Which player needs to step his game up in 2016?

If the Steelers are going to make a Super Bowl run, they will to improve their pass defense from 2015.

 

Would love to see Jarvis Jones have a breakout year. I know what the Steelers have in Timmons and Shazier. I think I know what they will soon have in Dupree. All positives. If Jones can step it up big this year, in addition to the continued progression of Dupree and Tuitt, I'm not so worried about the secondary because QBs wont have enough time to throw the ball anyway.

 

Yeah, Coates better turn out to be the Anti-Sweed, but we still have more talented skill position players, on O than D..

I voted for Jones...

Then I thought about how nice it would be, to see Mountain McCullers have a mountain of a season...

Or ANY of our DB`s/Safeties?

I gotta hope the player to have the breakout season is on DEE---FENSE!!!

 

The success of the defense in this system is predicated on our ability to pressure the quarterback. With that said, we need Jarvis Jones to prove his worth and Bud Dupree to make a huge stride from last season. The best way for our secondary to improve is for our outside linebackers to get to the quarterback. I'd split my vote between Jarvis and Dupree.

I think Shazier should be an option too. I think that his upside is huge and, although he's shown flashes, he hasn't yet sniffed his potential. If he can use his speed an instinct to be as disruptive as Polamalu, it's gonna be a fun year.

The offense will take care of itself. I'm not worried about Coates. He's a third (or so) option. He stepped up in Denver last year and I have no doubt he'll be dependable this season.

 

We need defense.

Dupree is where a player typically shows a big chunk of improvement. Even more so next year.

Jones and Shamarko are well past that point. They may be better this year, but I don't see significant upside.

I'm guessing the votes for Coates are a reaction to Bryant checking out for a year. But based on last year defensively, and the word "need" in the post title, we "need" defense.

If the question was "will", I would have a different response.

 

I wasn't on the board last year during the season. Is there an inside joke I'm missing with the Dupree and Dupreee options in the poll?

 

to be honest i think it's two players you don't have listed. pouncey and AV. can and will pouncey regain his form and can AV move to the next level? without a protected ben we sink anyway.

 

I dont see Dupreeee on the poll

 

I struggled between Dupree and Dupreee, but ultimately chose double e. I think he can be a huge difference maker for us if he can step his game up and get us somewhere close to 10 sacks. I hope Jarvis picks his game up, but I don't see any more than 6-8 or so out of him even at his best. We need someone to step up and become a stud. Tuitt could be hat guy too

 

Jarvis Jones for me.... and it is not even close. 1st round pick with only a handful of sacks. He did some good last year.. and while I saw improvement... boy.. much of it was not what I was expecting. I hope he can prove me wrong but I really do not see it thus far.

 

Um can "the whole secondary" count as a player? LOL!

 

Same answer as last year for me, Jarvis Jones.

 

...and probably the year before???

 

Cockrell and Golson, although Golson never played last year big things are expected from him
this go around. Cockrell I am not so sure I like his game?

 

I heard both of these guys have bulked up some, the criticism of Cockrell has been he needs to be more physical.

 

My feelings exactly.

 

There should be an Other category although what i'm going to write has been discussed.

The secondary play to me is the most important. Yea yea pass rush gives the corners and safeties more of a cushion but when the pass rush is swallowed up and you have a quick pass game neutralizing the pass rush solid secondary play is paramount.

The Offense will be fine. AV will have a year under his belt and hopefully Pouncey can stay on the field.

Poor Jarvis. Will he wilt or step up. Can't have a subpar effort from him. I feel this will be his last season in Black and Gold. Who knows what's going to happen with the Harrison investigation.

 

Me too. Without Martavis, he has to be better

 

Yeah it's important for a solid 2 backup QB to earn that spot, and all indications are landry jones is going to possibly be that guy according to his QB coach anyway:

http://www.steelers.com/news/articl...-to-grow/22df1070-d39f-4c2d-abb1-211fe68e04c4

 

it has to be
DHB

 

It already does - William Gay.

 

You forgot Boykin. LOL!!!

 

I think you are correct.It seems he played well for that 4 game stretch with 2 of those without a real QB playing . With Ben throwing the Ball He should do much better,also it seemed that Haley and BEN tried to force feed Wheaton , I think we will see a shift in that and a few more targets going deep towards DHB to help open up the underneath for Brown,Bell,Coates and are new TE weapon...