PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - Steelers training camp gets underway when players report to Saint Vincent College Thursday at 11 a.m.
Aside from the position battles and on-field questions for the Steelers, there is the looming debate on if and when the Steelers will give Mike Tomlin a contract extension. They have, in the past, announced extensions during camp and done so with two years left on Tomlin's current deal, which is where he sits going into 2019.
Though the exact details of financial terms are often not made public, Tomlin is believed to be one of the highest-paid coaches in football. So Steelers ownership must weigh the risks and rewards of extending a coach that has, on one hand, won 65.4 percent of his regular season games and, on another hand, has just three playoff wins since 2010.
Below are the biggest position battles and questions for the team, by position, as it takes the fields in Latrobe.
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Position Battle: Ben Roethlisberger's backup spot will be something to keep a close eye on. From the looks of OTAs and minicamp, Mason Rudolph is getting a significant opportunity to overtake Josh Dobbs. But Dobbs surprised many when he beat out Landry Jones a year ago, and Rudolph will have to prove, in his play, that he's the better option.
Questions: How will Ben Roethlisberger adjust to not having such a reliable target in Antonio Brown? The two formed one of the NFL's greatest connections in the league's history over the last nine seasons. Now Roethlisberger will be looking elsewhere for playmakers.
Running Back
Position Battle: James Conner is the starter and should get the bulk of the workload. Jaylen Samuels showed some promise with his 142-yard effort against New England last year. The Steelers drafted Kentucky back Benny Snell in the fourth round. Those two will be vying for the backup role and playing time.
Questions: During OTAs and minicamp, the Steelers, on several occasions, showed formations with Samuels and Conner both on the field at the same time. Samuels' Swiss army knife versatility could allow offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner to get creative. Is Samuels ready for that?
Fullback
Position Battle: Rosie Nix's job should be safe. It would be stunning if, given his talent, his ability to play special teams and his contract (still three years left), the Steelers made a change there. Rookie linebacker Sutton Smith, who starred as a running back in high school, worked out with the backs in the spring. But that would be a long shot.
Questions: Can Nix be utilized more? He played in just 9.9 percent of the Steelers' offensive snaps last season. That likely changes in 2019 for a team that may focus more on the run game.
Tight End
Position Battle: This position is thin. Vance McDonald will be the starter and Xavier Grimble should be the backup, with rookie Zach Gentry as the the third option. Can Gentry, with his 6-foot-8 frame, push the flashy but inconsistent Grimble? There is a chance the Steelers go outside the organization and find a free agent tight end on the scrap heap during camp, just to add some depth.
Questions: McDonald will need to step into a more prominent role in the Steelers' offense if it is to be successful. Next to JuJu Smith-Schuster, he should become Roethlisberger's reliable target, especially in the red zone. His health has been a concern, as well.
Wide Receiver
Position Battle: Smith-Schuster, James Washington and Donte Moncrief are certain locks. Rookie Diontae Johnson, if he is even close to what Pittsburgh's brass think he can be, will be in the mix. That leaves an interesting dilemma. Ryan Switzer and Eli Rogers should both make it, with the Steelers carrying six wide receivers. But they are somewhat similar players. Switzer's ability to return kicks and punts could give him an edge, if it comes down to that. Another Diontae, Diontae Spencer, could make things interesting with a strong preseason. He looked good in the offseason after spending four years in the CFL.
Questions: Can Smith-Schuster handle double and triple team coverage, like Antonio Brown was able to do for years? We'll see. He's a great talent, but he racked up yards thanks, in large part, to Brown. And he has admitted that. James Washington needs to become the bonafide No. 2 receiver. The talent is there and he got in better shape this offseason, but results are necessary.
Offensive Line
Position Battle: Alejandro Villanueva, Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro are certain starters. Ramon Foster will be, as well. However, the Steelers like BJ Finney, who has proven to be more than capable of filling in for Foster. I'm not suggesting he takes Foster's job but, with Foster at 33 years old, Finney is certainly a nice luxury to have. Matt Feiler is the incumbent at right tackle. He showed real promise with Marcus Gilbert so frequently out of the lineup last season. But second-year tackle Chukwuma Okorafor will make this, quite possibly, the most intriguing position battle of camp.
Questions: How will this group perform with their former leader, Mike Munchak, now in Denver? New offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett is a Munchak protégé and the players seem to love him. A veteran group will ease the transition.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Position Battle: Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Javon Hargrave and Tyson Alualu make up a strong front. However, an injury or two could leave this group thin. Dan McCullers, despite a lack of sustained production, has been able to hold onto a job at defensive tackle for five years now. Could a change finally come there? Rookie Isaiah Buggs out of Alabama is one to watch.
Questions: Hargrave is a good player, having racked up 6.5 sacks last year, third-best on Pittsburgh's defense, despite playing just 43.6% of the team's defensive snaps. Can he get on the field more? Also, can Tuitt maintain health and blossom into the defensive end the Steelers expect him to be, given his five-year, $60 million contract?
Linebacker
Position Battle: Vince Williams, Devin Bush, Mark Barron, T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree will be regulars on the field. On the inside, Tyler Matakevich is a solid special teams contributor, and that helps, but he does not bring that much to the defensive table, hence the offseason additions of Barron and Bush. Ola Adeniyi showed some nice things before missing most of last year with an injury. Rookies Sutton Smith and Ulysees Gilbert, both draft picks, could end up fighting for a spot.
Questions: The biggest question on the defense is if Bush will live up to the hype. The Steelers traded up ten picks to get him, so he better. The middle of Pittsburgh's defense has suffered a major void since the loss of Ryan Shazier and Bush will try, eventually, to fill it. Concerns about his size linger, but he's a special athlete. The Steelers are paying Dupree $9.232 million this year. That's nearly $500,000 for every sack he's put up in his four years in the NFL. That has to change for him in a contract year.
Cornerback
Position Battle: Joe Haden, newly acquired Steven Nelson and Mike Hilton make up, what Pittsburgh hopes to be, a solid trio of corners. Cameron Sutton has been around long enough now that it is time for him to make a more serious impact. Rookie Justin Layne's size and athleticism turns heads. If he figures out how to play the NFL game, he could be a good one. The Steelers appear ready to give Artie Burns one last shot. It could very much be a make-it-or-break it camp for him.
Questions: Will Nelson, given the largest free agent contract in Steelers history this offseason, be able to solidify the corner group? He had four interceptions with Kansas City last year, and that is something Pittsburgh's secondary is desperately in need of. Hilton has shown flashes of greatness, but also struggled at times last year as the slot corner. He has not signed his exclusive-rights tender either, meaning he is currently not under contract. He did participate in OTAs and minicamp, but will he hold out of camp?
Safety
Position Battle: Terrell Edmunds and Sean Davis will be the starters, unless something unforeseen goes down. Beyond that, there are some questions. Marcus Allen didn't see the field until late in the year in 2018. Jordan Dangerfield is a reliable special teamer and Pittsburgh seems to trust him enough as a backup. Kameron Kelly, who comes from the AAF after spending some time with the Cowboys last summer, got a couple of looks with the first team defense in the spring.
Questions: Can Edmunds become an upper tier safety? He is, possibly, the most freakish athlete in that locker room. On the other side, Davis' play has been, at times, erratic. This is the last year of his contract so, needless to say, it is an important one. Will the Steelers decide to extend him before the season begins? Davis recently changed agents, hiring Antonio Brown's guy, Drew Rosenhaus.
Special Teams
Position Battle: It is not good to have uncertainty here, but the Steelers have it across the board. Following a disastrous 2018, Chris Boswell will now be pushed in camp by rookie Matthew Wright. Boswell has a big contract, so Pittsburgh wants him to be the guy he was before last season. Jordan Berry has been the team's punter for four seasons, having never missed a game. But his 38.8 net average last year was the lowest of his career and third worst in the NFL. Punter Ian Berryman will be in camp. The Steelers could look to the outside for a late replacement if they decide a change is necessary.
Questions: It is all about Boswell. His twelve missed kicks (field goals and extra points) in 2018 lost the Steelers games they should have won. He was so accurate the previous three seasons, making 89.5 percent of his field goal attempts. Pittsburgh has to hope that he is, mentally, able to overcome last year's struggles. If Pittsburgh makes changes at kicker and punter, would they clear house entirely and replace long snapper Kam Canaday, too?
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