Another week of competition has come and gone in the XFL as their re-born league is starting off strong. The game has some differences that keep your attention, while the overall competitive atmosphere is something that will keep you glued in your seat. The big talking point made by this league is the '54th player' that each athlete represents.
That is slightly true as there are only 53-man rosters in the NFL and many of these players will try to fight for that final spot with their skillsets. Some other attendees on these rosters are players that have lost favor in the NFL for one reason or another. Either way, a strong season in the XFL could get plenty of NFL eyes on them when it rolls around to year's end.
Trying to find new talent on the cheapest deals possible is something that the Steelers and the rest of the NFL try to accomplish. The NFL draft used to be one of the best ways of adding cheaper talent. Now there are these smaller leagues with players pushing themselves to their limits trying to get into the NFL and onto a roster.
Marquette King seems like someone that could interest the Steelers
Another week that Marquette King makes the list of potential options for the black and gold to bring into training camp. Pressley Harvin III is not a bonified starter at the punting position in the NFL, and he needs to feel some extra urgency. Signing a known veteran that has a lot of NFL experience should be considered to push for a starting job.
King had another impressive performance this past weekend as he seems to continue to get a lot of reps. The Arlington Renegades are not an offensive powerhouse in the XFL. They struggle to move the ball, but that has given King a huge opportunity to try and remain consistent in averaging over 50 yards per punt thus far this season.
Another XFL edge rusher could interest the black and gold
Plenty of edge rushers have done a terrific job in the XFL thus far. Names like Trent Harris, Tim Ward, and Delontae Scott have made some noise. Most of these guys have some NFL prowess when they jump onto the field, and it is hard to ignore the talent differentials on the field.
Scott is a player that outperformed both Harris and Ward this week as the two Houston Roughnecks had a relatively quiet week for their normal output. Scott was able to stand out in a game where the San Antonio Brahmas looked to have little going for them. He totaled a sack and two tackles for losses during the contest.
This edge rusher has been bouncing around the NFL for some time now, and that included a partial two-season stint with the Steelers a little while back. You know what you are getting from this player with his previous days in the big league. He is a speed rusher that can struggle with his frame at times.
Scott deserves to be on a roster come pre-season time trying to win one of the final roster spots on the roster. He carries enough talent to deserve that chance at the next level, even if that might not be the most glorious of positions to be in.
Receiver could interest the Steelers final roster spot competition
Locating a receiver to fill out your final roster spot is no easy task as they need to wear many hats. They need to play the actual position first off, then they need to be able to contribute on special teams in some form. Returning kick and punt returns or covering on kickoffs is another near pre-requisite.
Miles Boykin was the kind of player for the Steelers last season that could cover kicks and punts, while Steven Sims was the main return man for the club. It seems more likely than not that those two could be in that same role if they both re-sign with Pittsburgh before free agency rolls around. The uncertainty, especially of Boykin right now should give the black and gold some pause.
No matter if they return or not, looking at the XFL for some receivers to fill out the remainder of your roster should not be frowned upon. Jeff Badet is having a good season for himself after getting a microbial-sized chance in the NFL.
Badet has done some return work in college and could be tried in that way during camp to push someone like Simms. This receiver has some quality experience and has been showing the ability to create separation, which should give him a shot at the NFL this year.
A pair of quarterbacks could interest the Steelers if they remain consistent
Not many of the starting quarterbacks in the XFL are making a name for themselves, but there are some performances that jump out at you. Perhaps the most consistent of the bunch has been Brandon Silvers with the Roughnecks. He had another solid completion percentage and compiled 278 yards. He also added three touchdowns and an interception this past weekend.
Silvers has had a couple of cups of coffee with a multitude of NFL clubs over his professional career to date. A local product has also been making the rounds of the XFL ever since the league came back into existence. For better or worse, the build-up of this league was partially marketed around Ben DiNucci. He had a small amount of starting experience in the NFL, so perhaps that is why the XFL put him into the spotlight of the league.
DiNucci is a local product that hails from Pine Richland High School. He would go onto the University of Pittsburgh before ending his collegiate career strong at James Madison University. He has not been consistent this season, but he has been making plays throughout the early goings of the campaign.
DiNucci was able to tally an impressive stat sheet of 377 passing yards and 32 rushing yards this past week. He then also added four passing touchdowns and only one interception.