Ten practices into training camp, GM Omar Khan’s busy offseason is already paying dividends. Two of the Steelers’ top performers are trade acquisitions: DB Jalen Ramsey and WR DK Metcalf.
Had the Steelers dealt Minkah Fitzpatrick for just Ramsey, they may have won that trade. Ramsey has been that instinctive, that athletic and that versatile while playing in the nickel, free safety and outside corner. He’ll help the Steelers bring more nickel pressures, lock down tight ends, disguise coverages and get back to playing more man-to-man defenses. This looks like a defense much more capable of, for instance, defending the Bengals’ many receiving threats, and Ramsey’s arrival is a huge reason why.
Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers’ quick release and Metcalf’s massive frame have led to numerous successful slants. That appears to be a big part of the playbook.
Let’s look at who else’s stock is up and whose is down, with plenty of training camp still to come…
Stock up
DT Derrick Harmon: The first-round pick has been thrown right into the mix as a starter in the base defense and sub packages. He’s been as-advertised. His physicality has helped bottle up runs during padded practices. His quick hips and strong hands have made him a pass-rush threat, capable of being an impact player in passing situations.
TE Darnell Washington as a receiving threat: The massive tight end has always been a dominant blocker, but the Steelers haven’t taken advantage of his pass-catching ability enough. That could be changing, as Washington has made a number of outstanding catches during camp. That stood out when the Steelers were struggling Sunday during goal-line drills; the lone touchdown came when Aaron Rodgers put the ball up high where only Washington could catch it.
WR Scotty Miller: The Steelers kept five wide receivers last year. The top five coming into camp were DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Robert Woods and Ben Skowronek. However, when Rodgers has struggled and needed to find a completion, Miller has often been the player stepping up. Stylistically, Miller’s crisp route running and shifty playing style would marry well with Rodgers, who wants to play with timing and anticipation. I wonder if Miller can lap Woods or if the Steelers may consider keeping six WRs to get Miller onto the roster.
Depth DBs (Brandin Echols, James Pierre): By adding high-end talent atop the depth chart like Ramsey and Darius Slay, the Steelers have strengthened the group as a whole. Echols is making his case to be the first CB off the bench and has the versatility to play in the nickel, creating a bit of a competition with Beanie Bishop for playing time. (They should both make the team.) Meanwhile, Pierre sits on the roster bubble because of all those upgrades. However, he intercepted Mason Rudolph to end the two-minute drill during Friday Night Lights and picked off two more passes the next day during one-on-one periods. Pierre’s excellent gunning ability could help his cause.
RB Kenneth Gainwell: Gainwell caught the Steelers’ eye last year, when the former Eagles running back beat Pittsburgh in the flat repeatedly. OC Arthur Smith has taken full advantage of Gainwell’s diverse skill set, lining him up as a receiver and throwing him the ball out of the backfield. He’ll be another chess piece in an offense that likes wildcards. I’ve also been struck by Gainwell’s feel for outsize-zone runs, where he has good patience and the quick-twitch necessary to hit holes when they form. He came into camp as the presumptive RB3, but could be carving out a larger role than his position on the depth chart might suggest.
No. 1 defense talk: Multiple Steelers players, including Cameron Heyward and DeShon Elliott, haven’t been afraid to say this year’s team could be the NFL’s No. 1 defense. It’s a star-studded lineup full of All-Pros and Pro Bowlers. Especially with Ramsey playing closer to the line of scrimmage, they’ve made life miserable for the Steelers’ offense. There’s a ton of talent and depth on that side of the ball.
ILBs who can cover: Tomlin said he believes the Steelers now have the cornerbacks to play man coverage against anyone. To do so, the inside linebackers are also part of that conversation. Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson have both been excellent in coverage. Wilson competing against Gainwell during one-on-one passing drills has been must-watch.
Defensive schematic changes: Beyond the personnel changes, the Steelers have also evolved their defensive philosophy, specifically with more Cover 4. When the Steelers have played quarters coverage, they’re capping verticals with corners and safeties to force Rodgers to check the ball down underneath. It also seems the communication issues that plagued this team last year have been remedied to a degree by some of these coverage tweaks.
Stock Down
OT Broderick Jones: A groin injury robbed Jones of valuable developmental time in camp. He was better in one-on-one pass-rush drills in pads on Sunday. But overall he’s missed a lot of camp, and until he consistently shows progress, it’s worth wondering how much he’ll improve in Year 3. Maybe as he gets healthier and has the chance to play in pads more often, the 20 pounds he lost will make a difference.
The WR2 contenders: Roman Wilson looks the part after a strong offseason — however, he’s still not on the same page with Rodgers. The two most noticeable reps were incompletions in which Rodgers and Wilson didn’t come close to connecting. Meanwhile, Calvin Austin III has missed the last two days with an injury. The chemistry with receivers not named Metcalf needs to improve considerably.
DeMarvin Leal: With a tweener body type, Leal has never been able to carve out his niche on defense. He’s been playing mostly as an outside linebacker in camp, but the Steelers already have four locks in T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer. I could see Leal landing on the outside looking in after cut-down day.
Needed improvements in run game: Through three practices in pads, the offense has struggled to find anywhere to run the ball. Maybe the Steelers’ remade defensive front is just that good. But as Sunday’s goal-line period showed, even when they only need a yard, it’s been tough sledding.
Vertical passing game: Metcalf has been one of the NFL’s best deep threats throughouth his career. So far in team settings (seven-on-seven and 11-on-11), Rodgers and Metcalf haven’t been able to take the top off the defense at all. The optimistic way to look at this is that the defense is doing a better job of staying on top of verticals (in part because of coverage changes). But if opponents know that they don’t have to worry about the go ball, it’s going to make short, quick passes more challenging to convert.
(Photo: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)