‘I’m going to make one or two mistakes that will hurt them’: Gruden predicts Iheanachor’s struggles as Steelers lose to Bucs

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ season has been a roller coaster ride thus far. They have had a string of wins and losses every week, currently posting a 3-2 record. However, they have a good chance of starting their first winning streak of the season this week. They face the 1-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback. Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden doesn’t see that happening, predicting a loss in Pittsburgh.

“I like the Buccaneers at home to win this game,” Gruden said recently on his Gruden Family Football Show podcast. “I think the kids on the right side of the Steelers offensive line are going to show up. I think the young kid, (Max) Iheanachor, is going to make one or two mistakes that will hurt them. I just think the Steelers secondary is a little bit of a mess.”

Iheanachor was the Steelers’ first-round pick this year, and he only has three starts under his belt. So far, it’s been a mixed bag from him. He had a great first game, helping solidify the Steelers offensive line. However, he struggled the following week on the road, allowing two sacks.

Although Iheanachor had another good game last week against the Indianapolis Colts, it was another home game. The Steelers offensive line has yet to post a strong performance on the road. One of the biggest criticisms against Iheanachor coming out of college was that he was too inexperienced, which could affect him more in away games.

However, the Buccaneers don’t have an intimidating pass rush, having just six sacks this season. This includes zero sacks from either of their edge rushers, Rueben Bain Jr. and Yaya Diaby. Bain is a rookie and has struggled this year. Meanwhile, Diaby is a former third-round pick, and he’s been solid, posting 19 sacks in his first three seasons. However, he has been less productive this year.

The biggest problem for Iheanachor in Tampa might be the blitzes initiated by Bucs head coach Todd Bowles. Bowles is a defensive-minded head coach and he’s not afraid to bring on the pressure. This could confuse a rookie like Iheanachor.

Still, even if Iheanachor doesn’t have his best game, it might not be enough for the Bucs to win. Their offense will still have to find a way to score points. Although the Steelers secondary has its issues, Daniels hasn’t been perfect either. This could allow Pittsburgh to win even without a dominant defensive performance.

The Buccaneers and Steelers could battle this week. However, if Pittsburgh wants to be a serious playoff contender, then they need to win games like this.