Undecided: Green vs. Dotson and More Steelers Camp Battles
Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Anthony DiCerbo. Follow him on Twitter @SnarfVenom
As the Steelers enter their first preseason game week of training camp there is still much to be decided before this team hits the field week one. The first couple weeks of training camp have answered a few questions and brought up several more.
Starting spots and rotational jobs are still up for grabs, and there is plenty to keep an eye on in Latrobe at just about every position, so let’s get into it.
Quarterback
I’ll start with the obvious, but this is much more a race for second place than anything else. Mitch Trubisky is the starter right now for this team, and the team doesn’t seem to be trending in any other direction.
The real battle is for who gets the other helmet on gameday. It is up to Pickett to show enough upside to convince Tomlin and the rest of the staff that he should be the one coming off the bench should the need arise. Like I’ve said before I wouldn’t worry too much either way.
Left Guard
Unlike last year, the projected offensive line is getting plenty of work together in camp. Right now there is only one true battle in this group, and that is at the left guard position.
I’ve said before that I think the battle between Kevin Dotson and Kendrick Green is the most interesting of this camp, and I still think so.
So far the two have swapped with each other nonstop. Dotson is coming off an injury-plagued season where he admitted to trying to come back too soon, and Green is coming off a disappointing season as a center, and is now moving back to his more natural position of guard.
Both guys present a high amount of upside as players. This will be something to watch in Latrobe as well as in the preseason games to see if one of the guys can begin to separate themselves from the other, but there is a very good chance that this will be a fierce competition that comes down to the wire.
We had BOTH on the Yinzer Crazy Podcast earlier this season, with Dotson's interview coming just a few weeks ago. Listen below as you continue reading!!!
Running Back
It’s August and we are still waiting for someone to take charge of the role behind Najee Harris. Benny Snell has been getting the first crack with Harris missing some time, but it isn’t exactly setting the world on fire.
Anthony McFarland Jr. is having a good camp but we have yet to see it translate into a real game setting, but I’m cautiously optimistic that it might finally click.
Behind him is a combination of UDFA backs. Jaylen Warren is leading this group, but we’ve yet to see him overtake any of the other backs ahead of him. Mateo Durant has been quiet for the majority of camp, and unfortunately for Master Teague, he just got here.
Game action will be especially important for the players in this group as they look to separate from one another and carve out a more solidified role behind Najee Harris.
Inside Linebacker
Devin Bush’s play has left much to be desired since he returned from his ACL injury. The hope was that a full offseason and adding Brian Flores would help him return to form, but right now it seems like his starting spot is in danger.
Myles Jack joined the team this offseason and is penciled in as a starter, but Bush is having to battle it out for the other spot with Robert Spillane.
Much like the battle between Green and Dotson, this might be one that comes down to the wire. The key difference is that we expected there to be a battle at guard, this one comes as more of a surprise.
That is not the end for this position either. The back end of the group is also experiencing a fierce battle with Marcus Allen, Mark Robinson, Buddy Johnson, and Ulysses Gilbert III. Not all of them can make the roster, and reps are hard to come by. Linebacker is probably the toughest group to predict right now.
Conclusion
With a 90-man roster and only 53 spots available there is bound to be competition up and down the roster. These groups and battles are the ones that I’m keeping my eye on during the remaining time in Latrobe and the preseason games.
Is there anything that I missed? Any battle you are keeping your eye on? Let us know!
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