Steelers regarded as Super Bowl contenders
There are high expectations for these Pittsburgh Steelers, and not just locally.
缅北禁地 Illustrated recently picked them to win the AFC, and earlier in the summer The Sporting News picked them to win it all.
In Las Vegas, media-friendly Bovada.lv.com has the Steelers as the second betting choice in the AFC behind the New England Patriots.
All in all, lofty expectations for a team that鈥檚 faced several offseason problems which are addressed in the following breakdown.
QUARTERBACK 鈥� Ben Roethlisberger may not be nearly as mobile as the younger Ben but he鈥檚 wiser and his detailed work with Antonio Brown should again pay off in a big way. Landry Jones, in spite of his four interceptions in the second preseason game, is performing better in practice than at any point in his four-year apprenticeship. The fans in general dislike him, and that鈥檚 fine for those who had unreasonably high expectations for a fourth-rounder with overblown college stats out of an offensive-friendly conference. But he鈥檚 grown into a serviceable backup, and that should鈥檝e been the expectation all along.
RUNNING BACK 鈥� The good news is that Le鈥橵eon Bell hasn鈥檛 smoked marijuana in 20 months. That much is obvious to anyone who鈥檚 been interviewing him since he mush-mouthed his way through our interview at his NFL Combine. Bell is now sharp as a tack, as his brain seems to be matching his razor-sharp body. Problem is, he can鈥檛 keep himself out of trouble for whatever reason and has found himself with a three-game suspension. DeAngelo Williams should be able to get the Steelers through those games but isn鈥檛 near the receiver Bell is. Behind them are a stable of serviceable backs who can put in the workload of a solid No. 4 pitcher on a playoff pitching staff. Fullback Rosie Nix has some of the best hands on the team and it seems to be dawning on the coaching staff this summer, so look for the squatty fullback to assert himself as a weapon in the passing game.
WIDE RECEIVER 鈥� Brown has been on an unprecedented historical run with 110, 129 and 136 catches the last three seasons. No reason to see that trend flattening. He鈥檚 in great shape and the nuanced routes on which he works with Roethlisberger are fun to watch in practice. On the other side looms the first problem of the offseason with the suspension of freakishly talented deep threat Martavis Bryant for the season. Markus Wheaton has struggled with a nagging quadriceps injury since minicamp but appears to be ready to go again as the starter. Judging by the in-game performances of Sammie Coates, the second-year player isn鈥檛 living up to his conditioning and physical prowess, but even if he needs more time the surprising showing of Eli Rogers as a slot magician in the middle of the field will make up for it. Coates will probably be the No. 5 receiver behind deep threat Darrius Heyward-Bey, so overall it remains a strong group.
TIGHT END 鈥� What a mess. The Steelers did a poor job scouting 6-6 Ladarius Green before signing the free agent to a four-year $20 million contract. He鈥檚 been slow to recover from ankle surgery and has had headache/concussion issues that Mike Tomlin can鈥檛 confirm due to HIPPA laws. And the other night Green was criticized by his former teammate and future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates for a poor work ethic during an in-game sideline interview. Green was still on the PUP list as of press time. His replacements are last year鈥檚 fifth-round pick Jesse James, retread David Johnson and last year鈥檚 practice-squadder Xavier Grimble. It appears the great Heath Miller will be missed more than anyone expected, and everyone expected him to be missed plenty.
OFFENSIVE LINE 鈥� At least there鈥檚 good news here as a championship line is forming around the return of leader Maurkice Pouncey, who not only brings talent, attitude, work ethic and mobility to the pivot, but heightens the energy of the unit (and team) every time he walks in the locker room. To his right are David DeCastro and Marcus Gilbert, who both have either been in or should鈥檝e been in last season鈥檚 Pro Bowl. To Pouncey鈥檚 left are reliable vet Ramon Foster and developing man-child and war hero Alejandro Villanueva. The depth is solid and even fourth-round pick Jerald Hawkins is showing talent for the future. Mike Munchak is turning this into one of the NFL鈥檚 top overall units.
DEFENSIVE LINE 鈥� Just as the O-line is coming into championship form, John Mitchell has this group peaking with Cameron Heyward the leader and Stephon Tuitt the emerging blue-chipper. In the middle is 350-pound Daniel McCullers, who is being pushed by third-round pick Javon Hargrave. And Hargrave could win the NT job by the opener, but he鈥檚 at least an intriguing nickel rusher along with Ricardo Mathews. The Steelers signed him as a free agent and he hasn鈥檛 played a regular-season game yet but he鈥檚 already shot past the last free agent they brought in from San Diego, Cam Thomas, in the minds of coaches and teammates. Last year鈥檚 sixth-round draft pick, L.T. Walton has made big strides to round out the depth here.
LINEBACKER 鈥� The inside guys are blue-chip and plentiful. The outside guys are just plentiful. What鈥檚 missing is the blue-chip pass-rusher of past championship defenses. It鈥檚 unlikely that Jarvis Jones 鈥� albeit in top shape 鈥� can live up to his first-round pedigree in his fourth year, but can Bud Dupree? Last year鈥檚 first-rounder is fast, strong and came to camp in great shape 鈥� other than groin issues that have kept him out of 90 percent of the practices since early in the spring. Dupree is the one potential blue-chipper in a group that includes quality players such as Jones, James Harrison, Arthur Moats and Anthony Chickillo. In the middle, Ryan Shazier is looking at an All-Pro breakout season if he can stay healthy. He鈥檚 next to a leaner Lawrence Timmons and they鈥檙e backed by Vince Williams and a quality group that鈥檚 fighting for the remaining spots. Seventh-round pick Tyler Matakevich has the look of a special type of athlete, if not a beacon for a generation that seems to be lost in its technology these days.
SECONDARY 鈥� Another personnel department disappointment has been the slaphazard improvements made here to the team鈥檚 weakest unit. Three-fifths of the secondary have been replaced not by a free agent but by a late first-round draft pick who not only has struggled all camp with a leg injury but was known to be a long-term project on draft day. What did the team expect from the 25th pick of the draft? Good thing they found a serviceable young corner off the scrapheap last year in Ross Cockrell, who鈥檚 improved his physique and is forever staying after practice to hone his techniques. He鈥檒l line up opposite Will Gay while second-round safety Sean Davis 鈥� who struggled as a cornerback at Maryland last season 鈥� is targeted to start as the slot corner. Rob Golden steps in at strong safety next to Mike Mitchell. The depth is threadbare thanks to an injury to Senquez Golson, who has yet to practice more than once in pads in his two years with the the team.
SPECIAL TEAMS 鈥� Placekicker Chris Boswell was a true find last season when he made 36 of 39 field goals, including all seven in the playoffs. Punter Jordan Berry is called 鈥淏loke鈥� on Twitter but the Aussie goes by 鈥淢ate鈥� on his team. A rest after a year in which he prepared for tryouts, did the tryout tour, and finally worked into the playoffs for the Steelers has done wonders for his powerful leg this training camp. The aforementioned Rogers should spell A.B. as the punt returner while Coates has been the main kickoff return man.