The Steelers are about to start their training camp and these players could be the darlings that stand out among their teammates.
The Steelers head to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. once again for another training camp. It is the first time that the team will return there and continue their annual tradition after taking a couple of years away from the campus. It is becoming increasingly uncommon for clubs across the NFL to go away for camp, but Pittsburgh is still one of the few.
There will be many different things to monitor throughout training camp and the regular season. Fans should pay close attention to starting snaps given out to certain players at positions of importance. Some of those include center, guard, quarterback, defensive line, and others.
It is going to be another competitive camp for the black and gold on the fields of Latrobe. Some players always stand out and some come out of nowhere. Those camp darlings are always some of the most impressive and that will happen again this year.
Dan Moore Jr. could take a big step forward for the Steelers
Dan Moore Jr. is entering his second season in the NFL after having an up and down rookie year. He played well in the ladder portion of the 2021 campaign and that earned him the right to be the starter at left tackle for this season. There is no competition to challenge him, but the hope is that he will take a big step forward in year two.
He has been putting in the work during the offseason and now has some experience on his NFL resume. Moore is still only 23 years old and has time to continue to develop while being a starter for this offensive line. He should be able to come into camp and show coaches his improvements, or they will have to look at other players to replace him after this season.
Buddy Johnson is expected to have a bigger role in 2022 with the Steelers
The Steelers starters at the middle linebacker position are set now. Both Devin Bush and Myles Jack will be the two starters that bring some uncertainty with it. Both have struggled to live up to their potential over the last several seasons and will be on a redemption tour.
The depth behind them will work itself out during training camp. Robert Spillane is back, and he will likely get another roster spot with the kind of experience he brings with him. The other spot or two are where things could get interesting. Marcus Allen, Ulysees Gilbert III, and Buddy Johnson are all vying for roster spots.
Johnson is entering his second year after being drafted out of Texas A&M. He had a nice collegiate career and seemed like he needed to work on his game coming into the pro level. The Steelers took him because they think he could develop into something, and Brian Flores should be able to help his progress along.
This former fourth-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft is still young and has room to grow. He stuck around playing special teams last year and will be doing the same this time around. The coaches hope that he can take the next step and fill in for what Spillane has been asked to do in recent seasons.
Connor Heyward could make a statement at multiple positions in camp
Many do not know what is going to happen with Connor Heyward now. He has shown the ability to play different positions at a high level in college and the Steelers hope to keep that going in the NFL. He could create for some interesting mismatches at the next level if the team uses him correctly.
Everyone knows that he is the little brother of star defensive player, Cam Heyward. He was not solely drafted because of that reason, but one must imagine that it did not hurt his cause. Now he will be trying to make this roster and it looks like the coaches have an initial plan set up for him.
So far, this player has been working with the tight end group during the early portions of the pre-season process. Heyward will likely see time there and full back as the coaches try to gauge what he can excel at. If you were taking bets now if he was going to make the roster, he probably is.
Special teams are something that this player seems built for and that is always a giant asset for a rookie coming onto the Steelers. He has also shown the ability to play at multiple positions and that attracts Pittsburgh to him even more. This rookie should be able to thrive in the training camp environment.
Isaiahh Loudermilk is getting a lot of high marks before camp begins
The defensive line is currently scrambling to find a full-time replacement for recently retired Stephon Tuitt. He was such a dominant force in the trenches and many fans took him for granted. They saw how much his loss up front meant for this defense as they finished as one of the worst run defenses in the NFL in 2021.
Now the team will look to a bunch of players to take over this vacancy by committee. That will be the approach at first until someone emerges as the top dog to take most snaps. Players like Tyson Alualu, Chris Wormley, Larry Ogunjobi, DeMarvin Leal, and Isaiahh Loudermilk will get a chance for that opening.
This will be one of the most monitored internal competitions for the Steelers in training camp. They need to find a plan to replace Tuitt and that will be defined in Latrobe. It seems like Alualu will get the first crack at it but do not take away for these younger guys getting some expanded roles either.
Loudermilk is a player that did not get a ton of playing time, but his role grew as the season progressed. His rookie campaign showed a lot of promise against the run, but it also showed where he needs work. His pass rush is nearly non-existent, but he could be in store for a bigger role in year two if he starts to figure out that part of his game.
George Pickens needs to have an instant impact on the Steelers
The receiving group is going through a transition period now as well. They have a bunch of fresh new faces that enter the fold with some young veterans as well. Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool will be returning to hopefully keep this group explosive.
George Pickens will be entering the Steelers locker room with some high expectations after being their second-round pick in the draft. That pick has a good track record for this franchise and the types of receivers that they have taken in the second day of the event. He will need to produce early and often for this offense to win the favor of fans and coaches.
Right now, both the slot receiver and opposite outside spot of Johnson are open for business. Pickens lines up on the outside, but he will need to win that starting gig from Claypool. It will be a tough fight, but there could be something that helps this rookie win the outside spot.
Claypool could be an interesting look in the slot position. The coaching staff could force him inside the hashes with the type of speed and size mismatch that he would create. Pickens is better off outside so this could always be the outcome. His speed and athletic traits are off the charts and it should make for some eye-popping plays in camp.
The Steelers have some interesting players that should be able to stand out during training camp. Some of these players listed should get noticed throughout camp and probably secure a roster spot.