Ones to watch in preseason opener
You guys know I could rattle on about the Steelers depth chart in previewing tonight无毛视频檚 preseason opener against Tampa Bay.
But I无毛视频檓 taking a different approach.
I无毛视频檓 naming one player to watch at each position. Just one.
So he had better be worth it.
Here goes:
QUARTERBACK 无毛视频� Devlin 无毛视频淒uck无毛视频� Hodges (6) still needs one of the other QBs to melt down 无毛视频� and by that I include injuries. But at least Duck has that shot after a solid first two weeks of training camp. He无毛视频檚 the rookie out of the FCS who wasn无毛视频檛 drafted, nor signed until after a minicamp tryout. At 6-1, Hodges is just big enough, his arm is just strong enough, he无毛视频檚 savvy, and if he had a pot belly he could be Billy Kilmer. I无毛视频檓 really showing my age now, so moving on 无毛视频�
RUNNING BACK 无毛视频� Benny Snell (24) is the fourth-round pick who carried Kentucky against SEC defenses that knew he was getting the ball on big downs. Snell无毛视频檚 looked good in camp. He ran rings around Devin Bush in a passing drill, and picked him up in blocking drills from time to time. The big-hearted inside runner has also flashed some outside speed at Saint Vincent College.
WIDE RECEIVER 无毛视频� For eight days, Donte Moncrief (11) had been catching with only one hand, until he scrimmaged Wednesday without a wrap on his left hand. And dropped the only pass thrown to him. Ben Roethlisberger raves about his instincts and understanding, so the hope is the 26-year-old 无毛视频淐rief无毛视频� is a free-agent find.
TIGHT END 无毛视频� Kevin Rader (87) has been getting plenty of work in preparation. He lined up at fullback the other day and beat Bud Dupree for a 15-yard gain. Rader无毛视频檚 out of Pine-Richland High and Youngstown State and played well in Green Bay无毛视频檚 camp last year. He无毛视频檚 more receiver than blocker, so let无毛视频檚 look for some physicality.
OFFENSIVE LINE 无毛视频� Zach Banner (72) needs to come out on fire, not warm up to it. That seems to be his M.O. In one-on-ones the other day, Banner was startled and beaten by an opponent, whom Banner then smashed in the ensuing two reps. And at 6-8, 344, that无毛视频檚 a lotta smashing. He was born to play right tackle and could blossom into a star player a few years later than expected, like his father, Lincoln Kennedy.
DEFENSIVE LINE 无毛视频� Isaiah Buggs (96) is as close to a roster lock as any sixth-rounder can be, but he does have to show up. He无毛视频檚 talented. Some questioned his drive, but through camp I无毛视频檝e heard no complaints. It无毛视频檚 always been, 无毛视频淏uggs is gonna to be good.无毛视频� Would be nice to watch this hyrbrid tackle/end against second-teamers.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER 无毛视频� All eyes have to be on Ola Adeniyi (92). Ola led them with three sacks last preseason, got injured in the last game, said he could无毛视频檝e been ready for Week 1, but was kept on IR until the latter portion of the season. Can he take playing time from the Nos. 2 and 3 OLBs? Stay tuned.
INSIDE LINEBACKER 无毛视频� Devin Bush (55) has been doing so much at camp, and I expect him to be in heavy use tonight. GM Kevin Colbert said Bush无毛视频檚 breakout practice was under the lights in downtown Latrobe, a day after Snell ran him ragged in a one-on-one coverage drill. Bush无毛视频檚 instincts are great in zone and he has the speed to improve his man coverage. Look for him on all three downs and on special teams, most prominently as the personal protector on punt.
CORNERBACK 无毛视频� My disciplined approach prevents me from naming the rookie draft pick I really want to watch, but who无毛视频檚 been nicked with a minor injury. So, let无毛视频檚 focus on Cameron Sutton (20). I believe the Steelers will use him wide with two veteran corners also injured. It无毛视频檚 the third year for this former third-round pick, who无毛视频檚 probably the camp interceptions leader. Here无毛视频檚 his chance to show he can be that guy in case of an injury to a starter. And while we无毛视频檙e asking, can Sutton be a star punt gunner, too?
SAFETY 无毛视频� Yes, Kameron Kelly (38) has some stiffness, and that无毛视频檚 probably why the Dallas Cowboys just couldn无毛视频檛 keep him last year. They liked him. So did the reporters covering the team. But Kelly ended up in Pittsburgh and looks like King Kong Bundy playing center field back there at 6 feet 2. Hey, I thought Kam Chancellor was stiff, too, and he became a Super Bowl star for Seattle. The other day, Kelly pulled up instead of pulverizing a small slot receiver who had just caught a slant. It made me think about what an unencumbered Kelly might do in tonight无毛视频檚 game.
PUNT COVERAGE 无毛视频� Trey Edmunds (33) is just a winner. I want him in my locker room. But there无毛视频檚 a numbers problem because the Steelers already have a fullback. To solve that, Edmunds needs to blow up on special teams.
KICK COVERAGE 无毛视频� My way of getting another guy in this column, and it无毛视频檚 6-C draft pick Ulysees Gilbert (54). Give them an excuse to keep an athletic ILB by running and hitting on special teams. Likely headed to the practice squad to add grown-man strength.
RETURN SPECIALIST 无毛视频� Diontae Spencer (82) is the CFL无毛视频檚 single-game recordholder with 496 all-purpose yards (133 receiving, 165 kickoff return, 169 punt return). Here are some other key numbers: 27 years old, 5 feet 8, 170 pounds. He无毛视频檚 in his prime, he无毛视频檚 small, and he无毛视频檚 quick. But he hasn无毛视频檛 shown any ultra-quick at camp. Neither had Stefan Logan, but that 5-6, 180-pounder had enough to make the 2009 team with a few big preseason returns.