PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Steelers only home preseason game is Saturday night at Acrisure Stadium facing against Buffalo and both teams should be playing their starters at least a quarter. Here are seven things to watch for on KDKA-TV.
Veterans playing
It's a double-edge sword of getting players ready without risking injury. We did a separate story on why guys like Cam Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick want to play.
Joey Porter, Junior
Given the times George Pickens has put him on a poster, it might seem like Joey Porter, Junior has had a bad camp. To the contrary, he's mostly been in the right positions and if you look at a few of those catches, Porter has the coverage, Pickens just made a ridiculous catch. Out with an ankle injury against Tampa Bay, it's big for Porter to get a number of reps, especially if they move Patrick Peterson to the inside in certain formations. A one-on-one match-up with Stefon Diggs couldn't hurt in evaluating Porter's game.
The second-round pick said earlier this week it is important to him to play. his confidence has grown because of interceptions during training camp. He knows he can catch and show people that only having one interception in college is not what you will see in the NFL.
"It's to shut everyone else up," Porter said of getting the picks in practice. "The outsiders that didn't think I could catch, wanted to show them I could. It really was nothing, I always work on it every day before and after practice, so it was something that was going to happen."
First team offense
In their only work, the first-team offense drove down the field against Tampa Bay and scored last week. Not only scored, but did so on a splash play from Kenny Pickett to Pickens. They got multiple bodies in that series and protected well. However, that doesn't mean they can't use the work.
"I thought it was good," guard James Daniels said of the first game.
"We did some different things. It's always good to get game reps but it wasn't their starters. We shouldn't look too much into it."
This offense will get the Bills starters, probably for the entirety of the time they play.
Follow-up
Several had good first performances, none better than Calvin Austin. The second-year receiver had his first chance to play against NFL competition and ran a 17-yard jet sweep, drew a pass interference penalty and caught a 67-yard touchdown where he blew by the defense.
The Steelers have been waiting for defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk to find his stride. He combined with fellow Wisconsin defensive lineman Keeanu Benton to provide a wall on the defensive line for a couple of series.
"I'm in year three in this system," Loudermilk said. "It's more comfortable to me. I know how the coaches want me to play. I know how I can play. I think that comes with being technical in certain situations."
Now can he, Austin, Benton, fourth-year running back Anthony McFarland and others repeat that performance against likely tougher competition Saturday night?
Kick returns
Undrafted rookie Jordan Byrd handled the kick duties in game one. McFarland gets run as the kickoff returner to show he can make it in that position and help cement a roster spot for a third running back dressed on gamedays.
Austin will get his first look at a punt returner. Mike Tomlin challenged the Memphis speedster to show him something on special teams this week.
"I did mostly punt returns at Memphis, so I have a lot of experience in it," Austin said. "It's probably one of the hardest plays in football. It's the longest play, you are the only one back there. It's about doing what you are practiced to do."
"I feel like I can do whatever with the ball in my hands."
Position battles
Tomlin said first-round pick Broderick Jones did a really nice job for his first time in an NFL game last week. He said he played with energy and finish. Tomlin didn't shut the door on him winning the left tackle job, saying it's up to him to take a significant step in the opportunities he gets this week.
There aren't many other starting battles to watch, rather depth competitions. Guys looking to show on special teams to make the roster.
· Who can take a step up to get the fifth and potentially last receiver spot for gamedays is in play-Miles Boykin, Cody White, Gunner Olszewski in that mix
· Can middle linebacker Kwon Alexander continue to carve out more time for himself.
· Who emerges as the slot corner, is Chandon Sullivan the guy?
· Can corner James Pierre improve his stock this week?
· The safeties are all expected to play except Tre Norwood.
· Defensive lineman Armon Watts had a few good practices this week, how does that battle play out with Montravius Adams, DeMarvin Leal, Loudermilk, Benton, Breiden Fehoko, Jonathan Marshall
· Will Kendrick Green get a look at fullback/H-back, can he have a better performance at center?
Damar Hamlin
He's been back home and thrown out the first pitch at a Pirates game along with leading a weekend of fundraising and CPR awareness. Now Bills safety Damar Hamlin returns in uniform to his college stadium in front of family and friends.
"It's awesome to see where he was last year, to see him on the field," said Steelers captain Cam Heyward. "It's very special. I'm a very big fan of his. I see the work he's doing with his foundation."
"I'm just excited to see where he's at. We couldn't be more excited to have a guy back on the field and be back with the brotherhood."
