Pittsburgh Steelers: Top 5 Training Camp Battles to Watch
Training Camp Battles
As NFL training camps get set to open, the Pittsburgh Steelers have some serious position battles to consider. This is a franchise that rebounded from back-to-back 8-8 seasons without the playoffs to an 11-5 record in 2014 and another AFC North title. However, that's no reason for Pittsburgh to sit idle and just hope that it happens again.
The goal for 2015 has to be improvement in several key areas and those are some of the ones we are going to talk about.
If the Steelers can secure consistent high effort from these spots, it will make the jobs of the rest of this team much easier.
Pittsburgh is fortunate that most of their key positions are entrenched and top talent. Nevertheless, it will be those tertiary positions that make this team complete and competitive for the entirety of the season. So, with that let's talk about the five big training camp battles to watch for the 2015 season.
5. Steve McLendon v Daniel McCullers
The heart and soul of any 3-4 defense is the nose tackle. Having that massive figure in the middle of the defensive line makes the job of everyone behind them easier. Pittsburgh ranked No. 18 in both yards and points allowed in 2014. This was due in large part to this team’s inability to win on first down. This meant the team was forced into sub packages and gave up far too many big plays.
So the hope is that one of the defensive tackles on this roster can step up and be the player this defense needs.
It is going to come down to Steve McLendon and Daniel McCullers for the bulk of the snaps at nose tackle. McLendon is the incumbent but was really mediocre last season. In fact, he was forced off the field far too much to be effective. That puts the hopes in the second-year player McCullers to supplant McLendon on early downs.
4. Matt Spaeth v Rob Blanchflower
It might not seem like a terribly exciting battle for backup tight end, but Steelers fans know better. The job of the No. 2 tight end on this roster is vital in all aspects of the offense. While primarily a blocker, the second tight end on the field could be utilized as an additional receiving target if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is so inclined.
The battle for the player to backup veteran Heath Miller will be between veteran Matt Spaeth and second-year player Rob Blanchflower.
Neither players are as complete as Miller, but both bring some interesting tools to the table. I hope that Blanchflower’s youth and improved athleticism give him an edge over Spaeth once training camp starts. He appears to be a much more viable receiving option compared to Spaeth.
3. Markus Wheaton v Sammie Coates
Word is that Pittsburgh has already moved wide receiver Markus Wheaton from the starting lineup. This should come as no surprise as Martavis Bryant came on huge at the end of last season as a rookie. His ability to get deep and eat up huge chunks of yardage make him an ideal player to pair with Antonio Brown.
However, the question becomes as training camps start is whether or not Wheaton can hold off rookie Sammie Coates.
Wheaton failed to fend off Bryant last year when he was a rookie, so there is nothing to say that the speedster Coates cannot do the same again this season.
Perhaps the most heralded rookie from the 2014 class was linebacker Ryan Shazier. HE came from Ohio State as an outside linebacker, but looked to be making the transition inside rather seamlessly in early camps. Unfortunately, an injury and struggles with the move made Shazier’s rookie season a wash. The player that stepped up in his place was Sean Spence.
As 2015 camp sets to open, the hope is that Shazier is ready to roll, but nothing is certain at this point.
Spence saw the first action of his career last season, and improved every week. Shazier is probably the better talent, but that’s no guarantee he will beat out the motivated and athletic Spence.
The most important battle of the Steelers training camp, it will be for the starting strong safety spot that could define this season. The retirement of safety Troy Polamalu has left a significant void in the defensive secondary. No one wants to be the guy that follows the guy, but one of these guys has to step up big for this defense.
If we assume that a healthy Mike Mitchell means he stays at free safety, the battle will come down to veterans Will Allen and Shamarko Thomas to play that strong safety spot.
Neither player has a distinct advantage over the other, and so it really will come down to which one brings it in training camp. There are other possible scenarios for both safety spots, but right now this seems to be the two frontrunners to start the 2015 season.
As NFL training camps get set to open, the Pittsburgh Steelers have some serious position battles to consider. This is a franchise that rebounded from back-to-back 8-8 seasons without the playoffs to an 11-5 record in 2014 and another AFC North title. However, that's no reason for Pittsburgh to sit idle and just hope that it happens again.
The goal for 2015 has to be improvement in several key areas and those are some of the ones we are going to talk about.
If the Steelers can secure consistent high effort from these spots, it will make the jobs of the rest of this team much easier.
Pittsburgh is fortunate that most of their key positions are entrenched and top talent. Nevertheless, it will be those tertiary positions that make this team complete and competitive for the entirety of the season. So, with that let's talk about the five big training camp battles to watch for the 2015 season.
5. Steve McLendon v Daniel McCullers
The heart and soul of any 3-4 defense is the nose tackle. Having that massive figure in the middle of the defensive line makes the job of everyone behind them easier. Pittsburgh ranked No. 18 in both yards and points allowed in 2014. This was due in large part to this team’s inability to win on first down. This meant the team was forced into sub packages and gave up far too many big plays.
So the hope is that one of the defensive tackles on this roster can step up and be the player this defense needs.
It is going to come down to Steve McLendon and Daniel McCullers for the bulk of the snaps at nose tackle. McLendon is the incumbent but was really mediocre last season. In fact, he was forced off the field far too much to be effective. That puts the hopes in the second-year player McCullers to supplant McLendon on early downs.
4. Matt Spaeth v Rob Blanchflower
It might not seem like a terribly exciting battle for backup tight end, but Steelers fans know better. The job of the No. 2 tight end on this roster is vital in all aspects of the offense. While primarily a blocker, the second tight end on the field could be utilized as an additional receiving target if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is so inclined.
The battle for the player to backup veteran Heath Miller will be between veteran Matt Spaeth and second-year player Rob Blanchflower.
Neither players are as complete as Miller, but both bring some interesting tools to the table. I hope that Blanchflower’s youth and improved athleticism give him an edge over Spaeth once training camp starts. He appears to be a much more viable receiving option compared to Spaeth.
3. Markus Wheaton v Sammie Coates
Word is that Pittsburgh has already moved wide receiver Markus Wheaton from the starting lineup. This should come as no surprise as Martavis Bryant came on huge at the end of last season as a rookie. His ability to get deep and eat up huge chunks of yardage make him an ideal player to pair with Antonio Brown.
However, the question becomes as training camps start is whether or not Wheaton can hold off rookie Sammie Coates.
Wheaton failed to fend off Bryant last year when he was a rookie, so there is nothing to say that the speedster Coates cannot do the same again this season.
Perhaps the most heralded rookie from the 2014 class was linebacker Ryan Shazier. HE came from Ohio State as an outside linebacker, but looked to be making the transition inside rather seamlessly in early camps. Unfortunately, an injury and struggles with the move made Shazier’s rookie season a wash. The player that stepped up in his place was Sean Spence.
As 2015 camp sets to open, the hope is that Shazier is ready to roll, but nothing is certain at this point.
Spence saw the first action of his career last season, and improved every week. Shazier is probably the better talent, but that’s no guarantee he will beat out the motivated and athletic Spence.
The most important battle of the Steelers training camp, it will be for the starting strong safety spot that could define this season. The retirement of safety Troy Polamalu has left a significant void in the defensive secondary. No one wants to be the guy that follows the guy, but one of these guys has to step up big for this defense.
If we assume that a healthy Mike Mitchell means he stays at free safety, the battle will come down to veterans Will Allen and Shamarko Thomas to play that strong safety spot.
Neither player has a distinct advantage over the other, and so it really will come down to which one brings it in training camp. There are other possible scenarios for both safety spots, but right now this seems to be the two frontrunners to start the 2015 season.
Source...