Continuing our look at each position on the field, we’ll stay on the offensive side of the ball and breakdown the running back spot.  The Steelers appear to be pretty deep at the position and the real question will be how many backs will they keep vs. who will be the number one guy? Here’s a breakdown of each player currently holding down a spot as a running back:

LeVeon Bell-Bell is the clear starter and there are no ifs ands or buts about it.  Bell played in 13 games in his rookie campaign and boasted over 800 yards rushing and nearly 400 receiving while totaling nine touchdowns. His yards per carry average was a bit low at 3.5 but expect that to improve. Assuming Bell stays healthy, he could be a 1,200 yard back. His receiving yards will most likely go down with the addition of a few other weapons but there is no question that Bell will be a big part of the Steelers offensive plans in 2014 and he will be expected to take some of the pressure off of Big Ben. 

LaGarrette Blount-Blount was brought in from New England as a free agent and he’s a viable number two guy who can certainly fill in for Bell if called upon. Last year in New England, Blount averaged 5.0 yards per carry and gained 772 yards total. He’s a big back, weighing 250 pounds, whose initial role will be short yardage and goal line scenarios. However, should Bell struggle or get hurt, Blount will be the next man up and he’s proven that he can get the job done when called upon.

Dri Archer-Archer is more of a hybrid who can be listed at running back or wide receiver. The rookie burner will most likely play a third down role in this offense along with special teams play. Don’t look for Archer to be given too many carries, he may grab 20 or 30 for the year, but look for him to see a lot of touches in the air. His speed will provide Big Ben a great outlet on third downs out of the backfield or in the slot. Archer will also undoubtedly be used on a few trick plays throughout the season as well, perhaps in wildcat formations, as the team did with Bell last season.

Jordan Hall-Hall is a rookie back out of Ohio State.  I fully expect the team to keep four backs on the active roster, specifically because Archer isn’t a true back. Hall has as good a shot as anyone to gain that number four job and he’s my favorite to do so. He played in a run heavy offense at OSU, he’s the youngest of the remaining backs so there’s a development aspect to it and he’s a little faster than the other backs he’s competing with. With Bell and Blount already being big backs, the team may go for a second smaller back and Hall is that guy.

Miguel Maysonet-Maysonet is a guy competing with Hall for that fourth spot. He’ll be given his opportunities in camp and pre season but will have to prove his worth on special teams. If he can shine there, he may get the nod. In the end Maysonet will most likely be a practice squad player or just released outright.

Tauren Poole-Poole is a guy to keep your eye on. He’s entering his third year but has bounced around practice squads in his first two seasons. He does have talent and is truly a guy who could get a couple of carries if need be but he, like Maysonet will need to prove his worth on special teams play. I think he’s Hall’s closest competition for the fourth spot but at the end of the day he will be released.

The black and gold should feel very delighted with the top half of their running back depth chart as they have two powerful, accomplished backs at the top. With Archer as a burner out of the backfield and a few guys to choose from to fill out for depth, the Steelers seem to be in decent shape at this position heading into camp and beyond.

As we are just a mere days away from camp, it’s time to start looking at a position by position break down of what the Steelers have and how it will likely play out through camp and into the season. Today we’ll start with the quarterback spot.

Ben Roethlisberger-There’s no QB controversy here. Big Ben is the number one guy and without him this team is sunk. He’ll be called upon to put up another 3,500 yards and 25TD passes for sure. He’s the unquestioned leader of this team at this juncture of his career and he’ll need to lead the young guys both on and off the field.  The key to the season is keeping Ben healthy, if he can play all 16 games then this team has a chance, if he can’t, then they will need to readjust their entire offensive focus and pray the defense steps up. 

Bruce Gradkowski-Gradkowski is no doubt the teams’ number two quarterback. Many would love to see this spot go to Landry Jones to enable the team to release Gradkowski and save money but that’s not going to happen. Gradkowski has started and won in this league and should Big Ben go down; Gradkowski could fill in for 3 or 4 games and win.  He’s not a guy you want starting the whole season but he’s certainly a good number two option and one the black and gold intend to keep.

Landry Jones-Jones enters his second year on the team and is currently listed as number three on the depth chart. While Jones should remain in that position heading out of camp and into the season, there is always the possibility he could step up and remove Gradkowski as the number two guy or he could go the other way and not make the team at all.  Jones has talent, no doubt about that but he’s certainly untested and unproven. He’ll get his chances in camp and in the preseason and it seems unlikely his spot will change up or down.

Brendon Kay-Kay was signed in May as an undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati.  Kay was a very solid college quarterback and the team likes him very much. The coaches fully expect Kay to push Jones for the third spot on this roster and they do believe he’s good enough to land it. That said, Kay is an undrafted rookie and Jones was a 4^th round draft pick last year so the edge will always go to the guy the team has more invested in, in the event they are even.  Or even if Kay is just a hair better, Jones will be kept.  Kay will get his chances in the preseason but in the end he’ll most likely end up on the practice squad this season.

Quarterback is the most important position on the field and fortunately for the black and gold they don’t have to worry about their situation. They have a two time Super Bowl Champion, elite quarterback at the top, a veteran starter who can fill in if needed in a pinch as the number two guy and two young guns battling it out for the third spot. There are many teams around the league who envy the depth the Steelers have here.

The real question is, what will this depth chart look like after the 2015 season when Big Ben’s current contract expires?  That, however, is a topic for another day.