The Pittsburgh Steelers are turning their season around, entering the
bye week in the middle of a two-game winning streak. But these players need
every minute they can to get their act together before Week 8.
We’re almost half way through the regular season and the
Pittsburgh Steelers have shown us everything they could. The good, the bad and
the ugly were all present at some point during the first half of the season for
this team.
Now, they head into the bye week with a lot of momentum and
some strong points to carry into preparation for their next opponent. The
second half will make or break this team’s standing in the AFC. Nothing is
guaranteed, yet, but the Steelers are on the right track heading into the
second half.
Not everyone is playing up to par, though. There are names
on this roster that need to take all of Week 6 and turn their season around. If
they don’t, they’ll be looking at a seat on the bench for the rest of the year.
There’s still a lot of football left, but these names need
to step up. Not all for negative reasons, but at this point in the season, it’s
do or die for a number of players. If this team is serious about turning their
slow start into something memorable, they’ll need to make tough decisions with
their roster. Unfortunately, that could mean that a number of guys find
themselves fighting for playing time as this team inches closer to the
playoffs.
ARTIE BURNS
This one is a no brainer. No one on this roster has played
worse than Artie Burns. The team had high hopes for the third-year corner,
coming into the season, but so far, he’s been an utter disappointment.
He can’t stay in assignment, he looks lost most of the time,
and anyone who wants to beat him just needs to go deep. Really, he’s more of a
liability than a help, and the Steelers have just about seen enough.
The more he’s on the field the worse this defense is. Coty
Sensabaugh isn’t the answer, but he’s better than Burns right now. If the
third-year defensive back wants to remain a part of the Steelers’ gameplan,
he’ll use this week to improve his game.
CHRIS BOSWELL
No one is ready to give up Boswell, yet, but the more he
misses the tougher it is to have his back. Handing him a contract right before
the season wasn’t a mistake, but he certainly needs to get his act together
before he costs Pittsburgh some games.
When it comes to a kicker, it’s hard to get out of a funk
than almost any other position. Boswell is in his own head, right now, and
needs this week to get out of it. He’s still one of the league’s most talented
kickers, but when you’re missing you begin to dwindle mentally. That’s what
we’ve seen through five weeks.
Having a week to clear his head will be significant for
Boswell. Hopefully, he can find a rhythm and turn the second half around. The
Steelers will need him to before he hurts their season.
ELI ROGERS
Eli Rogers is healthy and able to return to the Steelers
after a torn ACL. With James Washington underperforming, Rogers has a great
chance to earn his snaps on this team. Ryan Switzer may be hurting his reps at
slot, but Rogers has the chemistry and should be given a chance when he
returns.
This week will be important for the wide receiver. Even if
he isn’t activated, yet, he can still find a place in the lineup through
practice. He’ll be looking to prove he hasn’t missed a step while the team
prepares for the Browns.
Pittsburgh’s air attack has featured less deep balls and
more shorter routes. That can be beneficial to Rogers, who strives more as a
slot receiver. The Steelers may be looking to implement him into the game plan
immediately, upon return.
MORGAN BURNETT
Pittsburgh would’ve been better off keeping Mike Mitchell
around at this point. Terrell Edmunds has played more than offseason signing
Morgan Burnett, which was exactly what this team was trying not to do when they
signed him.
He still has a lot left in the tank, but without him on the
field he’s useless to this organization. It’s tough to say a signing was a
mistake when they’re injured, but Pittsburgh was looking for a bridge player at
safety and Burnett was supposed to be it.
This secondary will be a lot better with him on the field.
He needs to use this bye week to get healthy and keep himself playing. The more
missed time he sees the less of chance there is that Pittsburgh doesn’t try and
move on next offseason.
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