Anderson] “We rested Isaac Seumalo during the training camp, which allowed him to get a lot of training with the first team, so he is used to that approach.” he told 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Filipponi and Chris Mueller. “Apparently they’re going to go in that direction, but Mason McCormick is a talented guy. They like him. I think he’ll play, but I expect Anderson to start.”
Jerry Dulac said in his original report that the plan was for Anderson to take the first snaps, but there’s no reason to think McCormick wouldn’t get the position, and I feel the rookie out of North Dakota State is actually the better candidate, as I’ve argued before.
The Steelers never listen to my advice on personnel matters or anything else. To be honest, I Either Mason McCormick or Spencer Anderson. I think McCormick can develop into a long-term starter, but I also like Anderson and what he’s done this offseason.
Some might say the Steelers are lucky to have this much defense given the situation: Not only will Isaac Seumalo be out for a while, but key backup Nate Herbig is also out for the season. Anderson and McCormick might technically be the third and fourth guards, but that’s not something most teams can say.
At least, that’s how a lot of people seem to feel about them right now. Anderson and McCormick both still have a lot to prove at the NFL level because they haven’t played yet. McCormick is obviously a rookie so he hasn’t had a chance. At one point last year, Anderson logged two offensive snaps, but that was it.
It’s important to point out that Fittipaldo’s comments were based on a major factual error. The radio host was questioning him about another reporter’s erroneous report of offseason progress, claiming that Anderson had an advantage because McCormick hadn’t practiced at left guard. This is simply false. Not only has he worked extensively at left guard, he’s primarily a left guard. He’s logged over 3,000 snaps at left guard in college. In contrast, Anderson split time between all positions, just as he did as a rookie last year.
