Breaking down the 2020 Steelers: The offense

Here’s a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 offense:

(Italics denotes player is on the practice squad)

Quarterbacks

Starter: Ben Roethlisberger

Others: Mason Rudolph, Josh Dobbs, Devlin Hodges

Breakdown: All eyes will be on Roethlisberger, the future Hall of Famer who, at 38, is entering his 17th NFL season coming off of elbow surgery and with only seven quarters of game action over the past 21 months. He is saying all the right things about the condition of his throwing arm, and his teammates are dutifully confirming it looks strong, too. Observations during practice also corroborate that. But in reality, no one can say for certain until Roethlisberger, as coach Mike Tomlin likes to say, gets into the stadiums. The Steelers took a risk in electing to forgo buttressing the position with a veteran, electing to bet on Rudolph to be a capable backup. That wasn’t necessarily the case last season, when Rudolph and Hodges combined for almost as many interceptions (17) as touchdowns (18) in filling in for Roethlisberger over the season’s final 14 ½ games. Fifty weeks after he was dealt to Jacksonville for a fifth-round pick, Dobbs is back via waivers. The Steelers gave him a spot on the 53-man roster and bumped “Duck” Hodges, who started six games last season, to the practice squad.

Running backs

Starter: James Conner

Others: Benny Snell Jr., Jaylen Samuels, Anthony McFarland, Wendell Smallwood, Trey Edmunds

Breakdown: The national media — and, perhaps moreso, the fantasy football world — made headlines out of Tomlin referring to Conner as “our bell cow.” But there never has been any question Conner is the Steelers’ featured back — when healthy. Of course, Conner far too often over his first two seasons of being the Steelers’ featured back was not healthy. Only four times during the Steelers’ past 20 games has Conner made it through a full four quarters unscathed. He has missed at least part 15 of the past 20 games because of injury, including nine full games. He has not played two consecutive games from start to finish since November 2018, suffering seven separate injuries to different body parts over the Steelers’ past 21 games. This is all a way of saying it is likely, even if Conner is deployed as the Steelers’ “bell cow,” others will need to step up at points. Snell is the next man up in that role if needed, with Samuels (passing game) and McFarland (big-play threat) filling niches. Because of his special-teams prowess, Edmunds is a candidate to earn one of the two practice-squad spots on the gameday roster.

Wide receivers

Starters: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, James Washington

Others: Chase Claypool, Ray-Ray McCloud, Deon Cain, Amara Darboh

Breakdown: It’s Round 2 in Smith-Schuster’s quest to prove he can be a No. 1 receiver, and the stakes are high for him with unrestricted free agency looming this spring. But no matter how well — or poorly — he performs, it seems unlikely Smith-Schuster will be back with the Steelers in 2021. If all goes as the Steelers hope, Johnson will establish himself as a WR1, Claypool will prove he is worthy of an NFL role as a rookie and Washington further develops into a complementary piece. Of course, the 2020 Steelers would love Smith-Schuster to be more like he was in 2018 (111 catches, 1,426 yards, seven touchdowns) than he was last season (42-552-3) after the departure of Antonio Brown. The fast and shifty McCloud impressed after being a late camp signee. He likely will be a return specialist but could see a role in the slot on offense. Cain showed enough late last season that he is a nice insurance policy to have in case of injury. The Steelers also saw enough of Darboh over the past 10 months that they kept him on for depth.

Tight ends

Starters: Vance McDonald, Eric Ebron

Others: Zach Gentry, Kevin Rader

Breakdown: Rarely will both McDonald and Ebron start games, and, truth be told, they won’t be on the field together for an overabundance of snaps either. But each figures to play more than half of the Steelers’ offensive snaps, and each has the potential to make significant contributions. Before having an injury-riddled 2019 season with the Indianapolis Colts, Ebron had 13 touchdowns the prior season and comes with a $12 million, two-year contract. McDonald always has been viewed as a breakout candidate in the passing game but repeatedly was slowed by injuries over his first three seasons with the Steelers. Gentry in 2019 had what tight ends coach James Daniel called “a redshirt year” after being a fifth-round pick following a college career in which he converted from quarterback. He has the size (6-8, 265) and athleticism to make an impact, but it remains to be seen what he can do as a pro. A Pine-Richland product, Rader’s specialty is blocking. He is back for a second season on the practice squad.

Offensive tackles

Starters: Alejendro Villanueva, Zach Banner

Others: Chuks Okorafor, Jarron Jones, Anthony Coyle

Breakdown: The biggest positional battle of the abbreviated training camp was at right tackle, where Banner prevailed over Chuks Okorafor. Banner edged out Okorafor during last year’s training camp but only as the runner-up to Matt Feiler, who won a four-way competition to start at right tackle and since has been moved to left guard. Banner loses his title as “Mr. Eligible,” but it seems likely Okorafor will reacquire that role in jumbo packages as an extra lineman. The saga at tackle is far from over, though: Banner is a pending unrestricted free agent, as are Feiler and Villanueva. Okorafor could end up starting at tackle on either side next season. Villanueva turns 32 later this month and seemingly won’t be back in 2021. Jones is a former Notre Dame defensive tackle who has bounced around the NFL since 2017 and was a member of the XFL’s New York Guardians in the spring. The Steelers are taking a look to see if they can flip him into a legitimate NFL tackle, like they did with former defensive lineman Villanueva. Coyle also played for the Guardians and three other NFL teams over the previous two seasons.

Interior linemen

Starters: Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Matt Feiler

Others: Stefan Wisniewski, J.C. Hassenauer, Kevin Dotson, Derwin Gray

Breakdown: Pouncey is back for an 11th season as the starting center, and DeCastro returns for Year 9 as the right guard. But for the first time in 12 years, longtime starting left guard Ramon Foster was not at Steelers’ training camp. Foster retired in March, and he was replaced by the move of Feiler. Initially, the Steelers envisioned the possibility of Wisniewski or Dotson claiming that job, but the realities of a lack of on-field work during the coronavirus pandemic compelled Tomlin to stick with as much continuity as possible. Still, Wisniewski is likely to start Week 1 anyway — at right guard, because of a lower-body injury to DeCastro. Wisniewski’s experience and resume make for a valuable backup. Dotson is viewed as a future starter, but where? Left guard is the obvious answer, but even if Pouncey (31) and DeCastro (30) end up garnering Hall of Fame consideration, each is in his 30s. One of the biggest surprises on the initial 53-man roster, Hassenauer’s natural position is center. Gray, a seventh-round pick last year, is listed as a tackle but typically reps more at guard.

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