5 bold predictions for the Steelers in Week 14 vs. the Bills

McDonald out snaps Ebron

A lot has been said about Eric Ebron’s recent play in recent weeks. For starters, he has become a security blanket for Ben Roethlisberger, serving as an intermediate and short safety valve for the quarterback. That said, he has routinely struggled to make easy catches recently, which has limited his game.

In turn, I think Vance McDonald sees a bigger portion of the snaps this week. While he won’t be on the field for every play, I think the 40 percent of snaps he has been seeing jumps closer to a 50 percent number. It won’t be a huge increase, but it is important to remember that McDonald is the better all-around blocker than Ebron, something that could be key if the Steelers opt to try and run more.

Again, Ebron won’t be benched completely, and he will still be targeted in the passing game, but don’t be surprised if McDonald is more active on Sunday. He is a fine player overall, and the fact that he has been so limited is a bit surprising. Don’t be surprised if he catches a few more passes than he has and is on the field more often. The Steelers need more consistency out of the unit and getting McDonald more active may be the first key.