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After getting a glimpse of some rising Steelers in a win vs the Dallas Cowboys, the Pittsburgh Steelers (and Steeler Nation!!!) move on from taking over the Hall of Fame to the opposite side of the state. They will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in their second of four preseason contests scheduled.
It was a refreshing sight to see last week. Despite it mostly being “JV vs JV”, Steeler Nation got a glimpse of some rising stars and some questions answered. The skeleton of the “first team” offense looked ok. The offensive line was getting some push and Najee Harris found some lanes—though there is still work to be done. It was refreshing to see since the last time we saw backup offensive linemen in a preseason game… it involved Devlin “Duck” Hodges not standing a chance. The offensive play calling was basic, but overall I liked what I saw.
Despite the fumbled exchanged handoff in the first half, Mason Rudolph did ok. He stood against pressure and delivered some solid throws. Dwayne Haskins didn’t force anything and looked comfortable moving around and checking the ball down. These are things you expect from your back quarterbacks.
Defensively, James Pierre and Mark Gilbert played well, while Alex Highsmith is really picking up steam! The ILB position opposite Devin Bush is a little concerning, but it’s still very much early to tell how things will unfold. Overall, things are looking solid on the defensive front.
Tonight, like last week, there will be plenty to look for as the Steelers take on the Eagles in Philadelphia. Here are my 3 position battles to watch in preseason game 2:
Twitter: @jsko_photo
James Pierre had a solid game last week. He made a few good situational plays and also had some plays where he can learn and improve upon. Additionally, Mark Gilbert had a good game as well. Other names such as Tre Norwood and Antoine Brooks also got in the mix with plays—and even Donovan Stiner made a nice interception.
With that being said, the stock has dropped dramatically for Justin Layne. With those previous players mentioned and Shakur Brown picking up momentum in camp, it makes you wonder if he could be on the bubble? He has worked with assistant coaches extensively, but his opportunities are dwindling as we get closer to the regular season. The spots behind Joe Haden and Cameron Sutton are very much up for grabs as far as pecking order goes—and for final roster spots.
Twitter: @jsko_photo
The only locks for me are Najee Harris (duh) and Anthony McFarland. The rest is a battle. Kalen Ballage scored the only touchdown of the game last week and looked pretty decent. Jaylen Samuels had a couple of solid runs but overall wasn’t overly effective. Benny Snell hasn’t seen much action as of yet due to injury.
The big question is who will be the 3rd or *maybe* even 4th guy? Snell, Ballage, and Samuels could all very well be fighting over the same spot. It’s also possible the Steelers keep a 6th receiver after the performances of Rico Bussey in camp and a flash play from Mathew Sexton—and Anthony Johnson’s steady performance as well. There’s no doubt the running back battle should pick up intensity.
Twitter: @jsko_photo
Not only are we watching a battle for a backup spot, but the spot opposite of Devin Bush could also be up for grabs. Robert Spillane left much to be desired in last week’s game. While there is still an opportunity for him to get things back in order, Buddy Johnson has been making strides in camp and preseason. I don’t believe Spillane will ultimately lose this spot, but he could be pushed for it.
In general, these inside backers will all be showcasing for spots and playtime this season. They will be under the microscope to see where they fit and how they can contribute—after all, last season this group got gashed by injuries and COVID-19, and hung in there. This season, they will have to be just as flexible and deep.
What battle are yinz looking forward to the most?
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
It was a refreshing sight to see last week. Despite it mostly being “JV vs JV”, Steeler Nation got a glimpse of some rising stars and some questions answered. The skeleton of the “first team” offense looked ok. The offensive line was getting some push and Najee Harris found some lanes—though there is still work to be done. It was refreshing to see since the last time we saw backup offensive linemen in a preseason game… it involved Devlin “Duck” Hodges not standing a chance. The offensive play calling was basic, but overall I liked what I saw.
Despite the fumbled exchanged handoff in the first half, Mason Rudolph did ok. He stood against pressure and delivered some solid throws. Dwayne Haskins didn’t force anything and looked comfortable moving around and checking the ball down. These are things you expect from your back quarterbacks.
Defensively, James Pierre and Mark Gilbert played well, while Alex Highsmith is really picking up steam! The ILB position opposite Devin Bush is a little concerning, but it’s still very much early to tell how things will unfold. Overall, things are looking solid on the defensive front.
Tonight, like last week, there will be plenty to look for as the Steelers take on the Eagles in Philadelphia. Here are my 3 position battles to watch in preseason game 2:
1. Cornerback
Twitter: @jsko_photo
James Pierre had a solid game last week. He made a few good situational plays and also had some plays where he can learn and improve upon. Additionally, Mark Gilbert had a good game as well. Other names such as Tre Norwood and Antoine Brooks also got in the mix with plays—and even Donovan Stiner made a nice interception.
With that being said, the stock has dropped dramatically for Justin Layne. With those previous players mentioned and Shakur Brown picking up momentum in camp, it makes you wonder if he could be on the bubble? He has worked with assistant coaches extensively, but his opportunities are dwindling as we get closer to the regular season. The spots behind Joe Haden and Cameron Sutton are very much up for grabs as far as pecking order goes—and for final roster spots.
2. Running Back
Twitter: @jsko_photo
The only locks for me are Najee Harris (duh) and Anthony McFarland. The rest is a battle. Kalen Ballage scored the only touchdown of the game last week and looked pretty decent. Jaylen Samuels had a couple of solid runs but overall wasn’t overly effective. Benny Snell hasn’t seen much action as of yet due to injury.
The big question is who will be the 3rd or *maybe* even 4th guy? Snell, Ballage, and Samuels could all very well be fighting over the same spot. It’s also possible the Steelers keep a 6th receiver after the performances of Rico Bussey in camp and a flash play from Mathew Sexton—and Anthony Johnson’s steady performance as well. There’s no doubt the running back battle should pick up intensity.
3. Inside Linebacker
Twitter: @jsko_photo
Not only are we watching a battle for a backup spot, but the spot opposite of Devin Bush could also be up for grabs. Robert Spillane left much to be desired in last week’s game. While there is still an opportunity for him to get things back in order, Buddy Johnson has been making strides in camp and preseason. I don’t believe Spillane will ultimately lose this spot, but he could be pushed for it.
In general, these inside backers will all be showcasing for spots and playtime this season. They will be under the microscope to see where they fit and how they can contribute—after all, last season this group got gashed by injuries and COVID-19, and hung in there. This season, they will have to be just as flexible and deep.
What battle are yinz looking forward to the most?
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
