OLB Adeniyi breaks, then makes, his case

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In a make-or-break game that could decide his future in professional football, Steelers outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi committed the cardinal sin for pass rushers in the final preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. Late in the second quarter Thursday night, on a third-and-14, Adeniyi was called for a neutral zone infraction, which is no way for an undrafted free agent to get into the good graces of his coaches.

Except on the very next play, Adeniyi made up for his gaffe in a big way. He bolted past Carolina’s left tackle and got his second strip-sack of the preseason. There was no better way to make up for his mistake.

“I felt like it was kind of a bad call because I didn’t pass the line of scrimmage,” Adeniyi said following the 39-24 victory at Heinz Field. “I was not over the ball. It is what it is. The refs called it so most definitely I had to make up for that.”

Adeniyi, who signed with the Steelers after three seasons at Toledo, finished the preseason with three sacks and is a contender for a spot on the 53-man roster depending upon the severity of a second-half hamstring injury that ended his night.

Adeniyi termed it a “mild hamstring strain” and said he was pulled for precautionary reasons.

The Steelers likely will keep four outside linebackers. Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt are the starters and Anthony Chickillo is likely the top reserve.

Adeniyi is in contention for the fourth spot along with Keion Adams and Farrington Huguenin. Adams, coincidentally, recovered both of the forced fumbles Adeniyi caused during the preseason. He did not have a sack in four preseason games.

For what it’s worth, Huguenin started the game, but that might have only been for seniority reasons. He was with the Steelers on their practice squad last season. Huguenin had one sack during the preseason.

Adeniyi stood out the most this summer with his ball-hawking ability.

“That’s exactly what the coaches preach – the turnovers to set up our offense so they can score points,” he said. “We work on that. They preach that so it was pretty good.”

The Steelers must trim their roster from 90 to 53 players by 4 p.m. Saturday, and Adeniyi believes he did all he could to persuade the Steelers to keep him.

“I control what I can control,” he said. “I feel like I played my heart out, left it all out there on the field.”

Extra time

The only Steelers starters who played were nose tackle Javon Hargrave and inside linebacker Jon Bostic. Both played the first quarter and did not play in the final three quarters.

Justin Hunter could have a prominent role in the Steelers offense in the early part of the season, especially if the abdominal injury to rookie James Washington makes him unavailable for the Sept. 9 season opener in Cleveland. Hunter did play and performed very well.

Five days after catching a touchdown pass against the Titans, Hunter played into the second quarter and finished with three catches for 72 yards.

Jones shines

Receiver Tevin Jones has almost no shot of making the 53-man roster, but he might have put himself in contention for a spot on the practice squad.

Jones caught two touchdowns – one each from Josh Dobbs and Mason Rudolph.

The Steelers are likely to keep six receivers on the 53man roster and one or two on the practice squad.

Switzer makes debut

Ryan Switzer didn’t break any long returns, but he looked comfortable performing the kickoff return and punt return duties two days after being acquired in a trade with the Raiders.

Switzer had kickoff returns of 21 and 22 yards in the first half and returned a punt nine yards.

Hodges makes a case

The Steelers have some uncertainty at tight end as the regular season nears with starter Vance McDonald and reserve Xavier Grimble injured. McDonald hasn’t practiced for a month because of a foot injury and Grimble has missed two weeks with a thumb injury.

Free agent Bucky Hodges caught two passes for 43 yards and threw a couple of nice blocks. He gives the Steelers an option should McDonald and/or Grimble not be ready to play Sept. 9.

Penalty confusion

Both coaches were upset at various times with firstyear referee Shawn Hochuli. Panthers coach Ron Rivera was incensed after the Panthers were called for back-toback roughing the passer penalties in the first half.

In the third quarter, Hochuli called Steelers rookie Matthew Thomas for roughing the passer in what appeared to be another innocuous play.

Injury

Inside linebacker Keith Kelsey, who spent some time on the practice squad last season, suffered a pectoral injury in the first quarter and did not return.