6 young Steelers you have to keep an eye on in training camp

Steelers Antoine Brooks

No Steelers defensive back has gotten more buzz in recent weeks than Antoine Brooks. The sixth-round pick from last season was seen as a strong safety type that may have to make the eventual move to linebacker given his coverage limitations. In the lone game where he saw significant defensive playing time (against the Bengals), the team actually used him more as a slot corner, and he held up well enough. He seemingly did well enough to throw his name in the starting slot corner hat as the team listed him as the initial starter there.

Once again, this is the first depth chart, and a lot will change from now and the start of the season. While it is exciting to see Brooks there initially, he is more suited towards box play. This could yield to dime linebacker play and potentially even a nod at starting strong safety depending on what happens to Terrell Edmunds after this season. Seeing him listed so highly on the depth chart though is a promising thing though, as the Steelers are clearly high on him.

I would expect to hear Brook’s name often and in a multitude of roles. It seems as if the Steelers will give him the first crack at slot corner, but he should also see some playing time in dime defense and as a reserve strong safety. He has a lot riding on him this season, but if he can rise up to the occasion, it could yield dividends next year in terms of the team finding a new strong safety.