Steelers’ Dan McCullers missed his chance in Miami
MIAMI 鈥� If there was one game that encapsulated the star-crossed career of Steelers defensive lineman Dan McCullers, Sunday was it.
Since being drafted in the sixth round in 2014, McCullers has long tantalized with his sheer size.
At 6-foot-7 and 352 pounds, McCullers is a behemoth capable of plugging running lanes and collapsing pockets, but more often confounds with his inconsistencies and a perceived lack of fire.
In 27 career games, McCullers has registered 1/2 sack and 14 combined tackles, including one assist Sunday against the Dolphins. With Cam Heyward sidelined for the first of what鈥檚 expected to be two games with a hamstring injury, McCullers played eight snaps 鈥� the fewest among Steelers defensive linemen 鈥� but made an impact for reasons both good and bad.
The good came on special teams, where McCullers blocked Dolphins kicker Andrew Franks鈥� 24-yard field goal attempt early in the third quarter with the Steelers still within a score of tying the game. It was the Steelers鈥� first block since Heyward鈥檚 last November against the Bengals.
鈥淚 just penetrated, lifted my arm, got a long reach and I got it,鈥� said the soft-spoken McCullers.
The bad came early in the second quarter when McCullers should have had an easy sack on Ryan Tannehill. On a bull rush, McCullers plowed Dolphins Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey, and was within arm鈥檚 grasp of the quarterback but McCullers couldn鈥檛 bring him down. With McCullers still in chase, Tannehill rolled to his left and lofted a 53-yard pass over Will Gay to Dolphins tight end Marqueis Gray to the Pittsburgh 1-yard line. Fortunately for McCulllers, the Steelers were able to hold Miami to a field goal.
鈥淚 was almost there and then I guess he pump faked; I thought he threw it off but he still had it in his hand,鈥� McCullers said. 鈥淚 saw that and was like 鈥楢w, man, I have to go after him again,鈥� and that鈥檚 when he threw. That one鈥檚 on me. I just have to finish next time.鈥�
One has to wonder how many more there chances he鈥檒l get. After losing his starting nose tackle job to rookie Javon Hargrave in the preseason and with Heyward expected back sooner rather than later, it was a missed opportunity for McCullers and a lost weekend in South Florida for the Steelers.
鈥淲e just didn鈥檛 get off blocks today and they had a good rushing day 鈥� 200 yards 鈥� so that鈥檚 not a good performance at all,鈥� McCullers said. 鈥淲e just have to improve on that and get better.鈥�