3 reasons for optimism heading into the Steelers 2020 season
By Eric Hassel
The Steeles added both depth and potential contributors in the draft and in free agency
So as we have discussed in previous articles, the Steelers, like every other team in the NFL, entered both free agency and the draft with the hope that the players whom we signed and drafted would become positive contributors to our efforts. I believe added players who will achieve that goal.
Chase Claypool, for instance, the Steelers second-round pick in the 2020 draft, fills a need that was evident in 2019-a ‘big body’ WR with speed who can ‘stretch the field’. Obviously, our other WRs have speed, but none were quite as tall as Claypool.
Height is not everything, but it certainly helps. Listed at 6’4″, Claypool, who ran 4.42 40-yard dash at the combine, possesses the intangibles the Steelers hope will translate into production on the field. There are two things you can not teach a player-speed and height. Claypool has both.
Another player abut whom the Steeles are probably optimistic is Anthony McFarland Jr., one of our two 4th round picks in the 2020 draft. Like Claypool, McFarland possesses an intangible that our other RBs did not quite have enough of last season-speed.
McFarland has the ability to ‘bounce it outside’ and leave defenders in the dust. I liken McFarland to a ‘lightning’ back; the Steelers in 2019 had RBs whom I would label as ‘thunder’ backs. I believe McFarland will be a pleasant surprise in the running game this season.
As far as the Steelers free agent signings are concerned, I think Eric Ebron, who spent the 2019 season as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, will provide us with not only an athletic TE who can catch but with a ‘red zone’ threat from the TE position that the Steelers were lacking in 2019.
Let’s take a look at another reason for optimism.