One more week

[Oviedo]

One more week to start of camp

What are you looking forward to most?

[hawaiiansteel]

One more week to start of camp

What are you looking forward to most?

not talking about Le'Veon and AB anymore...

[Captain Lemming]

not talking about Le'Veon and AB anymore...

Fail......you just did it. :)

[hawaiiansteel]

Fail......you just did it. :)

I would reply to your response but I'm not talking about certain unnamed players anymore.

damn it, I just did... ;)

[Northern_Blitz]

not talking about Le'Veon and AB anymore...

This.

On the field.

For rookies: how Bush progresses (DJ too).

For sophomores: is Washington better, or is it all talk.

Finally, how does Ben look. Clearly the most important thing. Getting older and had some issues with deep ball accuracy early (maybe part of the reason we the stop many short passes). If he's still great, we've got a chance in any game IMO. Probably won't see much till the regular season though.

[Steel Maniac]

One more week to start of camp

What are you looking forward to most?

1. Seeing Edmonds (specifically) take the next step on defense
2. Sorting through this glutiny of players in the secondary and finally settling on our starters
3. Watching Bush run down guys from sideline to sideline.
4. Seeing the development of Jaylen Samuels who's lost 20 pounds and should be a better runner then last year.
5. Seeing guys tackle Snell. LOL
6. Seeing who wins the starting outside WR position opposite Juju (my money is on Moncrief)

[RuthlessBurgher]

Looking forward to seeing what the sudden infusion of speed at the second level of our defense looks like. Devin Bush, Mark Barron, Sutton Smith, Ulysses Gilbert...want to see them all progress in learning our defense so their brains are working as fast as their feet are. When they can just go out and play without being slowed down by overthinking things, our defense should look mighty different.

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In the defensive backfield, it will be interesting to see how Steven Nelson fits in opposite Haden, if we see more of the 2017 Mike Hilton than the 2018 Mike Hilton in the slot, and how Edmunds and Davis step up with a year under their belts at SS and FS, respectively. Haden, Hilton, and Davis are all in contract years and have plenty of reasons to be motivated to perform at a top notch level.

-----------------------------------------

At the WR position, it will be interesting to see Donte Moncrief and Diontae Johnson battling it out to be the starting split end opposite Juju, how James Washington has progressed and if he can step up in the flanker spot when Juju moves inside in 3 or 4 WR sets, Eli Rogers and Ryan Switzer battling it out to earn Ben's trust inside, and if CFL import Diontae Spencer can have a Stefon Logan like impact when we brought him down from up north, possibly making one of our more established WR options available in trade.

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Finally, the battle to replace Marcus Gilbert at RT will be intriguing. The steady Matt Feiler has filled in rather well for him with all the time he missed due to injury over the last couple of seasons, but the impressive athletic specimen Chuks Okorafor progressed faster as a rookie than most of us expected and might be our long term answer there sooner rather than later.

[NorthCoast]

NO. 1 PRIORITY--- NO INJURIES!!

... then always look forward to a sleeper emerging. A guy nobody thought would amount to much but takes his opportunity by storm!

:tt2

[Steelerphile]

1. Seeing Edmonds (specifically) take the next step on defense
2. Sorting through this glutiny of players in the secondary and finally settling on our starters
3. Watching Bush run down guys from sideline to sideline.
4. Seeing the development of Jaylen Samuels who's lost 20 pounds and should be a better runner then last year.
5. Seeing guys tackle Snell. LOL
6. Seeing who wins the starting outside WR position opposite Juju (my money is on Moncrief)

Not to be the grammar police but I don't believe "glutiny" is a word. If we wuz playin' Scrabble, I would challenge that one.
I don't see "glutiny" in Websters, but Gluttony is a word but means eat and drink to much. Maybe you mean excess or surplus
of players in the secondary. If so, I do agree. I want to see if Cam Sutton can make the next step. He is someone I liked
in the draft for his smarts and technique. He has yet to establish that much but he was injured his rookie season.

I would like to see if Marcus Allen wins a spot. I like his physical nature. Justin Layne as the frame and athletic traits,
that make him interesting.

I'm just playing with you.

[Oviedo]

I want to see Justin Layne show he has the stuff to be the next great Steelers CB.

I want to see Edmunds become the next Donnie Shell/Carnell Lake (Player not coach)

I want Devin Bush be the best player in the draft as many pundits have said

I want Diontae Johnson to make us forget whoever wore #84 last

I want Steve Nelson to solidify the secondary

I want James Washington to step up as a legit #2

I want Sutton Smith to be the "steal of the draft"

I want Switzer to win over Rogers...may the best player win

I want James Conner to stay healthy and rush for 1300+ yards and outrush whoever had #26 before

I want Gentry to become a special TE in the red zone and establish himself as the #2 by play off time

I want the offensive line to show they are more than Munchak and be the best in the NFL

[RuthlessBurgher]

Steelers' 53-man roster projection gives Ben Roethlisberger six WRs

1:00 AM ET

Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

The Pittsburgh Steelers open training camp July 25 at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Here’s a 53-man roster projection:

QUARTERBACK (3): Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Joshua Dobbs

With Roethlisberger under contract for three more years, the Steelers hope his successor is in the current position room. Rudolph looked more polished in his second year of offseason work, but Dobbs shined in the 2018 preseason and plans to do the same. The team might limit Roethlisberger's August reps to get the backups more run.

RUNNING BACK (3): James Conner, Jaylen Samuels, Benny Snell Jr.

The Steelers like Trey Edmunds' development but typically don't carry four running backs and are invested in the draft picks they selected in back-to-back-to-back years. Snell Jr.'s physicality is intriguing -- Conner says he can't wait to see him in pads -- but he might need time to improve conditioning, as is customary for many Steelers rookies at the position.

FULLBACK (1): Roosevelt Nix

Back like he never left. His usage rate dipped to 110 offensive snaps last season, as the Steelers went no-huddle often, but his bruising blocking is a good change of pace.

WIDE RECEIVER (6): JuJu Smith-Schuster, Donte Moncrief, James Washington, Ryan Switzer, Diontae Johnson, Eli Rogers

As a third-round rookie, Johnson would have to fall awfully flat in camp to lose a roster spot. Washington and Moncrief will battle for a starting role on the outside. Keeping six receivers is hardly a lock, but Switzer was second in receptions last season among Pittsburgh's returning wide receivers and has kick return value, while Rogers is still a good matchup receiver against man coverage.

TIGHT END (3): Vance McDonald, Xavier Grimble, Zach Gentry

McDonald is poised for a monster season if healthy. Grimble, an elite athlete and blocker who has struggled with consistency, finally gets his chance as the No. 2 outright. Gentry's 6-foot-6 frame could benefit the red zone package -- eventually.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Alejandro Villanueva, Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Matt Feiler, B.J. Finney, Chukwuma Okorafor, Jerald Hawkins, Zach Banner

At right tackle, Feiler and Okorafor engage in arguably the team's best position battle. Feiler acquitted himself well in 10 starts last season, and Okorafor has the natural feet and hands for the position. Finney is the swing guard. Hawkins needs a strong recovery from injuries. Banner provides tackle depth.

DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Cameron Heyward, Javon Hargrave, Stephon Tuitt, Tyson Alualu, Dan McCullers, Isaiah Buggs

This lineup has been loosely set for months, though sixth-round pick Buggs probably needs a strong camp to secure the sixth spot. The defense will employ a heavy rotation of Heyward-Hargrave-Tuitt-Alualu, with McCullers as a situational option against the run. Lavon Hooks is a practice squad player with ability too.

LINEBACKER (9): T.J. Watt, Vince Williams, Devin Bush, Bud Dupree, Mark Barron, Anthony Chickillo, Ola Adeniyi, Tyler Matakevich, Sutton Smith

The Steelers have steady four-man lineups at inside and outside linebacker, with Smith (6-0, 232) as a wild card. The sixth-round pick should make a compelling roster case with his quickness, but he might not have a positional home yet, as the Steelers tried him at running back in the spring. The offseason additions of Bush and Barron instantly upgraded the middle of the defense.

SECONDARY (10): Joe Haden, Steven Nelson, Sean Davis, Terrell Edmunds, Mike Hilton, Justin Layne, Artie Burns, Cam Sutton, Marcus Allen, Jordan Dangerfield

Burns is on shaky ground with last year's benching and an $800,000 roster bonus due on the third day of training camp, but he has a good chance to stick. He had a solid spring, spending additional hours with the coaching staff after practices, and coach Mike Tomlin has invested a lot in the first-round pick. That gives the Steelers six corners with Brian Allen on the way out.

SPECIALIST (3): Chris Boswell, Jordan Berry, Kam Canaday

The Steelers signed free agent Matthew Wright to push a struggling Boswell, but the Steelers want their veteran to rediscover his rhythm. Berry signed a two-year deal in the offseason.

https://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/30967/steelers-53-man-roster-projection-gives-ben-roethlisberger-six-wrs

[Oviedo]

The only surprise name I see on the list is Zach Banner. I think Damian Prince might be able to beat him out. I could also see someone like PJ Locke pushing Dangerfield off the roster.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I like S/CB Kameron Kelly as a possible back of the roster DB candidate.

I imagine they might try to keep Ulysses Gilbert as a 10th LB if at all possible.

If CFL import Diontae Spencer impresses during as a possible 6th WR option, maybe we trade Eli Rogers for a later round pick next year.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Not much interest here with so many spots already locked up. Are we really going to spend time this summer discussing whether or not Hooks can come in and keep Isaiah Buggs off the 53? The biggest potential surprises that I can see:

Only one of Switzer or Rogers makes it. Both guys are slot receivers and there are several others who can play in the slot already.

One kicker loses out, but it won't be Boz. Ian Berryman beats out Jordan Berry. Berryman had a nice college career, but on top of it he was a QB in High School which just adds a twist to the STs. Out of 206 college kicks, he averaged 43.8, but 82 (about 40%) were downed inside the 20, so very often he was not necessarily kicking for distance. over 25% of his kicks traveled over 50 yards so he can boot it when needed.

At least one kid, one of Kameron Kelly, PJ Locke, or Dravon Askew-Henry makes the roster at DB over one of the back of roster vets like Marcus Allen, Jordan Dangerfield, or possibly Artie Burns. Don't know why, but read articles on each of these young guys and they each sound pretty easy to cheer for.

[STH70]

One kicker loses out, but it won't be Boz.
I wouldn't be so sure of that. Boz will have to earn his job back and beat out Wright in the preseason.
He likely cost us the playoffs and was the WORST kicker in the entire NFL last year.
Plus there's a little issue of a $4.2M salary.
The term "What have you done for me lately" applies to kickers more than any other position.