Steelers, Davis set for debut
LANDOVER, Md. – Veteran Steelers safety Mike Mitchell still recalls his first regular-season NFL game.
A second-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2009, Mitchell made his debut that September in a prime-time game against San Diego and veteran tight end Antonio Gates.
How did it go?
“Oh, shoot, it was Monday Night Football vs. Antonio Gates,” Mitchell said of the 24-20 Raiders loss. “It was a good game, a competitive game, but we didn’t get the right result.”
Mitchell and the Steelers hope to provide a different result for rookie safety Sean Davis in his NFL regular-season debut tonight when Pittsburgh faces the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field.
Davis, like Mitchell, was a second-round draft pick. And like Mitchell, he’ll be on the field early and often in his debut, as Pittsburgh’s fifth defensive back.
While Mitchell’s first game came hundreds of miles from his hometown of Fort Thomas, Ky., Davis will make his NFL debut in his hometown and only a few miles from where he starred in college at the University of Maryland.
“I’ve had my eyes on this game for a long time,” said Davis, who will have a large contingent of family and friends at the game. “I’m not trying to make it bigger than what it is, but it does weigh a little more to me.”
Like Mitchell in that 2009 game, Davis will be forced to deal with a dominat tight end. Washington’s Jordan Reed led the Redskins with 87 receptions for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns last year.
The Steelers selected the 6-1, 202-pound Davis to help them better deal with many of the big pass-catching tight ends that dot their schedule. But with Davis working as the slot defensive back, that might not happen this week.
“I’m just happy to be out there, whoever I’m lined up against,” Davis said. “I’m not going to put too much hype on them. I’m just going to do my assignment to the best of my abilities.”
Washington, which won the NFC East last season, has plenty of weapons with which to challenge a Pittsburgh defense that ranked 30th in the NFL against the pass last year.
Wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon both have had 1,000-yard seasons and second-year slot receiver Jamison Crowder caught 59 passes as a rookie. They give quarterback Kirk Cousins plenty of options.
“He’s an extremely smart quarterback. He gets the ball out fast,” Mitchell said about Cousins, who was sacked just 27 times last season.
“It’s hard to get a rush on him because he’s almost Tom Bradyish because he gets the ball out before you can hit him. We’re going to have to do a good job. They’ve got two good receivers and one of the best, if not the best, tight end in Jordan Reed. They have got a lot of good pieces.”
Pittsburgh’s offense won’t be anywhere near full strength. Running back Le’Veon Bell is suspended for the first three games. Wide receiver Markus Wheaton is out with a back injury, as is fullback Roosevelt Nix.
Young receivers Sammie Coates and Eli Rogers will be expected to make big contributions, as will second-year tight end Jesse James, who replaces retired Heath Miller.
“It will be big for them,” said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “Sammie has some postseason experience, a little bit. But it’s different for Eli to get out there and play a big role in this offense. I think he’s up for the challenge and excited for it.”
The Redskins have a revamped pass defense with longtime cornerback DeAngelo Hall at free safety and cornerback Josh Norman, a Pro Bowl player in Carolina who was acquired in the offseason. The Steelers expect Norman to shadow Antonio Brown, who has an NFL-record 375 catches in the past three seasons.
“AB’s one of the best in the business, and so is Josh,” Roethlisberger said. “I think it’s a prime-time matchup, I think everyone will tune in just to see that matchup. I think it will come down to is AB’s quarterback good enough to get him the ball when he needs to? The big thing for both of them will be if they try to play mind games with each other.”
The Steelers hope to prevent the Redskins’ receivers from playing mind games with their rookie nickel back. They have faith Davis will be up to the task.
“We’re not putting any pressure on him,” Mitchell said. “The expectations are what they are. If you’re out there, there’s high expectations to reach that standard that we play at. That’s the only, if you want to use the word pressure, that we feel. It’s really accountability.”
The Steelers have won the last five meetings with the Redskins. … In addition to Wheaton and Nix, reserve center Cody Wallace and cornerback Senquez Golson are out for the Steelers. … Pittsburgh has 41 wins in the opening weekend of the regular season, the most of any AFC team. … Roethlisberger has won nine of his last 11 Monday night starts.