As the Steelers enter the final week of training camp with two preseason game under their belt, here are five players – some old, some new - who have improved their stock based on both the practices and the games.
LB Jamir Jones Jones is one of those guys who’ll make a play in training camp and you have to check the roster – as in “that was pretty good; but who is this #44 guy?” Finally, after seeing that more and more, I started to recognize Jones, a first-year player who never made much of an impact at Notre Dame then failed to stick with the Texans a year ago. He caught the Steelers attention at a workout and now may have a chance to catch on. Jones had one solo tackle in the Hall of Fame game but was more noticeable in Philadelphia. He was in on 4 tackles, 3 solo, including a sack. He also pressured QB Nick Mullens into a throw that was picked off by Justin Layne. With TJ Watt not practicing and Melvin Ingram slowly working his way in Jones is making good use of his extra reps.
RB Anthony McFarland McFarland never did find his niche as a rookie but he has taken advantage of the pre-season unavailability of Bennie Snell and Kalen Ballage to show flashes in practices. He has been just okay in the two exhibition games – 3 carries for 9 yards and 1 reception for 6 yards vs. Dallas then 9-34 and 1-7 at Philadelphia.
He also returned 2 kickoffs for 38 yards. Familiarity with Matt Canada’s offense should help. McFarland had four 100 games in Canada’s offense at Maryland in 2018, including that 298-yard game against Ohio State. He only caught 7 passes that season, however, and that is a skill that will get him on the field.
P Jordan Berry Even though Berry is the incumbent, he is the longer shot to win the punting job.
The team not only invested a draft pick in Pressley Harvin III but since Harvin is a rookie he won’t count as much against the salary cap. Then Harvin was really good in the Hall of Fame Game – 45.8 average and 3 of his 4 punts were downed inside the 20, one at the 1–yard line. Still, Berry responded in Philly averaging 44 yards per kick with 2 downed inside the 20. Plus, don’t discount Berry’s work as Chris Boswell’s holder. Outside of that inexplicable 2018 season, Boswell’s accuracy is among the best the NFL
WR Anthony Johnson It can be easy for receivers to shine in training camp and a few of them – Rico Bussey, Matthew Sexton And Anthony Johnson - have had their moments this summer but, no offense to Bussey and Sexton, but moments are probably all they’ll have. Johnson, though, is different; at 6-2, 220 he simply looks the part. Johnson – a first-year player out of Buffalo who had a look with Tampa Bay in 2019 - has made plays all over Heinz Field for 2-and-a-half weeks. He caught 3 passes for 22 yards against the Cowboys then had a pair of receptions for 38 yards and one TD in Philly. Johnson’s problem is that there isn’t a job for him here … unless the James Washington trade request is real. If that should happen he looks ready to step in.
Dan Moore, Jr. I have talked about this for two weeks so I may as well write it down. I had no idea he could play. Throughout OTA’s and Mini Camp, Moore looked lost. In my at least semi-educated mind, he had no business being on an NFL field. But then the Steelers got to camp, put on the pads and Moore was transformed into a bonafide fourth round draft pick. Yes, he can play. So now some are wondering if Moore might have a chance to start since Moore and the second-team O-line looked a lot better than the “first team” against the Eagles. That’s not going to happen nor should it. Let’s give Chukura Okorafor a couple of games lining up next to Kevin Dotson. But it is encouraging that the Steelers may have found a tackle for the future with Moore.