LATROBE (93.7 The Fan) – Time to drink up Steelers football with the preseason opener Thursday at home against the Packers. Here is a six-pack to think about as you watch it with Bob Pompeani, Charlie Batch, Rich Walsh and Missi Matthews on KDKA-TV.
QBs
Of course, it’s the top one and the first of three opportunities for Will Howard to show what he could do with Aaron Rodgers and Drew Allar locks to make the roster. Howard hurt his thumb right before preseason games last year and hasn’t played in a game since college. Howard said he knows the stakes and is ‘fired up’ to show what he can do, not only to his teammates, but he says the fans have been great and he needs to reward them with play on the field.
Howard seems to hold his future in his hands and a strong preseason puts him in a tight battle with Mason Rudolph to be the back-up quarterback. Head coach Mike McCarthy has praised both players. Allar has shown flashes in camp, a strong preseason would excite the fan base for the future.
All eyes on Will Howard for 1st game
Kaleb Johnson
A third-round pick last year, a fumbled kickoff destroyed Kaleb Johnson’s rookie season. It knocked him off the return units for much of the rest of his first year and he didn’t make a ton of the running back reps he was given, 28 carries for 69 yards and one reception for no yards in the regular season.
The 6’1”, 225-pounder was the Big 10 running back of the year in 2024 and is fully healthy. Flashing in the backfield gets more eyes on him, but what he can do on special teams will be huge. He’s fighting for a spot on the team with veteran Travis Homer, practice squad Lew Nichols and rookie Eli Heidenreich, all are versatile kick unit players.
Asante Samuel, Junior
The 26-year-old corner might be the camp phenom when it’s all over in Latrobe. Given an opportunity to be on the first team with Joey Porter, Junior dealing with a bad back and lack of a new contract, Asante Samuel, Junior has balled. He’s had handfuls of pass breakups not only in individual drills but also during team periods.
“I feel like we’ve competed well, it’s good on good,” Samuel said. “I feel like I’m even better (than before). I’m confident in the scheme and my teammates around me.”
Samuel is at least the first corner up if there is an injury and they might have to figure a way to get him on the field if he continues to perform well.
It’s worth noting the rookies-corner Daylen Everette and safety Robert Spears-Jennings are expected to get a lot of reps Thursday night.
Mike McCarthy
The Greenfield native said being the Steelers head coach will hit him driving to the game Thursday, quickly adding he has concerns and work to do. It’s not even as much about the homecoming, but what fans see from a McCarthy coached team. He’s preached details and run practice with a lot of tempo, how does that translate in its debut? Obviously, the game against Atlanta is the one that really counts and several key players either won’t play or will be limited Thursday, but it’s a first impression.
It’s been 6,948 days since Mike Tomlin’s first preseason game, the new era starts now.
McCarthy keeping preseason decisions short
Right side O-line
Massive movement on the offensive line, only center Zach Frazier remains in his original position. Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick are now on the left side of the line and Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook are likely to start on the right side. Fautanu and McCormick are locks, but Anderson and Cook are trying to win those jobs. Anderson has done whatever he has been asked in his first three season. This year, he has only played right guard during camp. He’s being challenged by veteran free agent Brock Hoffman, who played for McCarthy in Dallas. Cook is up against first-round pick Max Iheanachor, who isn’t expected to play due to a shoulder/neck injury suffered late last week. Iheanachor had really shown out when the pads came on, but a shot here for Cook to establish himself after getting his first starts at left tackle filling in for Broderick Jones for the last four games last season.
Homecomings
Not only with McCarthy, but when rookie Eli Heidenreich was last at Acrisure Stadium the crowd went crazy for the Navy star as a Steelers seventh-round pick. Now for Heidenreich he wants to prove that he’s more than just an NFL Draft story, but an NFL player.
Eli Heidenreich dream come true
Also playing at home for the first time as a Steeler is safety Jaquan Brisker. With injuries in the secondary, Brisker has been the veteran safety on the field. He had about 150 family at amp last week, imagine there will be a big cheering section for the Gateway HS grad Thursday.
Undrafted rookie defensive back Tamon Lynum returns to Acrisure after 16 games with the Panthers in a couple of seasons. Offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio coached at Pitt, defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons played for the Steelers. Special teams coach Danny Crossman played three seasons at Pitt. Frank Cignetti, Junior (senior offensive assistant) was twice the Pitt offensive coordinator. Tight ends coach Robert Kugler’s father was the Steelers offensive line coach and he played high school football at North Allegheny.
From QBs to new coach, new O-line and individual players
From QBs to new coach, new O-line and individual players
