The Pittsburgh Steelers don\u2019t want to just continue using offensive lineman Spencer Anderson as a tackle-eligible. They want to expand his role. Though the fruit of that labor might not be known until after Sunday\u2019s game against the Cleveland Browns, The Athletic\u2019s Mike DeFabo teased the team\u2019s future plans.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe saw the Steelers use Spencer Anderson as an extra offensive lineman, as an extra tackle,\u201d DeFabo said Tuesday on \u2018The Yinzsiders\u2019 with co-host Jenna Harner.<\/a> \u201cThat\u2019s something I think will continue, especially as they have to account for Myles Garrett. They\u2019re also going to, I think, throw in a couple of wrinkles with Spencer Anderson that I can\u2019t talk about until after the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Presumably, DeFabo saw something during Monday\u2019s \u201cbonus day\u201d practice that beat writers aren\u2019t allowed to report on freely. Unlike training camp, the media is restricted from revealing any formation, personnel, scheme, or performance unless a player specifically comments on it.<\/p>\n What those wrinkles are can only be guessed at. Throwing a pass to Anderson is possible. Pittsburgh\u2019s done it before. Alejandro Villanueva once caught a touchdown<\/a> off a fake field goal. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has a history of linemen scoring. In 2019, while the coordinator of the Tennessee Titans, offensive tackles Dennis Kelly and David Quessenberry caught 1-yard touchdowns.<\/p>\n Center\/guard Aaron Brewer also received a target in open grass, though the pass fell incomplete.<\/p>\n During Tuesday\u2019s press conference, Tomlin downplayed Anderson\u2019s skill set as the extra lineman but noted his athletic background.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a versatile athlete,\u201d Tomlin told reporters Tuesday via the team\u2019s YouTube channel.<\/a> \u201cI think he was a former high school tight end at one point in his life. If you give him a minute, he\u2019ll tell you about his AAU basketball resume. I don\u2019t wanna make more out of it than what it is, to be quite honest with you. He\u2019s the man that\u2019s up in that regard.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to find many details about Anderson playing tight end at Bishop McNamara in high school. The only information about his high school time refers to him as an offensive lineman, starting for a team that went 0-10 his senior season (he\u2019s also an apparent chess whiz<\/a>). At his Pro Day, he tested well with a 9.35 RAS, a measure of relative athleticism. Anything in the 9\u2019s is considered excellent.<\/p>\n Spencer Anderson is a OG prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 9.35 #RAS<\/a> out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 91 out of 1393 OG from 1987 to 2023. https:\/\/t.co\/4WqmCCGD31<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/r5qgdcFBtk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 8, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n And we do know Anderson is the cousin of NBA player Harry Giles<\/a>, a former first-round pick of the Portland Trail Blazers. Basketball is in the family.<\/p>\n \u201cUsing him to help counteract both in the run and in pass protection, I think, is going to be part of the game plan,\u201d DeFabo added.<\/p>\n Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, QB Aaron Rodgers seemed to further the thought.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d love to throw him a touchdown pass,\u201d Rodgers told reporters via the team\u2019s YouTube channel.<\/a> \u201cHe\u2019s got pretty good hands.\u201d<\/p>\n The best way the team would\u2019ve found out about Anderson\u2019s hands would\u2019ve been to throw him a pass in practice, which may have led to DeFabo\u2019s comments. Of course, Pittsburgh may want to call the play, but they have to be in a situation for it. If the Steelers fail to get into a goal-to-go situation, it\u2019s a call that may have to remain in the Steelers\u2019 back pocket. Rodgers is also pretty open about the idea, begging the question of whether he\u2019s giving the Browns tinsel to be distracted by.<\/p>\n Fans love a big man touchdown. Anderson could get his chance this weekend.<\/p>\n