Next Man Up
The season is still two weeks away yet the Steelers have been forced to make in season moves due to injuries already. The pre season victory against the Packers proved far more costly than anyone could have ever imagined. There is much debate about the value of these exhibition games in regards to tuning up the veteran players and that debate will only continue as the team saw starting All Pro center Maurkice Pouncey go down with an ankle injury, starting defensive end Stephon Tuitt also injured his ankle and backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski went down with a finger injury.
Both Pouncey and Gradkowski’s injuries required surgery and will cause both players to miss extended time. Tuitt will in all likelihood be back by opening night in New England.
Should Tuitt miss the opener, the Steelers will be fine starting Cam Thomas at defensive end for a week or two. Tuitt is the better player but Thomas is a very adequate fill in and this injury is not a major concern.
The loss of Pouncey, however, is. Pouncey is the leader of the offensive line and the best center in the NFL. He calls out protections, leads the way in the run game for LeVeon Bell and helps keep Big Ben on his feet. He will be sorely missed and his timetable for return is sometime in November. The Steelers will need to tread water until his return and to help them do so, they brought back veteran Doug Legursky who helped fill in for Pouncey at center in the past. Legursky makes sense as he’s played in the system before, he’s familiar with Big Ben and he’s a solid offensive lineman who can play both center and guard. He should be able to help carry the load along with Cody Wallace, who will more than likely be the starter. Wallace and Legursky are clearly better suited as backups but they will now need to follow the mantra of ‘next man up’ and they are capable of getting this team to November, assuming Pouncey stays on his expected schedule.
The loss of Gradkowski may not seem to be a big deal but having an experienced veteran who’s played in the system behind Big Ben is important. Gradkowski hasn’t seen the field much in his two seasons wearing the black and gold but he’s a guy that can be counted on in the pinch. He however is out for an extended time and with only Landry Jones as the other quarterback on the roster, the Steelers signed Mike Vick. Vick still has the ability to make defenses sweat with his rocket arm and blazing speed and is a good alternative to Gradkowski. In fact, he may be an upgrade. He’ll probably serve as the emergency quarterback to start, behind Jones, but should Big Ben go down and the team needs someone else to start, Vick will most likely get the nod. It is also my projection that Vick will stay on the roster for the entire season and will not be released if and when Gradkowski returns.
Speaking parenthetically for a moment I need to note that many people are bashing the Steelers move of signing Vick, due to his past. Those individuals need to get over themselves. Vick served his time, he’s proven to be reformed and he has repeatedly stated he regrets his past decision and has become an advocate for animal rights. Who are any of us to judge a man who has paid his price, repented and learned from his mistakes?. He should be welcomed with open arms by the team and anyone who calls themselves a fan of the team. If you can’t accept that, take a look within yourself. The evil you’re perceiving within Vick is actually something you recognize within yourself, so before you judge him, figure out what it is that makes you that way and fix it.
With two games remaining, including the ‘dress rehearsal’, the team must hope that no more injuries occur and they can get into the regular season as healthy as possible. In these final two games. Wallace, Legursky, Thomas and Vick will need to get extended time, prepping, playing and showing what they have. It’s only pre season but the Steelers are already in mid season form when it comes to relying on the “next man up”.
Taking A Look At The Steelers Defensive Roster
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The Steelers have undoubtedly one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL and perhaps the best offense this team has ever seen in their rich history. Traditionally, the black and gold have relied on a strong defense and have had their entire identity based around stopping the run and stuffing the quarterback.
Over the past few seasons, things have shifted in the Steel City as the defense has faltered and the offense has picked up the slack.
In 2015, Dick LeBeau is no longer the chief of the defense, it’s now Keith Butlers squad and it’s his job to turn things around. The defense is young but not without veterans who have had good success. Guys like James Harrison, Cam Heyward and Lawrence Timmons will need to help lead the young guys along and bring them up to the expected level of play that the city of Pittsburgh has become accustomed to.
Unlike the offense, there are weaknesses on this side of the ball and battles for starting jobs and certainly back up roles will go through the end of the pre-season. Here’s how the roster will shake out when it’s all said and told.
Defensive Line:
Butler has stated the team will still run a 3-4 defense but could implement 4-3 schemes as well. In either form, the defensive line is where it all starts and the team needs guys that can plug the running lanes and get to the quarterback from the outside. Locks on the line are starters Cameron Heyward who is growing into a real force at right defensive end, Steve McLendon, who is still the starting nose tackle and Stephon Tuitt seems to have the leg up on the starting job at left defensive end. Unfortunately I’m not sold on McLendon or Tuitt as guys I would want starting on my line. Both are good players, capable of making plays when needed but they seem to be more suited to be reserve guys vs. getting the bulk of the snaps. Either way, this is what the Steelers are currently working with and they’ll make do with what they have.
The black and gold will in all likelihood keep four defensive ends, with Heyward and Tuitt as the starters, the reserve battle will be between Cam Thomas, Joe Kruger, Matt Konrath, LT Walton, Ethan Hemer and Niko Davis. Davis, Hemer and Konrath are not options, they are bodies for camp and will not make the squad. Cam Thomas is talented and versatile, he has the ability to play both end or tackle and could even push Tuitt for a starting job, he’s guaranteed to make the team. The last spot will be a battle between Kruger and Walton. Kruger is currently listed ahead of Walton on the Steelers depth chart and was on the practice squad late last season. Walton was drafted this year and is also a versatile player, capable of playing end or tackle. In the end, the coaches will stay true to their draft pick and Walton will beat out Kruger for the final spot at defensive end.
Since the Steelers do have the versatile Thomas and Walton, they’ll only keep one more nose tackle. The battle for that spot is between Daniel McCullers, Mike Thornton and Joe Okafor. Battle, however, is really a word that is lost in translation in this case, there is no question that McCullers is the guy. I don’t see how Thornton or Okafor even have a chance.
Linebackers:
The most important position in Steelers history is linebacker and there’s no difference again this season. If the team plays 3-4 or 4-3, the linebackers are the key to the teams’ success. With a very weak secondary, it’s incredibly pertinent that this group gets to the quarterback quickly and often. Lawrence Timmons will be the super star of the bunch and is still the best player on the defense. Timmons has been a rock his entire career and will need to truly lead the way again this season, helping bring the young guys along. Starting next to him on the inside will be second year man Ryan Shazier. Shazier missed a lot of time last season due to injury but has looked great in camp, drawing praise from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who said Shazier reminded him of an old Troy Polamalu. That’s high praise and hopefully for the Steelers, that will translate on Sundays in the fall. Jarvis Jones will be handed the starting job at right outside linebacker but this may be his last shot. The third year man hasn’t developed enough as of yet and Joey Porter, the linebackers coach, needs to get everything out of Jones that he can muster. Jones has the talent but it needs to translate to the field. I actually think he’ll make the big jump this year and prove his worth.
The last spot at left outside linebacker is a battle between the re-signed Arthur Moates and the teams number one overall draft pick, Bud Dupree. The job was left open by the sudden retirement of budding star Jason Worilds. Both Moates and Dupree are on the team, obviously, it’s a matter of who will start. Moates is ahead of Dupree right now, based on tenure and knowing the defense, having played in it already. Dupree is the better of the two players, having far more talent and a much larger up side. Many will tell you Moates will start the first few games and Dupree will eventually take over, I’m telling you Dupree will start week one, he’s just too good to sit out.
With those five guys making the team, there are probably three more linebacker spots available. The team actually has some depth on the reserve level and the battle for three spots will be fought out between Sean Spence, Vince Williams, James Harrison, Anthony Chickillo, Jordan Zumwalt and Terence Garvin. James Harrison is a given, he’s a former super star who’s still capable of starting in a pinch and is certainly a team leader, almost a player coach, his presence in the locker room alone is enough for him to stay. The talent that Sean Spence possesses is too hard to overlook, he’s versatile enough to play both outside and inside and for that reason he’ll stay. The remaining spot is truly up for grabs. In the end, it will come down to Vince Williams and Anthony Chickillo (drafted this year) and Williams will prevail. There are a lot of Williams detractors who think he has been mediocre his first two seasons, I’m not one of those guys. I think he’s done an admirable job and is a very solid reserve player. He understands the defense and will earn his spot on the roster.
Secondary:
By far the weakest unit on the team is the secondary. There is no more Ike Taylor or Troy Polamalu back there, it’s a whole new look and these new guys have big shoes to fill. The Steelers should keep nine guys on this unit and will probably need to use all of them this season as I don’t anticipate anybody stepping up big. The two starting cornerbacks at the moment are William Gay and Cortez Allen. You didn’t read that incorrectly, those are the starting corners and yes, your thoughts are correct, that’s a problem. Gay did have a great year last season, Allen, not so much. That said, Gay played way over his head and Allen played slightly worse than he’s capable of. Either way, it’s problematic when you have to face off against top level quarterbacks. If the linebackers don’t do their job, the pass defense will be torched weekly. Mike Mitchell is back as the starting free safety and I still maintain the man is overpaid. He came in last season and didn’t do anything. He’s the best they have but again, problematic. Strong safety is expected to go to Shamarko Thomas but in my opinion Will Allen is the better player. Thomas has not shown anything since coming into the league a few seasons ago. He was drafted to be Polamalu’s replacement, well now he’s getting his chance. He’ll certainly make the team but to me, Will Allen will beat him out for the starting job as he’s a proven veteran who may not contain the same athletic ability as Thomas but he’s wiser and makes smarter plays. Brandon Boykin and Antwon Blake will be the primary backups at corner and both could eventually become starters. Robert Golden will be the next back up at Safety along with Thomas. The last spot will go to Senquez Golson, drafted in round two this year. The guys not making the team will be Kevin Fogg, BW Webb, Gerrod Holliman, Ross Ventrone, Doran Grant, Alden Darby, Jordan Sullen, Jordan Dangerfield and Ian Wild. Of that group, Webb and Ventrone can push for jobs and may slip in there or force the team to keep a tenth guy on the unit.
The defense is going to need to develop this year as the team certainly sports a Super Bowl caliber offense. If this side of the ball can play average, meaning they give up around 20 points a game, the team will be in it. If they can grow and play cohesively and improve on obtaining sacks and forcing turnovers, then they could be part of something extremely special.
Opening Day Defensive Starters:
LDE: Cam Heyward
NT: Steve McLendon
RDE: Stephon Tuitt
LOLB: Bud Dupree
LILB: Ryan Shazier
RILB: Lawrence Timmons
ROLB: Jarvis Jones
LCB: William Gay
FS: Mike Mitchell
SS: Will Allen
RCB: Cortez Allen
A Look Back At Hines Ward
Hines Ward is one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history and his legacy will live on in Pittsburgh forever. The future NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver was beloved in the Steel City for all he brought to the team through his magnificent plays catching the football, his crushing blows on defenders, his hustle, his blue collar work ethic and the fact that he did it all with a smile.
Ward was drafted out of the University of Georgia in the 1998 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 3rd round. At UGA, Ward played Wide Receiver, Tailback and Quarterback. He currently ranks second in Bull Dog history in reception and receiving yards and holds the team record for pass attempts, completions and yards in a bowl game as a quarterback.
While with the Steelers, Ward transitioned to a full time wide receiver and put up a Hall of Fame caliber career. He helped lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to two Super Bowl championships and a third appearance in the big game as well. He has 1,000 career receptions for 12,083 yards and 85 touchdowns in his career. All three of those numbers are Pittsburgh Steeler records and make Ward the most decorated Steeler wide out of all time.
Ward was as valuable as any player to ever play for the black and gold as he made four NFL Pro Bowls, won three team MVP awards, was the MVP of Super Bowl XL, became part of the Pittsburgh Steelers all-time team, was inducted into the Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame and his 1,000 catches rank him 10th all-time in the NFL.
Ward could always be counted on to go across the middle and was never afraid to take a hit. He would fight for the extra yard on every play and was a vicious blocker, allowing his teammates to get further down field. Wards’ number 86 is no longer issued in the organization and it wouldn’t be shocking if he had a statue built outside of Heinz Field one day.
Hines Ward may now be retired and his playing career behind him but he will never be forgotten in the Steel City.
Predicting The Steelers 2015 Offensive Roster
The Steelers have started the pre-season 0-2 with losses to both Minnesota and Jacksonville in the first two weeks of exhibition play. As far as wins and losses, it means absolutely nothing, as anyone knows, but two games into the pre-season, it’s time to start looking at how the depth charts will play out when camp breaks and the Steelers head to Foxborough, MA on September 10th to open up the regular season against the defending champion New England Patriots.
The offensive side of the ball appears to be the most talented and with a roster rich with super stars and pro bowl players, the Steelers will be nothing short of spectacular every Sunday afternoon. The battles are for reserve roles as the starters are entrenched.
Here’s a look at how the depth chart battle should play out as the pre-season progresses.
Quarterback:
Currently, the black and gold have four quarterbacks on their roster, they’ll keep three. Obviously Big Ben Roethlisberger, the future Hall of Famer, is the starter and Bruce Gradkowski is the backup. The real battle is for that third and final spot between Landry Jones and Tajh Boyd. Jones was drafted by the Steelers in the 4th round of 2013 and for that reason alone, has the edge. Many in the media have been quick to jump on Jones for his lack of development over his first few seasons in the league. Quite frankly, that notion is ridiculous. When has he really had the opportunity to play? When has he had a chance to “develop”? His first two seasons in the league, the man was holding a clip board, that was his job. Jones has talent, he was a great player at Oklahoma. Rookie Sammie Coates stated Jones “is a great player, he puts the ball where you can make a play. He’s got great confidence right now”. Through two pre-season games, Jones has already recorded 98 passing attempts, indicative of the fact the Steelers want to know what they have with him. He’ll get a full look and in the end, he’ll be the third string guy again. Tahj Boyd will press Jones and he possesses good talent but limited time in the league. At the end of the day, the Steelers will stay true to their 2013 draft day choice and Jones will be back on the roster in 2015.
Running Back:
Once again, the Steelers have a Super Star at the top of the board at this position with LeVeon Bell leading the way. Bell is arguably the best and most versatile running back in the league and he will be relied upon heavily throughout the season, once he returns from his suspension. Behind him, newly singed DeAngelo Williams will make the squad and he’ll carry the load while Bell sits out. With those two as locks to make the squad, I believe there are two more open spots amongst a bevy of players vying to fill them. Dri Archer, Josh Harris, Braylon Heard, Jawon Chislom Ross Scheurman and Cameron Stingily will all fight for a spot on the team. In the end, Harris and Archer will make the team and dress on Sundays. Harris played well in his time with the team last fall and into the playoffs and Archer was a high draft pick just one year ago. There’s no way the team will give up on him, even though they should. Archer was an over reach on the part of Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert and while they surely figured that out as last season progressed, their egos will not let them publicly admit that just one season later. Archer certainly possesses talent and his raw speed is something that cannot be coached, but his lack of physicality, his inability to advance the ball and frankly his obvious omission from the passing game last year makes you wonder why he’s in Pittsburgh at all? That all said, the other guys on the roster aren’t showing enough and probably won’t be given an opportunity to do so to pass him on the depth chart.
Full Back:
Currently the team has two full backs on the roster. It’s quite frankly a formality; they will only keep one, which is Will Johnson. Johnson knows the offense, can block, can take a hand off or two when needed and has been with the team for a few seasons now. Roosevelt Nix is a ‘camp guy’ only and won’t be here come opening day.
Wide Receiver:
Undoubtedly the deepest position on the roster is wide receiver. The team will most likely keep five active receivers on Sundays and probably have a swing man on the roster to be the sixth guy as well. Antonio Brown is one of the best Wide Receivers in the NFL and will be the number one guy this season and for many years to come. Right behind him, the number two spot will go to Martavis Bryant. Bryant turned in a huge rookie season in 2014 and is a great red zone target for Big Ben. Markus Wheaton will slide into the third receiver position as the slot guy and so far through camp he’s proven he can go across the middle and make the necessary plays. Sammie Coates, the 2015 third round selection will make the team as the fourth receiver on the depth chart but I believe he has a chance to get significant playing time and will be a red zone threat as well. The final spot will be battled out between Darrius Heyward Bey, Tyler Murphy, Eli Rogers, CJ Goodwin and Shakim Phillips. Bey was a first round pick of the Oakland Raiders many moons ago and never lived up to the billing. The Steelers brought him in last season and he provided absolutely nothing, other than a body in practice. Many will tell you that he’ll be the 5th guy, I won’t. He’s not going to make the team. CJ Goodwin is the guy to me that possesses the skills to be kept in the 5th spot with Tyler Murphy, the potential “slash” player as the swing man. “That kid is starting to show some wide out traits” Mike Tomlin said of Murphy during practice. “Write that down” Tomlin continued. Everyone else falls short of making the team but will be used in pre-season to prevent the regulars from getting injured unnecessarily.
Tight End:
The Steelers will likely keep three guys at Tight End and once again they have one of the best in the business at the top of the order in Heath Miller. Miller is the consummate pro who does everything the right way, is all about the team and makes a play every time he’s called upon. Behind him Matt Spaeth will be back as the 2nd tight end, mostly used for blocking. Jesse James, Rob Blanchflower and Cameron Clear will battle it out for the third and final spot. Clear has no chance, so let’s make that “Clear” right now. Blanchflower was drafted last year and spent time on the practice squad and certainly has the leg up in that regard but James was drafted this year, is three inches taller and comes out of Penn State where he’s been prepped for this level. James has good hands and the ability to block. Pre-season struggles aside; James is the guy and will be kept. Blanchflower could push James to the end but won’t be anything more than a practice guy once again.
Offensive Line:
Offensive line may be the most unglamorous position in all of sports but it may be the most important one as well. The O line protects the franchise (Big Ben), sets up the Super Star running back (Bell) and really determines just how successful the offense will be. Without a good line, the season is a struggle. The team has finally established a quality line but will need to keep seven or even eight guys in order to maintain health and consistent play. The obvious keepers are pro bowl center Maurkice Pouncey, Guard David Decastro, Guard Ramon Foster, Tackle Marcus Gilbert and Tackle Kelvin Beachum. Those are your starters and that’s a pretty solid bunch. With three spots open, a big question arises in regards to Mike Adams. The man has serious talent but so far his career in Pittsburgh is best known for getting stabbed on the south side late one night by one of Wiz Khalifa’s boys. I think he’ll be given one final shot but that’s going to be it for him. Cody Wallace will make the team as he can swing from guard to center and his versatility is important and the last spot will go to Alejandro Villanueva, the rookie free agent from Army. Left out will be Mitchel Van Dyik, Miles Dieffenbach, Kevin Palmer (who may push for the 8th spot) and Chris Hubbard.
Sifting through this offensive group it’s very clear; the team is loaded with shear talent at every position. There isn’t a reason why they can’t put up 30 points a game and make the opposition pay on a weekly basis.
Opening Day Starters:
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: LeVeon Bell (Williams will start but Bell is the number one, just out due to suspension)
WR: Antonio Brown
WR: Martavis Bryant
TE: Heath Miller
FB: Will Johnson
LT: Kelvin Beachum
LG: Ramon Foster
C: Maurkice Pouncey
RG: David Decastro
RT: Marcus Gilbert
