Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp Preview
The Pittsburgh Steelers took the term "football is a game of inches" literally last season in order to make the playoffs. If you don't remember Antonio Brown literally fighting to get in the end zone against the Ravens to make the playoffs, look it up on youtube.
Because of that, they made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game last season and eventually got demolished to the New England Patriots. The Steelers secondary needs to be a lot better this season.
Ben Roethlisberger will be the starter, but the question is can he stay healthy for an entire season. For right now, Landry Jones is the backup quarterback. Joshua Dobbs and Bart Houston will compete for the other quarterback spot on the roster.
At running back other than Le'Veon Bell, it is a very weak position if he were to get hurt. The number two running back on the roster right now is James Connor. He battled cancer throughout his collegiate career and Connor has the heart to be a solid pro running back.
Knile Davis, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Brandon Brown-Dukes, Trey Williams, and Terrell Watson will compete for the final two spots on the roster.
At wide receiver, Antiono Brown, Martavis Bryant, and Eli Rogers are a slam dunk for the 1,2, and 3 spot. Bryant returns after he was suspended for an entire season. With Bryant returning, this will help the Steelers offense a lot. Defenses can't double team Brown when Bryant is in the lineup. If that happens, Bryant will have a field day.
As for the other receivers that will make the roster, it will be Juju Smith-Schuster, Sammie Coates, and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
The tight end position will be up for grabs when training camp begins. Ladarius Green was supposed to the tight end but he had to be released because of ongoing concussion issues. Jesse James, David Johnson, and Xavier Grimble will compete for the starting job.
The starting offensive line will most likely be Alejandro Villanueva, Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, and Marcus Gilbert. Villanueva might not be there at the beginning of training camp because of a hold out. If he for some strange reason he doesn't begin the season, Matt Feiler will fill in at left tackle.
Cameron Heyward, Javon Hargrave, and Stephon Tuitt will most likely be the starting defensive line. It will be very good. Tyson Alualu will see some time in the rotation as well.
The Steelers have a very good linebacking core. Bud Dupree, Ryan Shazier, Vince Williams, and James Harrison will be the starters. Expect T.J. Watt and Arthur Moats to make noise as well this season at linebacker.
The secondary will make or break this Steelers defense this upcoming season. Artie Burns, Sean Davis, Mike Mitchell, and Ross Cockrell will be the starters in the secondary. William Gay and Senquez Golson will be decent third and fourth corners.
Chris Boswell will be the Steelers kicker and Jordan Berry will be the Steelers punter. Antonio Brown will be the team's punt returner and Sammie Coates will be the team's kick returner.
Pittsburgh will have championship or bust expectations once again this season.
