The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to open training camp soon, and it should be exciting and new under Mike McCarthy. However, while things will be different this year, some things won’t change.
Case in point, most of the 53-man roster is already set in stone.
Sure, camp battles may determine who starts and who sits, but the majority of this roster won’t be turned over. Battles like Roman Wilson vs Germie Bernard, as well as the offensive guard battle, will be fun to watch. That said, everyone in those battles will surely be making the team.
The defensive line battle is a whole different story. While five names are locks to make the team outside of injury, the rest of the roster is up in the air. In short, this should be one of the best battles of camp this year, with the most on the line.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive line battle will be one of the NFL's fiercest this year
The first domino that has to fall is this: How many total defensive linemen will the Steelers keep this year? Historically, six has been the magic number, although Pittsburgh has recently been more inclined to keep seven due to the depth.
That means at least one roster spot is completely open, and there could potentially even be two spots up for grabs.
The candidates to take those spots are endless. From wide-eyed rookies to experienced vets, there are an infinite number of possibilities for how this roster gets built.
My guess is that the Steelers will try to keep at least one rookie/younger player. That would make Gabriel Rubio the obvious frontrunner. His strong run defense at Notre Dame would back that up.
Undrafted rookie Kevin Jobity is also an interesting name who offers more as a pass rusher. If one of these players makes the team, the other feels destined to make the practice squad.
While the least likely name of the young group, Logan Lee has made the team before. He doesn’t excel at a lot of things, but pro experience is worth something.
You also have your veterans. Esezi Otomewo is a decent rotational pass rusher, while Dean Lowry is a well-traveled all-around piece. Both will squarely be in the thick of this battle.
You even have some intriguing back-of-the-roster names in Kyler Baugh and Anthony Goodlow; both have plus traits. Baugh is undersized but athletic. Goodlow has classic size and has had a cup of coffee in the NFL. Both are just a few good practices away from throwing their name in the ring.
The Steelers can truly have whatever soup du jour along the line. Want some experienced pass rush help and someone to develop as a run defender? Rubio and Otomewo may be your guys. Want to bank on upside with a player who is still learning the game? Keep Jobity. Want to take a risk? Hang onto Baugh or Goodlow and keep Lowry as insurance.
While not everyone will be keyed into the battle going on for the last few spots along the defensive line, it should be one of the most wide-open battles for Pittsburgh. There are certainly a lot of combinations you can use to mix and match, and it should bring out the best in this group.
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