Still Curtain Podcast Ep. 12 (What to expect from Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp)

BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 01: Inside linebacker Ryan Shazier #50 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with his teammates after intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 01: Inside linebacker Ryan Shazier #50 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with his teammates after intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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The Pittsburgh Steelers begin training camp in less than a month, but the team, and the fans, are already patiently awaiting the first practice.

Training camp is a special time in the NFL. Prior to, there’s almost nothing to expect. News is quiet, teams aren’t doing much and the league begins to sink into a silence for roughly a month.

Then, chaos. Players are being cut, signed, traded, all before ours eyes. Veterans are looking for new homes, surprising draft picks are climbing up depth charts. Teams are adding and dropping players like they’re playing jax on the side of the road.

For the Steelers, they have questions remaining. Cuts are expected, position battles are still in full force and the team, as Super Bowl ready as they are, is still a long ways from being complete.

Leaving questions. Which quarterbacks are staying? Who’s starting at inside linebacker? How are Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt going to look? Who’s healthy and who’s not? And is there still a chance Le’Veon Bell shows up?

Eyes will be all over Josh Dobbs and Landry Jones as they compete for the final quarterback spot. But Mason Rudolph is the most exciting play caller on the roster. The rookie is already expected to be the second-string and should be taking first team reps during camp.

Ben Roethlisberger isn’t someone you want out there every play during the summer. Instead, he should be used more as a mentor than a passer during July and August.

The defense is finally looking like they’re ready to dominate the NFL, again. But there are questions that need to be answered before anyone is satisfied with this group of players. As exciting as they are, there are still holes to fill.

Next: Finding Rod Woodson's playmaker

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