First Call: A Steeler who might get cut; a player the Steelers should sign; unique WPIAL showdown at PNC Park
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A running back the Steelers might cut. An offensive lineman the Steelers might sign. And high praise for Najee Harris, Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Plus, a WPIAL alumni showdown at PNC Park.
All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.”
Bye-bye, Benny?
ESPN.com found one NFL veteran from each team that might get cut before the season starts. The nominee from the Steelers roster is running back Benny Snell Jr.
I assume they aren’t counting Josh Dobbs as a potential fourth quarterback. But Snell is not a shocker given that the Steelers drafted Alabama running back Najee Harris in the first round.
That said, if Harris flops as a rookie or gets injured, Snell is still the next-best option the Steelers have at the position. Given that the team also signed Kalen Ballage, I wonder if another running back — such as Anthony McFarland or Jaylen Samuels — may be a better candidate.
However, we have to remember that the Steelers also drafted a punter in Georgia Tech’s Pressley Harvin III. That can’t be good news for Jordan Berry. So Berry would be my pick unless Harvin looks awful in training camp.
Harris’ high expectations
While we are talking about Harris, NFL.com rated every starting running back in the NFL. And they’ve got the Steelers rookie 16th already.
That’s before Harris has even taken a snap in the National Football League. And that’s even considering that Harris will have to run behind the Steelers patchwork offensive line.
Former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew came up with the list. He wrote, “The Steelers have finally found a new bell cow in Harris, who has a similar skill set to Le’Veon Bell. One of the best backs to come out of the draft in quite some time, Harris will be at the center of the Steelers’ offense as a versatile weapon who’ll take a ton of pressure off an aging Ben Roethlisberger If the Steelers do make one final Lombardi Trophy push with Big Ben under center, the rookie will play a huge role in their success.”
Some backs rated behind Harris include a first-round pick in Kansas City’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire at No. 17. All-Rookie team rusher James Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars) was at No. 18. Tampa Bay Super Bowl standout Leonard Fournette comes in at No. 21. Two-time Pro Bowler Melvin Gordon (Denver Broncos) was rated 24th. And Woodland Hills/Penn State alum Miles Sanders (Philadelphia Eagles) only appeared at No. 27.
Loving the lists
Yup. Lists and rankings are big this time of year when it comes to NFL writing. That’s what you get during the down cycle between minicamp and training camp.
Here’s one JuJu Smith-Schuster probably likes and loathes at the same time. Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar (USA Today) called Smith-Schuster the fourth-best slot receiver in the NFL.
“The Steelers went with a short passing game through most of the 2020 season whether they wanted to or not,” Farrar said. “That benefited Smith-Schuster as a slot receiver, as his numbers in that position went way up in 2020 — he caught 25 of 38 slot targets for 316 yards and two touchdowns in 2019, and saw that shoot up to 39 slot receptions on 119 targets for 888 yards and 10 touchdowns.”
Only Tyreek Hill (Kansas City), Keenan Allen (Los Angeles Chargers) and Tyler Lockett (Seattle Seahawks) were placed in front of him.
That’s a nice tip of the cap to Smith-Schuster. But given his frequently stated desire to play outside more often this season, I wonder if Smith-Schuster really wants the notion of his slot prowess so publicly reinforced.
Meanwhile, Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt also got some acknowledgement from ESPN.com. Even though both players are listed as defensive ends for the Steelers, the website (appropriately) considers them interior defensive linemen.
In their list of the top 10 at the position, Heyward ranks fourth and Tuitt is eighth. Pitt product and Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald came out on top of the chart.
Agree to disagree
Bleacher Report rattled through one move every NFL team should make before the 2021 season starts. In their estimation for the Steelers, it’s signing former Tennessee Titans free agent tackle Dennis Kelly.
Writer Brent Sobleski said, “Dennis Kelly started 20 games between right and left tackle over the last two seasons. Plus, the former Tennessee Titan helped pave the way for the league’s leading rusher in both of those campaigns. Kelly can give the Steelers quality depth or a possible new starter.”
No doubt that the Steelers have questions at tackle. Chuks Okorafor is moving from right tackle to left tackle. Zach Banner is coming off an ACL surgery to be a first-time starter on the right side. And their best backup option is Tampa Bay castoff Joe Haeg.
So Sobleski’s suggestion makes sense. But keep in mind, the Baltimore Ravens were said to be interested in Kelly, too. Yet they decided to take Alejandro Villanueva instead after the Steelers let him walk in free agency.
I’ll also add that for as thin as the Steelers may be at tackle, they’ve at least got more bodies there than they do at outside linebacker and cornerback. After all, they signed Haeg, drafted Dan Moore Jr., and brought Aviante Collins and Rashaad Coward on board via free agency, too. They can probably play guard or tackle in a pinch if needed as well.
Speaking of cornerback, Sobleski said signing former Steeler Steven Nelson is the one move that the New York Jets should make.
WPIAL win
A fun moment occurred during the Pirates-Braves game Tuesday night. We had a WPIAL versus WPIAL showdown.
Pirates pitcher David Bednar (Mars) opened the eighth inning against Seneca Valley alum Kevan Smith. And Bednar got Smith to fly out to center field.
Smith, a catcher for the Braves, was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays on May 19.