What To Look For In the Steelers’ Preseason Finale
Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
All preseason games are important for one reason or another, even if the experience of watching it feels otherwise. With the exhibition season cut down to three games, the football tends to be more physical as guys are looking to make a lasting impression with limited time.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have determined most of their depth chart, but there are still a few lingering uncertainties about the 53-man roster as they head their final preseason.
Here are some items the Black and Gold are focusing on in their final tune up against the Atlanta Falcons.
Health
Getting out of this game healthy is the no. 1 goal. Yes, football is a violent sport and, yes, there’s not really a significant difference in losing a player to the PUP list in the preseason or Week 1 — except that there is, at least psychologically. Something about a meaningful injury in a meaningless game takes a little extra toll. And this is truer than ever given that Mike Tomlin has said the starters will get even more work against the Falcons.
“We’ve got an agenda with our units — first unit, second unit, third unit — there’s certain things that we want to see. We did a little planning for this, and so the process of strategic planning, teaching, learning, and then playing, we want to see that; their ability to execute planning relative to a game plan perspective,” Tomlin said.
Playing your starters for extensive time can be tricky this late in the preseason. Getting as many guys to Week 1 healthy as possible has to take priority.
Will James Pierre Lock Down A Roster Spot?
Pittsburgh’s secondary has three guys who will undoubtedly make the team at the cornerback position in Patrick Peterson, Levi Wallace, and Joey Porter Jr. They don’t a fourth. To start camp, James Pierre would have been a shoo-in for the spot, but after two awful showings in the preseason, who knows. The versatility of Tre Norwood is something the coaching staff might desire more than what Pierre is bringing to the table.
Pierre has shown in previous seasons that he can be relied upon. But this is a results business. When the margin is this close, you have to set yourself apart. So far, he hasn’t done that.
Will Broderick Jones Show Up?
I know this is odd coming from me. I have been screaming for Jones to be in the starting lineup from Day 1. But it’s pretty clear, Dan Moore Jr has beaten him out for the starting job at left tackle. To say that is disappointing is an extreme understatement. The Steelers moved up to three spots in the draft to take Jones. Most teams do that for a guy who is a Day 1 starter you can pencil in for the next decade.
Jones looks the part. Has shown flashes. But a lackluster performance in the previous preseason game against the Buffalo Bills was cause for concern. The coaches had Jones in and out of the lineup, and at times it didn’t look like he was into the game. He gave up a sack to a guy that I’m not sure will make the Bills’ roster. He wasn’t dominant in the run game. He was caught a few times playing high with little to no knee bend. We already know his hand placement is a work in progress. If you’re going to play high as well, you have no shot to block NFL-caliber edge rushers.
This last preseason game is huge for Jones. He needs a great showing to get his confidence back, as I’m sure he thought he was going to be the Week 1 starter. If he is not, his next goal should be to become the guy by Week 4. And if that doesn’t work out, perhaps the Steelers made a mistake.
Keeanu Benton Emergence
After missing most of last week’s preseason game, the second-round pick out of Wisconsin has to emerge as someone that can be counted on early in the season. The Steelers have big plans for the rookie, and missing valuable game reps is not ideal. In his professional debut, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he played with the leverage and motor that made him a second-round pick. He was clearly in the mix to earn the starting nose tackle job.
Benton was only able to log five special teams snaps against Buffalo, presumably due to injury as he left late in the game. If he can go against the Falcons, this is his chance to solidify his place in the starting lineup.
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