Steelers training camp questions that need answers

The Pittsburgh Steelers opened training camp this past Friday. Here are some questions that fans need to have answered before the season this year.

This is the time during the preseason to get the kinks out and to work on the team chemistry with the new veterans and rookies. If you are a Steelers fan or a football fan, then you love training camp.

A player’s life is filled with the promise of NFL football Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and some Saturdays. Those gridiron battles are definitely, finally on the near horizon but before we get there the hot summer days in Latrobe must be worked through. Here are some important training camp questions that need answers.

Will Devin Bush start right away or will he be rotated in? Will he be the primary coverage backer?

I know I sound like a broken record here but that Chargers game last year was ridiculous. I assume that Devin Bush will just slot right into that coverage backer position so Keenan Allen will not kill the Steelers again! (Okay, tantrum over).

So far in training camp, it seems as if there is a rotation happening between Bush, Vince Williams and Mark Barron. I don’t think this changes much in the season except Bush should be playing more. Intriguing to say the least.

Who will win the backup QB battle? Will Mason Rudolph step up or will Joshua Dobbs win the job for a second year?

Josh Dobbs has looked good in the limited time he has had to play. He made plays and looked to have a good command of the offense. Mason Rudolph looked like a rookie last year and made some huge mistakes (including throwing a pick-six in preseason). I don’t know how this plays out but it should be a hot competition.

I am sure the Steelers want Rudolph to take the reins after investing in a 3rd round pick in 2018. So far in camp, both QBs have looked Okay. Neither one is distancing themselves from the other. This could go down to the last preseason game.

How will the RB rotation go? Will Conner be the ‘bell-cow’ (as usual)? Who is the backup?

I have said it before and I will say it again: I think that Bennie Snell is the traditional backup. I think Jaylen Samuels will be the movable chess piece around the formation this year and he will line up at tight end.

The Steelers love the type of flexible players who can play in multiple spots. (E.g. Randel El, Hines Ward and Kordell Stewart, to name a few). Training camp offensive formations prove that Samuels has lined up out wide as a WR would.

Who will emerge as the number 2 WR?

There is a lot of chatter about one person stepping up, but I don’t think it will be one player. Moncrief will help but I think there won’t be a traditional WR 2 this year.

The targets should be close between Washington, Moncrief, and Johnson. It will be fun to watch but I think that Johnson will be put in a position to make plays.

Will Matt Feiler win the right tackle job?

This one could go down to the wire, but I think that it is Feiler’s job to lose. Can Chukwuma Okorafor make a push? I think they also have good depth with Jerald Hawkins looking like a great backup.

Will Chris Boswell make it out of camp as the Steelers kicker?

This one is anyone’s guess but it looks like he will be given every shot to make this team as the kicker. I know they will bring in competition and we will see what happens but if Boswell can’t beat out some journeymen kickers then he deserves to lose the job. I just want to see some consistency at the position this year.

What will the defensive backfield look like?

The signing of Steven Nelson and Joe Haden are looking like they might pay off, and the Steelers could finally have decent production at the position. I think there is the potential to have a return to a great defense this year.

Edmunds has upside at strong safety and Sean Davis is coming off his best season to date at free safety. Can any of the other guys push this group? I think if they play as a team and up to their potential this unit could be special. Let’s hope Davis can bounce back from his finger injury soon.

These are just a few important questions that need to be answered. Some will take longer to answer and it might last through the preseason. Others might produce an outcome right away. Even with all of the questions, the Steelers are headed in the right direction.

Sometimes you have to take a step back to keep progressing forward. The team will look much different when the season starts this September, but they could ultimately prove to be better than they were in 2018.