Not many chances to earn a spot
Personnel decisions will focus on limited practice
There is a little game Steelers reporters and analysts play every training camp, identifying surprising young players early on and then tracking their progress over the course of the preseason.
Many of them keep the momentum going throughout camp and make the 53man roster while others tail off and end up getting on with their life’s work. It’s part of the charm of covering camp, playing amateur scout and seeing if your guy comes through at the end.
Last season lineman Fred Johnson and receiver Dionte Spencer were two camp phenoms. Johnson made the 53-man roster and Spencer was cut. Spencer ended up being a fine returner after getting picked up by the Denver Broncos while Johnson was cut at midseason and picked up by the Cincinnati Bengals.
It happens almost every year — an undrafted free agent or CFL castoff will stand out in practices and preseason games and make a big push for the 53man roster.
But like most things in 2020, that tradition is on hiatus. There might be a rookie or two that stands out in practice, but evaluating prospects during a COVID-19 pandemic is going to be a nearly impossible task for NFL executives and coaches these next few weeks.
The reason: They only have 14 practices with pads to make determinations on their 53-man rosters and practices squads. In a normal year, they would have rookie minicamp, OTAs, minicamp, a full training camp and four or five preseason games to make those calls.
It’s the understatement of the year, but it’s a massive disadvantage to be a rookie in the league this year. Players with NFL experience have a huge edge over those without it. Many rookies, especially lateround picks and undrafted free agents, will be on the streets in a few weeks, their careers on hold until they can prove themselves over the course of an entire NFL offseason.
It does make projecting the 53-man roster a tad less exciting, too, although this year there is the added element of 16 spots on the practice squad. That’s six more than a year ago and an acknowledgement by front offices that rosters might have record turnover this year because of the coronavirus.
Here is my first crack at the Steelers 53 -man roster and 16-man practice squad:
Offense
Quarterbacks (3) — Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges.
Breakdown: The only question is the third-string job, and Hodges should hold off Paxton Lynch to remain on the 53-man roster. An undrafted free agent last year, Hodges was signed to the active roster in September after Roethlisberger was placed on injured reserve. He won three games before some late-season struggles. Lynch has more raw potential, but Hodges’ track record will win over the coaches during this truncated training camp.
Running backs (5) — James Conner, Jaylen Samuels, Benny Snell, Anthony McFarland and Derek Watt.
Breakdown: Depth is always a concern at running back, and the Steelers found that out the hard way last season. Conner returns as the starter and is in the final year of his rookie deal, but the top backup is anyone’s guess. Is it Snell, the fourth-round pick who was second to Conner with 426 rushing yards last season? Is it Samuels, whose role was reduced last year? Or will it be McFarland, a rookie out of Maryland whose speed is viewed as a much-needed addition to this group? Keeping five running backs is a luxury some teams cannot afford, but the Steelers have enough variety among their group that it might be beneficial for them to do so.
Receivers (5) — JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, James Washington, Chase Claypool and Ryan Switzer.
Breakdown: The only spot in doubt is the fifth spot, and Switzer should edge out Deon Cain. Switzer fills a defined role as a slot receiver while Cain plays on the outside, where the Steelers have plenty of other options. This could be the first year in quite some time the Steelers don’t have a receiver that makes the team for his special-teams abilities. Last year Johnny Holton filled that role, and before that it was Darrius Heyward-Bey. Switzer’s only value on special teams is as a returner, and he lost his punt-returning duties to Johnson midway through the year. Cain doesn’t play special teams, so that works against him. The good news for the Steelers is they have a running backs room that is populated with good special-teams players, led by Watt and Snell and Samuels, if he makes the team. They can pick up the slack in that area.
Tight ends (3) — Eric Ebron, Vance McDonald and Zach Gentry.
Breakdown: Not much to discuss here. Gentry had a disappointing rookie season, but it would be a big upset if they gave up on him after one year. This is a big year for his development, though. If Ebron or McDonald get injured, they’re going to need their third tight end to step up and take on some snaps, and last year they didn’t feel comfortable playing Gentry much at all. He dressed for four games and played just 50 snaps.
Offensive line (8) — Alejandro Villanueva, Matt Feiler, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Chukwuma Okorafor, Zach Banner, Stefen Wisniewski and Kevin Dotson.
Breakdown: The Steelers have kept as many as nine offensive linemen on their 53-man roster in previous years, but there might not be the need to do so this year. As long as Wisniewski is the top interior reserve at guard and center, the Steelers probably can just go with eight. But if Wisniewski ends up as the starting left guard, then nine becomes an option again because J.C. Hassenauer or another young interior backup likely would slide onto the roster. Okorafor and Banner will compete for the starting right tackle job, and the loser of that competition should become the swing tackle. Dotson only plays guard, but they’ll carry him because he’s a fourth-round pick and has potential starting ability down the road.
Defense
Defensive line (6) — Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Tyson Alualu, Chris Wormley, Isaiah Buggs and Daniel McCullers.
Breakdown: I know, I know. McCullers makes the team again? This is actually a season when McCullers could be most valuable. The Steelers play the run-heavy Baltimore Ravens twice as well as other running teams such as the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans. Yes, Alualu will take over for Javon Hargrave at nose tackle, but keeping a big nose tackle this year isn’t a bad option.
Outside linebackers (5) — T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree, Alex Highsmith, Ola Adeniyi and Tuzar Skipper.
Breakdown: The Steelers haven’t carried five outside linebackers the past couple of years, but Skipper has potential as a pass rusher and they probably don’t want to expose him to waivers again after losing him for a time last season. Adeniyi can play special teams and Highsmith should excel there, too, so they’ll be useful on game days.
Inside linebackers (4) — Devin Bush, Vince Williams, Ulysees Gilbert and Robert Spillane.
Breakdown: Leo Lewis is the only other inside linebacker on the 80-man camp roster than the quartet projected to make the team. Spillane and Gilbert are quality special-teams players, but they lack experience in the defense. This is a position where the Steelers can add some quality depth after teams make their final cuts. In fact, it’s looking like a must.
Defensive backs (11) — Joe Haden, Steven Nelson, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds, Mike Hilton, Cameron Sutton, Justin Layne, Curtis Riley, Jordan Dangerfield, Antoine Brooks and Marcus Allen.
Breakdown: Carrying 11 defensive backs used to be an oddity in the NFL, but more teams are going with corners and safeties because of matchups in the passing game. And the difference between a defensive back and an inside linebacker might only be a matter of position definition. Edmunds, Allen and Brooks are all capable of playing dime linebacker, which is merely a football term for a bigger safety who also can defend well against the run. Riley was added just as camp started to shore up the depth at safety, where only Dangerfield had experience as a reserve. And Dangerfield is mostly a special-teams player.
Special teams
Place kicker (1): Chris Boswell.
Punter (1): Jordan Berry.
Long snapper (1): Kameron Canaday.
Practice squad
In addition to the increase in the number of players on the practice squad, the league also loosened the rules on which players are eligible, giving up to six veterans who would have been ineligible in the past an opportunity to keep earning a paycheck if they don’t make the 53-man roster.
It’s a win for owners because they can keep viable players ready at a lower salary, and it’s a win for players because veterans that otherwise might be on the street are still earning a paycheck.
Quarterback (1): Paxton Lynch — The Steelers don’t usually keep a quarterback on the practice squad, but with the expansion to 16 spots, it makes all the sense in the world this year to keep one in tow. If Lynch makes the 53-man roster, look for Hodges to get on the practice squad.
Running back (2): Trey Edmunds and Kerrith Whyte — Edmunds can play special teams and knows the offense, too. Given his versatility, don’t be surprised if he’s a frequent call-up to the roster for games. The same could be true for Whyte, who dressed for six games last season and had 24 carries for 122 yards. It’s just that Whyte has a similar skill set to McFarland, the rookie out of Maryland, so it’s hard to find a place for him on the 53-man roster.
Receivers (2): Deon Cain and Amara Darboh — Cain dressed for six games with the Steelers last season and had five catches for 72 yards. He has some upside, but he is likely to start on the practice squad and not the 53-man roster. Darboh spent time on the practice squad last season and spent some time on Seattle’s 53man roster in 2017.
Tight ends (1): Kevin Rader— Rader spent time on the practice squad last season and has a good chance to stick there this season. Dax Raymond, who was signed last month before camp started, will be in the mix, too.
Offensive line (3): J.C. Hassenauer, Derwin Gray, Christian DiLauro — All three spent time on the practice squad last season. Hassenauer can play guard and center while DiLauro is a tackle. Gray, a seventh-round pick last year, is a guard and needs to develop a bit more, but with DeCastro aging and Feiler set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, it makes sense to keep an extra guard on the practice squad.
Defensive line (2): Henry Mondeaux and Carlos Davis — It is a bad year to be a seventh-round draft pick, but Davis is a perfect candidate for the practice squad. He is raw but can use some seasoning before being able to contribute to the team. Mondeaux was on the practice squad last season and provides solid depth if there is an injury.
Outside linebacker (1): James Lockhart — An undrafted free agent out of Baylor, Lockhart is making the conversion from defensive end to outside linebacker so he can use a year on the practice squad to hone his craft.
Inside linebacker (1): Leo Lewis — He played at Mississippi State in the Southeastern Conference and at 6-3, 245, has the size to be an effective run-stopper. Gilbert is a natural backup to Bush given his stature, but the Steelers don’t have another big-bodied linebacker such as Vince Williams. Lewis could fit the mold if he has a strong camp.
Defensive backs (3): Breon Borders, Alexander Myres and Trajan Bandy — Borders has been on 53-man rosters in Jacksonville and Washington, while Myres was on the Steelers practice squad last year. Bandy is an undersized slot corner, a position the Steelers have to think about with Hilton set to become a free agent in March. Can Bandy be the next undrafted free agent to become a nickel corner for the Steelers?