Playing time winners & losers for Steelers vs. Colts (Preseason Week 3)
The third preseason game of the year is traditionally called the “dress rehearsal” as starters who are intentionally sat out of the other games receive an opportunity to play for a few series before resting up during the fourth game to prepare for the regular season.
As such, there are no real winners or losers among the players who are guaranteed a roster spot: Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, James Harrison, and several others saw spot duty, but it was those players who received playing time with some of the first team units, and those who did not, that are the true winners and losers from this weekend.
Let’s examine who the Steelers coaching staff was taking a good look at.
Offensive Winners
Landry Jones had yet to play a preseason game after sustaining an abdominal injury during training camp. All of his snaps had gone to third string, and rookie, quarterback Joshua Dobbs in games one and two.
On Saturday, Jones reassumed, and reaffirmed, his clutch on the backup quarterback position by playing 68% of the game; the most of any Steelers offensive player.
Wide receiver Sammie Coates, who had also been troubled by injury and began the preseason workouts on the PUP list, came in second to Jones with 62% of P.T.
Most of the backup offensive linemen tied for third-most, but it was Martavis Bryant who was the beneficiary of additional playing time against the Colts, to presumably get him back into the groove of playing football following over a year of having not played (due to suspension).
RB Knile Davis and TE Xavier Grimble also got extended looks, both playing 43% of the game. RB Terrell Watson saw 36% of the snaps while JuJu Smith-Schuster, the rookie wide receiver from USC, was on the field for the same.
The amount of playing time for all of the aforementioned, aside from Jones and Bryant, were to evaluate their worth to the final 53-man roster. It’s obvious the team needs to see more from players such as Coates, Davis, Watson, and Grimble in determining who does, and does not, make the cut later this week.
Offensive Losers
There weren’t many losers on offense, but I have to wonder what two snaps mean for Justin Hunter, who was targetted on one long pass by Landry Jones (and came up empty after losing his shoe).
Backup tight ends vying for a roster spot, Phazahn Odom, and Jake McGee, saw five and four snaps respectively. Grimble was the clear focal point with a splash of David Johnson (17 snaps/22%) the front runners to make the final roster.
James Conner’s nine snaps weren’t a loss, as his series was solid. Fitzgerald Toussaint‘s injury, however, limited him to only two reps the entire game: a negative when competing for what could be the final roster spot for a running back.
Joshua Dobbs was also a casualty of Landry Jones’ return, playing only nine snaps. Fourth string QB Bart Houston didn’t play at all, indicating what we knew all along: Dobbs will carry a clipboard this season and Houston is a camp body.
Defensive Winners
Tyler Matakevich and Vince Williams roamed the field for over 2/3 of the game, while Anthony Chickillo saw the most time at outside linebacker (58%).
Safety Jordan Dangerfield subbed in for starter Robert Golden following the first defensive series and could be in line to jump Golden on the depth chart for the primary safety spot behind starters Mike Mitchell and Sean Davis.
Coty Sensabaugh also saw the second-most time of any cornerback next to Artie Burns. Most of the reserves saw much more time as the third team players and beyond played a sizeable portion of the second half, whereas the backups shared a split with the starters in the first half. Therefore it’s difficult to evaluate what some of the playing time meant aside from those who didn’t see the field much or got pulled…
Defensive Losers
I honestly cannot figure out if William Gay‘s spot on the team is safe, and the team is looking to evaluate other players, or if Gay is on the hot seat. I’m going to guess the former, with #22 playing in dime packages, approaching the line of scrimmage almost like a box safety on several occasions Saturday night.
I cannot say that Ross Cockrell‘s spot, starting spot that is, is safe. Ross played a meager 24% of the defensive plays, and like Robert Golden was pulled after the first series for Coty Sensabaugh.
DE Johny Maxey only appeared for nine snaps during the game, confirming his potential return to the practice squad, unless the Steelers were giving an honest look at Lavon Hooks (27%) and Roy Philon (20%) for consideration over Maxey. Otherwise, the defensive line appears to be set with the starters, Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, and Javon Hargrave, settling in and rotating with Tyson Alualu (44%) and L.T. Walton (36%).
Conclusion
The fourth preseason game will be the one to heavily evaluate the running backs, receivers, and corners. There’s a bottleneck of multiple players competing for a limited amount of spots on the final 53-man roster.
I would also expect Landry Jones and Joshua Dobbs to possibly split playing time, a half each, in the upcoming game. Outside of those players, most of the regular names should be observing their backups from the bench.
My biggest position battles to keep an eye on coming up: Ross Cockrell versus everyone else and if Knile Davis can fend off contenders for one of the final backup running back spots.
