The Pittsburgh Steelers tightest position battle comes at wide
receiver, where everyone is making a case for the 53-man roster.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have played their first game and will
wrap up training camp this week. They are coming off of a win against the
defending champs even though it is just preseason. The wide receiver position
is still wide open as to who could make the team. Let’s take a look at the
candidates.
THE LOCKS
There are really only three locks to make the roster in a
position that the Steelers commonly carry five or six. The three are Antonio
Brown, Juju Smith-Schuster and James Washington.
Antonio Brown is probably the best receiver in the game and
so he will be their No. 1. Juju Smith-Schuster emerged as their number two
receiver despite being only 21-years-old. James Washington is a second-round
pick and has shown that he deserves to be lining up with the first-team in 11
personnel. That leaves two or three more spots open on the roster for wide
receivers.
JUSTIN HUNTER
Justin Hunter has been running as a first-team receiver
throughout the beginning of camp and OTAs. He is a tall receiver with long arms
and that makes him appealing to Ben Roethlisberger who likes tall receivers.
The problem is that Justin Hunter has never solidified
himself as a starting receiver in his career. He also didn’t produce much in
the opening game.
The biggest minus with Hunter’s case for making the roster
is that he does not feature on special teams. This is crucial for making the
roster. If he makes it, it will be as a fourth receiver on the depth chart
despite not being a special teamer.
QUADREE HENDERSON
Quadree Henderson is not so much a receiver as he is a
return specialist. He didn’t play on offense during the first preseason game.
His ticket to the roster is being able to return punts and kicks.
The good news for him is that he opened up the preseason as
the kick returner and punt returner. Despite him not playing receiver, I don’t
see an alternate option for punt returner as Eli Rogers is still on PUP and
Antonio Brown is too valuable to return punts.
DARIUS HEYWARD-BEY
Darius Heyward-Bey is on the wrong side of 30 and that is
when skills diminish. He is capable of playing the X, Y and Z positions at wide
receiver. However, his real ticket to the roster is as a special teamer.
Heyward-Bey will have to show that he can still cover kicks
as a gunner on punts if he wants to make the team.
MARCUS TUCKER
Tucker had a nice game the fourth week of the preseason in
2017 at wide receiver. Tucker also made a nice play as a gunner, downing the
ball on the one-yard line in the first preseason game.
This may be his ticket to the roster. If Tucker can prove
that he can play receiver and cover kicks on special teams, he will get a shot
on the 53 man roster.
DAMOUN PATTERSON
Patterson was a relative unknown coming into camp. He has
had a good camp and played well in the first game against the Eagles. The
highlight was his diving touchdown catch from Josh Dobbs.
Patterson will have to make more plays at receiver and show
he can cover kicks on special teams, but has a chance to be on the roster. If
he doesn’t make the roster, I could see him being kept on the practice squad.
It is still wide open at receiver and we will have to watch
the last three games to see who the Steelers receivers will be in 2018.
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