Who will be the first rookie to earn a starting role?

OP is IT challenged

I’m more surprised he hasn’t figured out how to fix it

 

It's obvious that he rigged this poll in Bernard's favor, so he'd get the most votes.

 

Pink Floyd would be proud....................my Dad always loved this album cover.

 

I guess that determines how much teams play nickel defense. Steelers, under Tomlin, ran 245/425 damn near 3/4th of the defensive snaps ;however, that role was also shared by a 3rd S. So i could see how a slot CB, in some systems, is a starter.

 

I agree that if he's not at least the 3rd OT (swing tackle / tackle eligible?) to start the season, then it's not a great look for a 1st round pick.

I also agree that picking Max means they don't think Jones or Cook is a long term answer.

 

I didn't even notice that!

I should start doing this on the MC portion of the tests I write. Really start to mess with the psycology of the students.

 

IMO, this is a reasonable argument. Nickle has been our "base" defense for along time.

Here's a list of Steelers snap counts last year. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/2025-snap-counts.htm

It's funky because it's hard to define who our nickle back was after rotating guys around due to injuries in both the secondary and on the DL. Moving Ramsey from CB to S also really screws with this.

But our CB with the 3rd highest snap% was Echols @ 44.85%.

Our DL with the 3rd highest snap% was Harmon @ 38.3%.

"Starter" doesn't mean a lot for rotational positions that aren't on the field all the time IMO.

The numbers from 2024 don't help all that much either since our CB3 was Sutton who only started playing in week 10.

CB3: Sutton 23.44%
DL3: Larry O, 45.2%

No matter what, your nickel back and your 3rd DL are going to be rotational guys who get some snap% that's probably of similar order.

I think it's kind of odd to call one a starter and one a backup just based on their position without looking at their individual snap counts. And neither is the backup to the other.

 

Not just us.

I'm pretty sure nickel is the "base" defense for most teams. 3-4 and 4-3 are sub-packages in today's NFL.

I even think there was a season not long ago where dime was our most frequently called defense.

 

For me, Germie Bernard would be my pick.


If anything, his selection says a lot more about what the new Steelers Staff think about Roman Wilson than what Aaron Rodgers does. I personally wouldn't be surprised if both Kaleb Johnson and Roman Wilson are jettionsed by the end of the Preseason. Of the two, Roman Wilson is the more likely for the Steelers may have Rico Dowdle but I doubt he would pose a risk to Johnson directly.


Oddly enough, same goes for Eli Heidenreich. The Running Back that poses the big risk to Kaleb Johnson is Travis Homer. Homer has one key aspect that Johnson doesn't; special teams value. Remember Pittsburgh lost over 1500+ snaps total from Special Teams this Offseason. A lot of that was recouped with some FA Signings and some late round draft picks.

 

Finally we get to convert a WR .. The Steelers did have 1 in camp or maybe even on roster years back that went to another Team and converted to CB .. I still have no doubt DHB would have been better than a lot of the Safeties the Steelers trotted out there..lol

 

Obviously Bernard plugs in day one of camp in the slot and nobody will be able to dislodge him.

Also I expect Wetjen wins the return roles the moment he rolls up in the parking lot.

Dunker certainly has a good chance to win an early role. Maybe right away if he comes in ready. But just among the OL it is more likely Iheanachor slots as a starter on the depth chart before he does.

 

Barring injury, the most clear rookie starter is Dunker...... he's the only one moving to an actual open spot in the lineup.....
Iheanachor only has 5 yrs of football experience and will probably take a little bit of coaching before stepping into a starting role full time.....
Bernard has $50 mil in starters entrenched in front of him, and Allar isn't about to supplant
A A Ron or Howard

 

Because the OP really, really wants him to win?