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Now that I’ve wrapped up the Rating the Rooms: AFC North collection right here at Steelers Depot, it’s time to show our consideration to the Rating the Starters collection for the Steelers.
As a fast reminder, I’ll run down the 24 starters, which embody kicker and punter, however not lengthy snapper or returners. Offensively, I’m going to rank the starters based mostly on a three-wide set, with one tight finish, which means no fullback, so that you received’t see Derek Watt seem within the starters’ collection.
Defensively, I’m going to roll with the Steelers’ nickel protection, switching it up from final season after I went with the 3-4. So which means no nostril deal with (Tyson Alualu) on this record, which is smart contemplating the Steelers are in nickel greater than base.
Right here’s how the 2020 rankings went forward of the 2020 season.
Earlier than we get began, I’ll provide you with a quick rundown of names to anticipate on this collection, as I make my starters projections.
Offense
QB — Ben Roethlisberger
RB — Najee Harris
WR — JuJu Smith-Schuster
WR – Diontae Johnson
WR – Chase Claypool
TE — Eric Ebron
LT — Chukwuma Okorafor
LG — Kevin Dotson
C — Kendrick Inexperienced
RG — Trai Turner
RT – Zach Banner
Protection
DE — Cameron Heyward
DE — Stephon Tuitt
OLB — Alex Highsmith
ILB — Devin Bush
ILB — Robert Spillane
OLB — TJ Watt
CB — Joe Haden
CB — Cameron Sutton
CB – James Pierre
S — Minkah Fitzpatrick
S — Terrell Edmunds
Specialists
Okay – Chris Boswell
P — Jordan Berry
Does that make sense? Good.
Final be aware earlier than we dive in right here: right here’s how the record began out final season with No’s: 24-22.
No. 24 — Jordan Berry
No. 23 — Chukwuma Okorafor
No. 22 — Terrell Edmunds
No. 24 — Jordan Berry, P
Consistency stays an issue for Jordan Berry, who I’m projecting to carry down the punter’s place as soon as once more, holding off seventh-round draft choose Pressley Harvin III in a coaching camp battle.
Berry actually has a giant leg, however he’s been so up and down in his profession, and has left Steelers followers, media — and even coaches — wanting extra. When he’s requested to growth punts, he can do it in a giant manner, however he continues to battle at directional punting, which the Steelers have requested him to do usually to mitigate punt returns.
It’s price noting that Berry averaged a career-high 45.8 yards per punt final season, however dropped a career-low 23 punts contained in the 20 yard line for the Steelers.
I believe it’s protected to say he’s the “worst” starter on the Steelers’ roster forward of coaching camp.
No. 23 — James Pierre, CB
I’m firmly within the James Pierre fan membership at this level.
Although he’s very inexperienced and an entire unknown at cornerback for the Steelers — outdoors of a handful of late-season snaps — Pierre is impressing lots of people forward of coaching camp and appears like he’s within the driver’s seat to see a ton of enjoying time in 2021 following the departure of Mike Hilton and Steven Nelson this offseason.
Pierre received’t maintain down a beginning job in base, however as soon as the Steelers transfer to nickel, I anticipate to see Pierre come onto the sector as the skin nook, sliding Cameron Sutton inside to the slot the place he’s way more snug.
Pierre is lengthy with good ball abilities and even performed some security in faculty. He’s sticky in protection and seemed snug within the restricted snaps he acquired, together with the eight defensive snaps he performed within the Wild Card loss to the Cleveland Browns.
If the Steelers can hit on Pierre as an undrafted free agent, and particularly at cornerback, that’s a monumental win for the franchise.
No. 22 — Chukwuma Okorafor, LT
Although he had a tough 2020 season filling in for the injured Zach Banner, Okorafor nonetheless strikes up one spot in my Rating the Starters collection.
Okorafor makes the transfer from proper deal with again to his extra pure left deal with place, a spot which he performed in faculty at Western Michigan. As a extra athletic deal with with some passiveness to his recreation, Okorafor matches higher at left deal with in cross safety the place he can use his footwork and size to win.
The place he’ll battle within the Steelers’ new system is within the run recreation, which new OL coach Adrian Klemm is specializing in aggression and nastiness, neither of that are an actual a part of Okorafor’s recreation.
The transfer to left deal with might actually do wonders for Okorafor, however he nonetheless stays slightly low on my starters rankings as a result of poor 2020 season he placed on tape.
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