5 players to watch when the Steelers play the Browns
I can’t believe it folks: this is the final week of the NFL’s 2017 regular season. In the blink of an eye, football is nearly finished. We’ve come to enjoy a great season from the Steelers and because of that nice run, several starters may find the bench early in a game that may not have any further postseason implications against a winless Cleveland Browns team.
Therefore it is my pleasure to introduce the final five to watch for the 2017 regular season… they are interesting choices!
Landry Jones
Anyone who listens to the Steel City Underground Podcast is aware of my bromance for Landry. I get why people don’t like him, but I don’t get why he gets the bad rap that he does.
Yes, Jones isn’t starting material: that’s why he’s a backup. But when you look around the league and see what teams have been capable of winning without their franchise quarterbacks (that is, if they have one at all) you’ll recognize the Steelers haven’t done so shabby with their next in line over the years.
Considering how Landry played in this same situation in the final game of the 2016 season, I’m excited to see more of what he can do. The walk-off deep touchdown pass to Cobi Hamilton to win in overtime was one of the most fun experiences I can remember at a game (though the team has provided plenty over the years). It’s all going to depend on that Patriots and Jets score as to Ben Roethlisberger‘s playing time Sunday, but I’d be willing to be it’s more of a “when” than an “if” Jones plays.
Stevan Ridley
Ridley saw a surprising amount of snaps (and carries) in Monday’s blowout win over the Texans. I’d surmise that the Steelers will want to rest Bell against the Browns, especially if the score gets out of hand.
We should see more of what Ridley can do Sunday, so he’s a guy to put on your radar. The Steelers already know who Fitzgerald Toussaint is, but they have to find out what Ridley can offer and a game against Cleveland would be another fine moment to figure it out.
Darrius Heyward-Bey
Like Landry, DHB saw a lot of playing time in this same game last year. In fact, Hey-Bey was an animal, making plays all over, including a strip that cost Cleveland a touchdown following a Jones interception.
My colleagues think we’ll see some of Justin Hunter too, but my belief is that as a veteran who has been with the team longer, DHB has earned some playing time with the offense this Sunday.
Josh Gordon
Vanishing from the NFL over the years for a variety of suspensions, Gordon finally made his way back to the Browns roster a few weeks ago. Despite poor quarterback play, he has made an impact in four games thus far, catching 14 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown.
Gordon hasn’t faced the Steelers since December 29th, 2013… that means none of the current Steelers starters in the secondary are familiar with him, save for his former teammate Joe Haden. Artie Burns and Sean Davis joined the Steelers as rookies last season (2016) and Mike Mitchell signed with Pittsburgh back in 2014. Mike Hilton is in his first year with the team, which leaves William Gay, as the only defensive back who has locked up with Gordon: and Gay is a seldom-used corner in dime packages these days, which means we may get to see the rest of the defensive backfield tested if Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer can deliver Gordon the ball.
Duke Johnson
Duke is a fantastic, versatile running back stuck on an otherwise mediocre team.
The reason you’ll want to watch Duke Johnson on Sunday is that he can hurt the opposing defense, but another is that he has been paying tribute to injured linebacker Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier. Following his most recent touchdowns, rather than coordinate some elaborate scoring celebration, Duke has been holding up five fingers with one hand and making a fist with the other: completing a “50” with both hands.
Even if a Cleveland score is bad for Pittsburgh in this game, I believe fans will truly appreciate the gesture. If Shazier is in attendance again, he’ll appreciate it even more.
