The Pittsburgh Steelers open their long-awaited training camp this week, and as always, there is a lot on the line for a lot of players. From battles for starting gigs to back-ups to just making the roster, this team should feature a lot of excitement this summer.
While you have your typical longshots hoping to do just enough to get noticed, you also have a handful of names that should be sweating ahead of camp.
While these players have seen time on the active roster and in games, they are fighting for their lives in camp. While most fans expect these four to make the team, a bad stint in training camp could send them tumbling down the roster. It isn’t unthinkable that these four even get cut at the end of summer.
For these four Steelers players, their have the most to lose ahead of training camp starting.
Steelers with the most on the line this summer
Mark Robinson
Mark Robinson went from a defensive sleeper to a defensive dud in just a few short years. Taken in the seventh round, his physicality was apparent early in his career. He made the roster outright as a rookie and looked like a developmental linebacker for the team.
Fast forward to now, and the Steelers clearly never saw what us fans did. Year after year, the team added different veterans of varying talent to play over Robinson. Now, he is fighting for the final linebacker spot as a core special teams player.
Unfortunately, he is competing against a rookie with a strong background in special teams in Carson Bruner. While not a lock to make the roster, the fact he has his whole rookie deal ahead of him as opposed to being in the final year of his deal could make him more attractive.
No, Robinson didn’t have a lot to begin with as the potential fifth man on the depth chart, but his odds of making the roster are at a coin flip right now. It is two dogs, one bone between him and Bruner.
Spencer Anderson
A similar sleeper player from a few seasons ago, Spencer Anderson, looked good in limited action as a rookie. While he never developed his skills as a potential center option, he has played extensively at both guard spots and right tackle.
Unfortunately, we saw last year what his ceiling is. He got the initial nod to start for an injured Issac Seumalo, but he was quickly benched in favor of rookie Mason McCormick. The play wasn’t spectacular, and there are questions about how long he can fill in as depth.
While not filled with notable names, the Steelers have a lot of intriguing options along the interior this training camp. From young veterans to undrafted rookies, a strong showing by one or two names could quickly shove Anderson down the depth chart.
Dylan Cook can serve as both a tackle and guard, while Doug Nester and Steven Jones have some interesting college tape. You also have some rookies with plus traits in Aiden Williams and Gareth Warren. While he should get early looks as a backup, that can quickly change if he doesn’t outplay his competition.
Isaiahh Loudermilk
While Isaiahh Loudermilk hasn’t developed into the player you wanted when you traded up for him a few years ago, he has become a very safe backup. He plays the run well enough and offers enough as a pass rusher to warrant being on a roster.
However, the defensive line depth chart is deep this offseason once again. He isn’t anywhere near a starting job (and for good reason), and veteran free agent Daniel Ekuale has leaped him for the top backup role. That leaves him as the early favorite for one or maybe two spots.
He faces competition of all sorts, from the experienced (Dean Lowry) to the unproven (Logan Lee) to everything in between. While he has the early leg up, that will only get him so far. He needs to beat out the rest of the players biting at his ankles for a roster spot.
Cory Trice Jr.
Cory Trice Jr. was an instant draft darling after he fell to the seventh round. Most expected him to get drafted earlier (and for good reason), but a deep cornerback draft class and some injury questions caused him to fall. Most figured he could eventually start for a defense if his health remained good.
While he has flashed at times, Trice hasn’t taken that next step quite yet. He looked ok in rotational work last year, although he had a bad game against a talented Bengals receiver core. It seemed like he was going to be the third cornerback for the defense this season, though following the signing of Darius Slay.
Now, he suddenly finds himself as the fourth outside cornerback, and that spot isn’t locked in place yet. Brandon Echols was brought in as a depth defender while James Pierre is a proven special teams’ option. If Trice can’t show up and lock down a role, he may see himself buried on the depth chart or even cut.
Perhaps the intention will be to get him some safety snaps, something he did do at Purdue. He hasn’t been used like that, but there is certainly more room on the safety depth chart. That said, no matter where he plays, he needs a strong camp to secure a roster spot and top backup role.