OTA's Start Today

yes those are 5 but we have a whole slew of guys that need to take another step forward as well. Wallace should get valuable reps too with pounce still out. beachum's work in the offseason. arnfelt. Williams. shark. Mitchell meshing in. DD. adams. gilbert. palmer. ben and the receivers. let's not forget, I want to see what role munchaks Johnson plays. it's not just football in shorts, but steeler football in shorts.

 

spence is obviously the cinderella of those 5.. lets hope the guy can finally catch a break and prove butler wrong.. so i agree hes #1 ... but wil be interesting to see if jones improved at all .. and to see if wheaton can play 2 weeks without breaking a finger or something ....

HINES

 

It is really interesting to look at our D especially right now.

Defensive Line

Heyward - was a first year starter last year
McLendon - was a first year starter last year
Thomas - would be his first year starting here

Arnfelt, N. Williams, McCullers, Tuitt, Fangupo.....would all be first year starters

Linebacker

Worilds - was a first year starter last year
Timmons - Starter
Williams - was a first year starter last year
Shazier - would be a first year starter
Jones - was a first year starter last year

Defensive Back

Troy - Starter
Ike - Starter
Allen - was a first year starter last year
Mitchell - would be his first year starting here


This D has take a DRASTIC change in the last 2 years. If they can start to get consistent and potentially dominant....this could be a really interesting team.

 

Tuitt will be starting over Thomas.

 

While looking on the Steelers main page for news about OTAs, came across a great story about Cam Thomas.

Particularly liked this quote:

Now, I'm presuming he means the goal is to get to the Superbowl... not that the goal of every Steelers player now is to play for the Cards...

 

forgetting Gay?

 

If he's healthy he will be a backup, Shazier is running with the first team.

 

as I've said before, if spence can become a ST's terror this year, I'd be happy. then build on that.

 

I don't know if Spence even makes the team. He hasn't played football for 2 years now. This iisn'tsome vet that knows what its like to play in the nNFL either this is basically a rookie we are talking about. Its a great story but people I don'tthink the ending is him making the team.

 

No. I see Ike and Allen as our starters. Gay is a role player. The guys I picked above, other than listing the young DEs, are the guys I see as most likely to be starters on opening day.

 

i just heard that. seems ahead of schedule. still not under stress against opposition but a good sign.

 

I think so too.

 

Labs says Shazier looks special.

Kid is a bullet and destined to be a fan fav. IMO

 

he was immediately running with the 1's also. Williams may have a hard time making the team this year. he, garvin, Wilson, molls and zumwalt all vying for a spot or two. competition is good.

on a side note, I wonder what the first thing pouncey said when DD lined up next to him? if you touch me, i'll introduce you to aaron hernandez. < (green letters).

 

oh and I forgot spence in that mix as well. williams ran with the first team last year because larry foote went down and we had sly, garvin and Wilson as the other ILB'ers. garvin also got a lot of time in practice and on the field as well. we also drafted two.

I'm not sure any backup has an upper hand on the position yet. versatility will play a role, because they would be taking one of two spots if they see field time. Timmons or shazier. whomever can do both and be a ST's demon will be the backups.

Williams may not have as much of a leg up on guys that are far better in playing the pass. garvin, zumwalt, shazier, spence all have good coverage skills. most from having some safety in their background.

it will be interesting to watch. I'm not saying Williams can't make it, but it won't be easy and he will have to build on his game from last year. seems we are making a point to add more speed to the defense, we will see how he fits.

to me last year was just that, last year. things will be quite different this year. it's hard to try to compare one year to another. we are coming off two 8-8 seasons and the coaches know this and know they have to change things up. DL doesn't have to read the so called experts columns to find out what he should do. coaches know how to coach and what they need to do to improve. we can no more look at last year and compare it to this year in many aspects of the team. DL knew they needed to bring back speed and they did at near every position on defense.

the offense brought in some new weapons and speed also. same players in a different scheme doesn't always work, so I think we will be surprised at who eventually makes it this year. the majority is still very young and not quite set in stone. that would be foolish for any coach at this point coming off a pair of 8-8's with young talent everywhere and a vision of where we want to be.

 

we also saw the defense go to a lot more sub package football without him in there. just sayin. I think we could keep 9 possibly any more than that is cutting into other positions. we can't keep them all. I wish they would expand the rosters.