The Pittsburgh Steelers are on the backend of their preseason campaign,
and it’s just about time for players to start stepping up or stepping out at
Steelers camp.
Heading into the Steelers’ third preseason game – looking
ahead, with two games left in the preseason, the opportunity for the players to
make their marks towards their career goals while avoiding the “Turk” cannot be
overstated. Camp Tomlin produced the grit and drive necessary with
individuals single focus that saw a lot of the young players step up to
challenge each other and the established veterans for positions.
OFFENSE
On offense the starters in each of these categories (QB’s,
RB’s and the WR’s) will not be challenged outside of wide receiver, James
Washington, pushing for that third receiver spot. His camp has been very good
and his one game experienced showed his potential. I would like to see more
separation on his routes even though he is battle tested with contested balls
in the air.
As for the backup competition at each position, you can ink
in Jones & Rudolph with the QB’s, Connors, Toussaint with the last spot
between, Samuels and Ridley at running back looking to get a helmet. However,
the biggest battle to get helmets for the season is with the receivers that
have realistically six players trying to lay claim to three helmets. Eli
Rogers, Justin Hunter, Darrius Heyward- Bey, Quadree Henderson, Marcus Tucker,
Damoun Patterson are the front runners.
Typical camp sensation Justin Hunter doing his thing, and
one game sensation Damoun Patterson following suit. If I had to pick right now,
the three that gives the Steelers the best experience, versatility and talent
that would be Heyward-Bey, Justin Hunter and Marcus Tucker, who has shown well
on special teams and can play the slot.
With Rogers out for a while we need the backup in the slot
that Tuckers quickness can bring. The o-line is well, the o-line which is one
of the best in the NFL, but I would like to see a little stronger depth with
this unit. The remaining preseason will surly test what may amount to our JV
with a few of the varsity participating and will give a chance to the young
players to build upon last week’s game. The offense had a couple of explosive
plays last week but the overall run game suffered from inexperienced linemen
just getting their feet wet.
DEFENSE
Defensive starters across the front line and pretty much in
the secondary aren’t really debatable but the rotations and the backups are
fodder for the average fan to discuss. The elephant in the room is the inside
linebacker position that seems to be in flux because of the showings in camp as
well as the first game that have left many sitting uneasy. Vince Williams, Jon
Bostic/Tyler Matakevich, whichever pairing is called to man the middle is
crucial to the overall success of the defense.
The run game, the running back out of the backfield game,
the tight end game, the receiver crossing pattern game and of course the blitz
game all rely on the skillset that the ILB requires.
Shaziers speed, quickness and football IQ masked a lot of
mistakes from the defensive line and the other inside linebacker position which
is why he is sorely missed. Read and recognition skills or lack thereof have
been eyesores both in camp and in the first game.
Let’s see how the ILB performs moving forward to further
assess if there is a pattern of ineptness or if the skills show gradual
improvement. Guys like Huguenin, Matt Thomas and Galambos and L.J. Fort are
what is left in the cupboard and it is possible that a diamond may come out of
this rough. However, something tells me within the next two weeks a quality
inside linebacker will come available that will be an upgrade to what we
currently have much like when James Farrior came from the Jets out of nowhere.
What a signing that was. If we can shore up the inside
through personnel or scheme or both, the defense will be decidedly better and
won’t be prone to giving up big plays.
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