Steelers set for last preseason action
The Steelers will wrap up their preseason schedule at Carolina tonight with many of their regulars sitting the game out.
That does not, however, make it a meaningless game.
For players trying to make one final impression on the coaching staff before NFL rosters must be trimmed to 53 by 4 p.m. Saturday, it is anything but.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he showed his team some film earlier this week to remind them what’s at stake.
“I think it’s important sometimes that the young guys get an opportunity to see some of the guys that they look up to and they follow on a daily basis where they got their start or staked their claim on their roles within our group, in this game,” Tomlin said of the fourth preseason game. “We watched a little video of guys like William Gay being a gunner on the punt team, Antonio Brown in 2010 being a gunner on the punt team and Lawrence Timmons in 2007 being a gunner on punt team. We watched James Harrison on punt return.
“It’s just awesome to see the evolution of guys within their roles within this group, and utilizing this opportunity as a way of capturing that. Hopefully the young people realize the opportunity that they have before them.”
If they don’t, they likely won’t be around.
The Steelers’ roster is largely set, so realistically, there are 10 to 15 players competing for the final three or four roster spots. And special teams play, as Tomlin alluded, will be a big part of who makes it and who doesn’t.
Injuries also will be a factor. Tomlin has been ultra-cautious with many of his star players in this preseason after seeing All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey and placekicker Shaun Suisham both lost for the year last August.
Despite that, the Steelers saw defensive end Cameron Heyward and right tackle Marcus Gilbert both suffer injuries in last week’s 27-14 win at New Orleans.
Perhaps because of that, Tomlin won’t take any chances this week with the team’s regular season opener Sept. 12 at Washington looming.
One player he is anxious to see finally get some playing time is first-round draft pick Artie Burns. Burns has not yet played in the preseason because of a quad injury but is expected to see plenty of action in this game after returning to practice last week.
Burns admits to being behind because of the injury but is looking forward to playing for the first time.
“I still feel I can contribute,” he said. “I’m always going to give them my all.”
That’s what Tomlin expects to see from all of the young players hoping to earn a roster spot.
While Tomlin chose to highlight what some of his veteran stars did early in their careers during the preseason, he just as easily could have done so with a number of players who clinched roster spots by making a big preseason play.
Among those in recent years have been fullback Roosevelt Nix, wide receiver Ryan Moye and kick returner Stefan Logan.
But Tomlin also noted that just making one play isn’t the sure-fire way to earn a roster spot.
“It’s a cumulative body of work,” Tomlin said. “Sometimes, that cumulative body of work is highlighted by a play, but decisions aren’t made on one football play.”