Predicting the Pittsburgh Steelers starting lineup in 2020
By Tommy Jaggi
Offense:
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: James Conner
WR1: JuJu Smith-Schuster
WR2: Diontae Johnson
WR3: James Washington
TE1: Eric Ebron
TE2: Vance McDonald
LT: Alejandro Villanueva
LG: Matt Feiler
C: Maurkice Pouncey
RG: David DeCastro
RT: Zach Banner
There are a few lineup changes here, but most starters are returning. Obviously, Ben Roethlisberger will assume the reins at quarterback with James Conner lined up behind him. At wide receiver, JuJu will serve as the top dog. He will work outside the hashes as a Z-receiver in 12 personnel and kick inside to the slot in three-wide receiver sets. Diontae Johnson will serve as the team’s X-receiver, while James Washington will look to stretch the field as the Z-receiver in 11 personnel.
At tight end, Eric Ebron leapfrogs Vance McDonald for number one duties. Ebron will serve as a big slot option as the ‘move tight end’, while Vance will go back to the more traditional Y-tight end role and be used more as an inline blocker.
Three of the five offensive linemen will assume their roles from last season, but there are two changes to the depth chart. Tomlin already indicated that Matt Feiler will make the switch to left guard this season – Ramon Foster’s old starting spot. In Feiler’s place, there will essentially be a two-man race at right tackle between Zach Banner and Chukwuma Okorafor. I have Banner winning the job.