SCU Panel: Which player are you most excited to see at training camp?
Steelers Nation, it’s almost that time! Football is almost back, but before we get to actual games, before we get to pretend games, we have to witness training camp.
The trip to St. Vincent’s College is one I look forward to each year, as Pittsburgh’s roster, which usually has room for only 53 names is now bursting at the seams with 90 players who are all biting and clawing to stake their claim in making the regular season cut.
In that spirit, the team here at Steel City Underground came up with the players they’re excited to see when camp opens on Friday.
Eric Herrman
The player I’m the most excited to see is Bud Dupree. Last year could’ve been Dupree’s breakout season, but an abdominal injury kept him out of camp and caused him to miss most of the season.
Once he got on the field though, he was productive. He ended the season with 4.5 sacks in 4 games. If you take that rate and spread it across an entire season, Bud gets double-digit sacks.
Dupree was drafted to bring a spark to the Steelers pass rush and this year may finally be his time to do so. This athletic phenom is primed to finally realize his potential and take the next step to being an impact player.
Joe Kuzma
Senquez Golson has had two seasons stolen from him now and he can’t afford to have another taken away. Initially penciled in to be the cornerback of the future, the Steelers have added a lot of pieces to their secondary since he was taken in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
It will be interesting to see how he responds to having not played, how his athleticism compares with that of Cam Sutton, Brian Allen, Coty Sensabaugh, and even William Gay and Ross Cockrell. There’s a lot of competition out there at the cornerback position and if Golson ends up flashing talent, you could see a rock solid Steelers defense for years to come.
Jim Racalto
I’m excited for Senquez Golson. As a second rounder there was never a question of his talent. Can he overcome two years of inactivity to claim a roster spot and live up to his draft status?
Brian E. Roach
What has me absolutely pumped for camp is the return of Martavis Bryant.
Look, I’m psyched to see how T.J. Watt progresses, and I am, generally speaking, a defensive guy. I’m pumped about Cam coming back, about Tuitt progressing, seeing Sean Davis and Artie Burns take strides. I am excited to see what Brian Allen can show, and what Bud Dupree looks like after his offseason work.
But the return of the “Alien” is what has me most stoked. Martavis looks like a beast; like he could be the Predator. I honestly don’t know how defensive coordinators are going to sleep at night thinking about the triple threat of Bell, Brown, and Bryant – with Ben distributing the ball.
It’s gonna be LIT!
Zach Metkler
I’m actually pretty pumped to see Mike Hilton during camp. As a former teammate and near clone of Senquez Golson, Hilton has been getting a lot of looks in nickel packages… with the first team.
Whenever Gay gets veteran rest, it’s Hilton, not Golson or Sutton, that get moved up to the 1’s next to Burns and Cockrell. He spent time with the Jaguars and Patriots last year before being signed to the Steelers practice squad in December. He received a futures contract in March and has a similar skillset as Golson: great hands, aggressive on the line (legally), tracks the ball well in the air, and most importantly, is a feisty tackler.
Hilton’s the ultimate sleeper candidate to make the 53-man roster. Some veterans on both sides of the ball (namely Ramon Foster) are beginning to notice the plays he’s making during practices. I know it’s practice in shorts up until now, but the potential he has shown is exciting.
He’s also a workout warrior. If you watch some of his stuff from OTAs and minicamp, he had a pick against Landry Jones after jumping the route underneath absolutely perfectly. He’s an unknown player right now, but if he can prove himself during the preseason, he is a candidate to slip onto the 53-man roster.
Christina Rivers
With all the hoopla over Le’Veon Bell, I am actually looking forward to the running back competition in camp. I’m guessing 90 percent of fans (even NFL fans) are thinking, “Well, they have Bell,” and not even thinking about who else is in the mix. I was sad to see D-Will go, but that makes camp intriguing. Fitzgerald Toussaint, James Conner, Knile Davis, Brandon Brown-Dukes, Terrell Watson, and Trey Williams will be competing.
The Steelers have Rosie Nix at fullback but they have yet to find a truly punishing third-down, bulldozer in my opinion. Honestly, I don’t see any of the guys on the current list fitting that bill, although I think Toussaint may get asked to do more of that if they hang onto him.
Williams is only 5’7″ and I’m interested to see if he has a little Gio Bernard in him (I am actually taller than he is!) Having a little guy squirt between the Steelers’ hot O-line, especially behind one of the best pulling guards in the league (David DeCastro) would be fun.
Honestly, if Todd Haley uses Bell more in passing situations, the Steelers need dominant guys in the offensive backfield. Conner has the heroic background after surviving cancer and I’d love to see him have a great rookie season. Ultimately, I want to see at least one running back step forward and get physical at the line; making opposing defenses pay with brute force.
Mitchell Reese
Inside linebacker in a base 3-4 defense is extremely important and the loss of Lawrence Timmons hurt the Steelers deeply. Vince Williams and Ryan Shazier will have to collectively make the defense as efficient as it was toward the end of last season.
Look for Williams to take the run-stuffing, smash-mouth role, as Shazier will be a pass coverage, interception machine. If they can come together as a sound unit, this tandem could make more noise than the likes of Luke Keuchley/Thomas Davis or Bobby Wagner/K.J. Wright.
Look for big things from the backers!
Terry Fletcher
I am excited to see how Ben Roethlisberger handles his new toys, like JuJu Smith-Schuster. He also gets Martavis Bryant back. It’s going to be exciting and that doesn’t include Antonio Brown. I think Big Ben is going to be giddy about his upgraded passing options.
Zac Celedonia
I’m excited to see Josh Dobbs at camp. I’m being predictable but I didn’t want to pick someone who had already been highlighted. That, and I already put gas in this hype train, so I might as well keep driving.
I’m pumped to hear and see how he is progressing through each day and retaining Haley’s complex offense, plus how he makes the most of whatever reps he can manage to get behind Ben and Landry. I think he’s gonna turn some heads both negatively and positively. He will make mistakes, especially when compared to Ben and Landry at first glance, but I’m sure there will also be some good about his mobility and quick grasp of the playbook.
There will be ups and downs and I look forward to Dobbs’ journey. I also am willing to bet he hits someone deep in team drills and the tweet gets a bunch of retweets!
