The Pittsburgh Steelers have turned quite a few heads through the first two outings in the preseason games. Why these are exhibitions that hold no weight against the outcomes of the regular season, the front office and coaching staff have seen the fruits of the offseason labor bear impressive fruit.
All of that is appeasing the fanbase thoroughly.
Offensively the sparks from the starters have been flying. The operation of the offense appears crisp and calculated, which is providing a welcome uptick in explosive plays. The improvements on the offensive line through free agency and the draft are paying off while the maturation of the young skill players is noticeable.
Defensively the outcome is what Steelers fans expect from first string down to the deepest reserves: sacks and turnovers. The overhaul in the interior linebacking group is coming together. The defensive backfield is playing with aggression. The infusion of youth on the defensive line is showing some promise. The edge rushers are deep and menacing.
Head coach Mike Tomlin should be pleased. General manager Omar Khan should be pleased.
With the successes of the first two preseason games in mind, who are the names that are seeing the biggest notoriety on the team? Who is proving to be the most valuable to this roster as we approach the preseason finale?
These are names that will be on the final 53, and based on their electric preseason efforts, they should provide much of the spark that will allow the Steelers to display an improvement that would no doubt grab the attention of the rest of the NFL.