Game against Bills just what Steelers need
BUFFALO – After a turbulent week, the Steelers head to Buffalo for their fourth preseason game, a meeting with the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
The Steelers lost Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey to a broken leg, signed controversial quarterback Mike Vick after backup Bruce Gradkowski was placed on injured reserve and found out wide receiver Martavis Bryant is facing a four-game suspension for violation of the league substance abuse policy. So even a meaningless preseason game might be a welcome respite.
That will be especially true for the starters, who are expected to see their most extensive playing time of the preseason.
“This is typically the full half, maybe the first series of the third quarter,” said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has completed 14 of 17 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns in limited action. “That’s the expectation going in. With what happened last week, I don’t know if that’s going to change.”
What happened last week was the Steelers lost Pouncey for at least part of the season and Gradkowski for the season with finger and shoulder injuries during their 24-19 win over the Green Bay Packers. Gradkowski was placed on injured reserve, opening the door for the Steelers to sign Vick.
Vick, who spent 21 months in federal prison for his part in a dogfighting ring following a 2007 conviction, could see his first action after signing with the Steelers Tuesday.
“We have a couple of days to work him before we make that decision,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. “How his work goes will be a factor in deciding whether he plays or not.”
If Vick does play, he would do so against his former head coach. Rex Ryan, who coached Vick with the Jets in 2014, is in his first season as the Bills’ head coach.
“I love Rex to death,” said the 35-year-old Vick. “He is one of my favorite coaches of all time.”
Vick would see action with the reserves, many of whom are still trying to win a roster spot.
And there are still plenty of spots to be won.
Most notable is the punting battle between incumbent Brad Wing and challenger Jordan Berry. The duo has taken turns kicking in the first three preseason games with each playing a half.
Wing has averaged 49.6 yards per kick, and Berry has a 46.0-yard average.
“Our punters are going back and forth and that will be fun to watch,” Tomlin said. “We have to continue to take a look at a number of coverage guys and guys who have an opportunity to state a case for themselves. The strongest statements they can make for themselves in these next few weeks is probably in the special teams game.”
Tomlin would like to see another strong game from the pass rush, which recorded six sacks against the Packers. Linebackers Jarvis Jones and Bud Dupree were noticeably active, with each recording a sack.
“Largely, it is arrow pointed up, and I think specifically in regards to Bud, it’s been arrow pointed up more recently,” Tomlin said of Dupree, a first-round draft pick this season. “And we assume that would occur. He is a guy with a lot of talent, talent that we thought merited a first-round selection. But talent alone doesn’t do it. It takes maturity, understanding and know-how and those are things that he is working on developing. And I think as he continues to do that, his talents will continue to show through.
“The same thing can be said in a less dramatic way for a guy like Jarvis, who is a young guy but he has missed some time over the course of time that he’s been here due to injury. The more consistently that he can stay on the field, he will sharpen his skills that will allow him to be successful.”
Defensive end Stephon Tuitt is out for the game after suffering a sprained ankle against the Packers. … NFL teams must trim their rosters to 75 players by 4 p.m. Tuesday. … Second-year linebacker Ryan Shazier has a team-best 16 tackles.