As I sit to write this, it’s been 205 days, 3 hours and 52 minutes since we last had Steelers football to watch.  That’s when the 2015 season came to an unfortunate end in Denver.  In a few more days, that long wait will finally end, and the first of the Steelers 4 preseason games will start, returning the world to a more palatable state.   Yes, it’s only preseason, it’s not a game that counts in the standings, but it does count in a lot of other ways.  It counts because there are, as always, questions about this team.  How will they handle losing Martavis Bryant?  How will the defense shape up?  How will the rookies acclimate to playing at the NFL level?  What will happen now that Heath has retired?  This is our first chance to look at the 2016 version of the Steelers, and there are some battles, and players, I think are worth keeping an eye on, starting Friday, and over the course of the next few weeks.

Sammie Coates

This is one guy I think it’s critical to keep an eye on.  Coates flashed moments of pure awesomeness in the playoff loss to the Broncos low those many days ago, and he needs to build on it.  So far, from what I’ve read and heard coming out of camp, he is doing nice things, but camp is not a game, and he needs to take that practice field success and show it on the field.  I don’t know how much (or if at all) Ben will play, but for however long it is, see how he targets Coates.  Is there some trust being built there?  Can Sammie be a legitimate alternative if AB is covered?  Does Ben trust him enough to go up and make a play on the ball?  Is Ben “throwing him open” the way he can do with AB at times?  Can he catch the “contested” balls?  These are all questions I’m going to want answers to, and the first chance to find those answers is Friday.  The Lions secondary isn’t terrifying by any means, and if whomever is playing QB has time to throw, there should be opportunities to shine.

Eli Rogers

Much like Coates, and especially with Markus Wheaton nursing an injury, Rogers has a chance to shine and show something Friday night.  There has been a lot of talk that Rogers can be the “slot receiver the Steelers have been missing”.  Now, I like Markus Wheaton, but I’ll admit he wasn’t overwhelming last season, but I thought he was improved.  Still, if Rogers can be a more effective slot guy than Markus has been, hey, that’s great!  I know that the Steelers were high on him last year until he got hurt in camp, and again, from what I’ve heard and read, he’s having a solid beginning to camp.  He’s worth keeping an eye on during the game, and the questions are much the same as they are with Coates.  I think he’s likely to get more playing time than Sammie, but we’ll see.  Regardless, this is his chance to start grabbing more attention, and make the final 53.

Anthony Chickillo

Chickillo has been making waves at camp so far, and he’s playing a spot that the defense can really use more production out of.  Last year, the leaders in sacks were not edge rushers, but rather were Cam Heyward with 7 and Stephon Tuitt with 6.5.  Our edge rushers (Moats, Dupree, Deebo and Jarvis Jones) managed a total of 13 sacks, which is (if my math is right) ½ a sack less than Tuitt and Heyward.  There is no question that we need more production from the edge than we got last year, and if Chickillo can help provide it, that’s great.  It was reported that in one of the most recent “Backs on Backers” drill, Chickillo won all but one of his attempts.  He has dropped weight, and is learning to use his hands better, can use speed and then swim to the inside.  I expect him to get a lot of snaps in this game, and we’ll see if he can follow up on his practice success with actual “game” success.

Alejandro Villanueva/Ryan Harris

This is one of the most talked about “camp battles” this year.  I love Big Al, and hope he continues to grow.  I mean, how can you not love that guy.  But he needs to grow and get better.  Speed has given him fits, and he needs to use his hands more effectively and his arm length.  I expect him to improve, but right now it will be interesting to see who gets more work during this first preseason game.  Ryan Harris was a starter on a Super Bowl winning Broncos team last year, and while he, I am sure, understands his role, he likely will want to be a starter, rather than a backup.  It will be interesting to see how both of these guys react to game situations and who comes out looking more effective.  It’s a critical position, and the battle between these two will be a benefit to both of them.

Tyler Matakevich

“Dirty Red” has been making his presence felt, which is what the guy does.  He’s the first to say he’s not the fastest, the biggest, or the strongest, but he still might be the most effective guy on the field.  Will he get snaps inside?  Will he be a special teams guy?  I don’t know, but I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of impression he can make.  If Matakevich can contribute, what a steal for us to get production out of a 7^th round pick!  This is a guy I’m rooting for, and who I think will be a camp favorite because he is such an “effort” guy.

Daniel McCullers/Javon Hargrave

This is going to be McCullers third season, and its time for the big man to show something.  Somebody needs to put some nasty in his personality because I think Big Dan could be a frighteningly dominate guy if he just could play a little ticked off!  He needs that chip on his shoulder, because without out it, he’s just not motivated enough.  And maybe the competition with Javon Hargrave will be a spark to that.  I am excited to see what Hargrave can show.  He’s been said to be quick off the ball, and to have a great first step, and it will be great to see if he can show some of that Friday night.  Hargrave has a better chance, I think, to get snaps because I know they have talked about having him spell Cam and Tuitt, which would be a huge help this year.  Those guys were worn out by the end of last season.  If the added competition can light a little fire in Big Dan, and Hargrave can take some time from Tuitt and Heyward, we could have a Defensive front that could be something special.  Well worth watching how both of these guys look in these preseason games.

Artie Burns/Sean Davis/Ross Cockrell

Our top two draft picks from this year have kind of switched in expectations now that Golson has been lost to injury.  Sean Davis probably has the best opportunity to get quality snaps in the as the slot corner.  It will be good to see how he works in that position, despite having been drafted as a safety.  If Davis can contribute in the slot, that makes him all the more valuable.   As of today, it doesn’t look like Artie Burns is going to be participating in this first preseason game .  Depending on who you believe, he’s either nursing a quad injury or an ankle injury, but he hasn’t been practicing, and as is normally the pattern, you don’t practice, you don’t play.  That means we’ll get to see some of the guys on the depth chart, but also that Ross Cockrell will get a good number of snaps, and we should pay attention to see if he’s made any improvements from last year.  Hopefully Burns’ injury isn’t a long term thing, and he’ll be back on the field in time for the next game.  He’s the guy we drafted to be the future at corner, and I think he has a ton of potential, but it needs to show up on the field.  He’s not going to start right out of the gates.  He’s not going to start for a while, but the more “game time” he gets, the more experience he gets, the faster he’ll start to compete for that role.  I’m looking forward to seeing if spending theses high draft picks on these two guys pays off!

Those are the guys I’m focusing on for this first preseason game.  Yes, we should hope to see how the offense is shaping up, and the defense as well, but we all know, these games are pretty vanilla for the most part.  They aren’t showing everything on either side of the ball, so it’s pretty easy to just see who can make plays or looks like they are standing out.  It’s the first “real” (sort of) game of the 2016 season, and the first step up that stairway to seven.  Man, I’m so glad football is back!