The Steelers are still in the playoff hunt, and if they want to remain competitive, they need to get these five players on the field more.
The Steelers have successfully found a way to turn this season around after a miserable 1-3 start and are now squarely in the playoff race for the AFC. That said, there are some players that notably need to see the field more often. Some are sitting behind veterans or are just not being utilized to their full extent, but no matter the reason, each of these players deserves more looks.
Here are five Steelers that must see more playing time going forward.
Steelers TE Zach Gentry
One of the biggest surprises from the Steelers this season has been the solid play of backup tight end Zach Gentry. The former Michigan quarterback looked lost during his first two seasons in the league, and most, including myself, wrote him off in camp. He showed up and began making plays, and with Eric Ebron suffering through injuries, he has taken on the role as a backup tight end.
Yes, Pat Freiermuth is the top dog at tight end, and rightfully so, but that doesn’t mean Gentry shouldn’t be on the field more. His biggest improvement has been as a blocker, so having him out there instantly makes the running game better. He has shown to be competent when catching passes as well. With so many receivers injured for the team, having a capably second tight end to make plays is a huge plus. The team can find a way to work in a few more snaps a game for him easily.
Steelers EDGE Taco Charlton
The Steelers saw the Melvin Ingram era come to a quick and abrupt end, as the veteran forced his way off the team. This left the edge depth in question, as Ingram was signed to be the first player off the bench. Luckily, the team had signed Taco Charlton to their practice squad early in the season, and he has proven to be a solid depth player to this point.
While he hasn’t made much of an impact for the team, he has used his massive frame to hold the edge on running plays and has powered his linemen back into the opposing quarterback for pressure. It hasn’t reflected much in his stats, but he has done everything you could want out of a backup edge rusher. A few more snaps a game would be beneficial for him.
Frankly, the real reason Charlton should see more playing time isn’t due to him being such a force that he has to see the field. A few extra plays off for Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt will help preserve them for the remainder of the season. Assuming Watt isn’t lost for the season, Charlton still needs additional snaps as a backup. Charlton has proven that he can hold his own, so getting some extra rest for the starters makes a lot of sense for the defense.
Steelers DL Isaiahh Loudermilk
The Steelers have gotten some surprisingly solid contributions from its late-round rookies this season. Tre Norwood has come into his own as a dime and slot defender while Dan Moore has started every game at left tackle so far. Even more surprising has been the efficient play of Isaiahh Loudermilk. The rookie has been stout on the line, and at this point, he needs to be seeing more snaps on a regular basis.
Fans were pretty unexcited about Loudermilk when the team sent a future fourth-round pick to move up for him in the draft. While he has the height that the team craves in their linemen, he lacks the build and the production to be an exciting pick. I personally expected him to take his rookie season as a redshirt year in order for him to bulk up and add some strength. Stephon Tuitt’s injury has forced him onto the field earlier than expected, but the results haven’t been bad.
While Cameron Heyward and Chris Wormley are both fine as starters and shouldn’t lose any more snaps to the backups, Loudermilk can and should get some more snaps over Henry Mondeaux. Both get around the same reserve snaps on defense, but it is time for Loudermilk to be on the field more. He has earned the additional reps and by next year should be the top backup defensive end.
Steelers WR Anthony Miller
The Steelers were quick to add Anthony Miller to their practice squad after JuJu Smith-Schuster got injured earlier in the season. He has sat there ever since, and even with the team lacking options at receiver against the Lions, they opted to bring Steven Sims up (who had been on the practice squad since the start of the year) instead. Miller deserves a shot, as he is the most accomplished healthy slot receiver on the roster right now.
Miller looked to be on the path to a solid NFL starter earlier in his career with the Bears, as the former second-round pick was making key plays early in his career. He fell out of favor in Chicago though, and after a short stint with the Texans, he found himself as a free agent. The Steelers have yet to use the slot option, but with so many of their receivers ailing, now is a good time to get him involved.
Miller could split snaps with either Sims or Ray-Ray McCloud in the slot, and quite frankly, he is the superior receiving option over the other two. They provide more value as return men granted, but for a team struggling to field receivers, Miller makes the most sense. The team needs to give him a chance sooner rather than later.
Steelers CB James Pierre
While James Pierre hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations set in camp, the former undrafted corner hasn’t been bad for the team. His athletic woes are obvious as he has gotten burned on deep touchdowns twice, but he has been a sound tackler, decent in short and middle of the field coverage, and has been active in creating turnovers for the secondary.
The issue with Pierre is that the Steelers seemingly want to keep Cameron Sutton on the outside as often as they can. This means Arthur Maulet has taken on the role as the primary slot cornerback, and he has been pretty lackluster. If the team would try putting Sutton in the slot and Pierre on the outside more, some of the coverage woes would alleviate themselves.
This doesn’t mean that Pierre should be on the field for every defensive snap but getting him closer to the 50 percent mark makes sense. This means the Steelers have their best coverage corners on the field at any given time which would slow down opposing passing attacks. Pierre has made the big plays when called upon, and even with his struggles covering deep, he should be in line to see more snaps going forward.
The Steelers still have a shot at making the playoffs, but there is talent on this roster that isn’t being properly utilized. These five players could do with some more snaps on offense and defense moving forward. If the team wants to remain competitive, allowing these five more opportunities will keep the team trending in the right direction.