5 Steelers Players Who Should See Their Roles Expand in 2014

Last season, the narrative about the Pittsburgh Steelers centered on age. The Steelers were an old team. Whether that was true or not, depends on how to you looked at it. However, this offseason, Pittsburgh is getting younger, and it has been accomplished by staying in-house.

The front office jettisoned age and money, along with lots of valuable playing experience on both sides of the football. This means it is all hands on deck for the youngsters on the roster. It also means that players who might have seen fewer reps in 2013 will have significantly expanded roles in 2014.

But which players are going to have to step up and accept that new role? Here are the five guys the Steelers are going to call upon in 2014 to make this team better. Even with experienced veterans on the roster, this season could be decided by these youngsters instead.

All stats courtesy of NFL.com.

Cameron Heyward, Defensive End

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2013 Playing Time: 16 games, 13 starts

Sometimes when a player has a great season, you assume that role cannot be expanded much more.

However, that's not the case for defensive end Cameron Heyward. Keep in mind, he started the season as a reserve and came on late to be among the best players on the entire Steelers defense. Going into 2014, the weight of the defensive line is about fall on his shoulders.

Some players are gone, and new players are going to be in new roles on that front three. It’s going to be up to Heyward to step up his game even more than he did at the end of the season. There's no doubt that he has the ability. It's just a matter of whether or not he can put it all together for a 16-game season.

If he can, Heyward will be among the elite of the 3-4 defensive linemen in the league. This will help push the Steelers defense back into greatness. No one should expect Heyward to put up 10 or 12 sacks like a traditional defensive end would.

Nevertheless, it would not be at all surprising to see him get six or eight sacks this season along with multiple pressures on the quarterback and even some passes batted down. This is another year with full-time snaps; expect Heyward to be a full-time player.

Jarvis Jones, Linebacker

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2013 playing time: 14 games, eight starts

When the Steelers selected Jarvis Jones in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft, they expected him to come in and contribute right away. Things haven't really worked out for Jones so far. He struggled in 2013 with his development.

But there is hope that with a full offseason of weights and conditioning, Jones will be beefed up and ready to play that strong-side, outside pass-rushing linebacker role that the Steelers need in that 3-4 defense.

With Jason Worilds across from him full-time and very little depth behind either of them, an expanded role for Jones means he doesn't get to come off the field like he did in 2013. He's going to have to be an every-down player, whether it's stopping the run or rushing the passer.

It's going to be on Jones to man that strong side. Playing on the right means he's going to have to contend with left tackles—the best offensive linemen on the opposing team.

Is Jones ready for that?

Markus Wheaton, Wide Receiver

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2013 Playing Time: 12 games, one start

The Steelers are in a bit of a predicament as they go into 2014 at the wide receiver position. They have talent without a doubt, but their size is a matter of concern. Markus Wheaton is one of these speedy and athletic, albeit undersized, wide receivers.

With Lance Moore and Antonio Brown manning what we would expect to be the starting spots, Wheaton is now moved into that third wide receiver role that the Steelers like to use so much.

It's hard to get a gauge on just how ready Wheaton is for an expanded role in 2013.

Last season, he rarely saw the field as Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery filled out the wide receiver depth chart. Unfortunately, both are gone, and it is Wheaton's time.

It is likely that the Steelers are still going to try to draft a big, tall wide receiver early in the 2014 NFL draft. If they do, this could push Wheaton’s value down yet again. Let’s hope that his pick in 2013 wasn't wasted, and he will be ready to contribute in 2014.

Shamarko Thomas, Safety

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2013 Playing Time: 14 games, two starts

No one ever likes to see an icon in the later stages of his career. It is a passing of an era. However, for safety Troy Polamalu, it seems as if his playing days in Pittsburgh might nearing their end. Granted, he will play in 2014, but beyond that, nothing is certain.

That means second-year safety Shamarko Thomas could be called upon for a much larger role this year in preparations for being a full-time starter in 2015. Thomas flashed in 2013, showing the speed and the physical play that are demanded of the strong safety spot in a Dick LeBeau-coached defense.

Thomas should become more than a sub-package defensive back and instead take a more active role alongside free safety Mike Mitchell in the deep secondary. If those two safeties can find some chemistry together, and if they can learn to play within the system, this defense is going to be intimidating on the back end.

Cortez Allen, Cornerback

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2013 Playing Time: 14 games, eight starts

Some people, myself included, thought cornerback Cortez Allen would come in and become a full-time starting cornerback for the Steelers in 2013. He and Ike Taylor were to form a tall, athletic tandem that would handle opposing wide receivers all game.

Unfortunately, that never came to fruition, and Allen found himself in the starting lineup for only eight games. At times, he was on the bench entirely. Allen came on strong at the end of the season, having four very solid games to close out the season.

This year, Allen's going to be given every opportunity to win that starting spot opposite of Taylor.

If he can accomplish that, this defense will be better for it. Allen’s size gives him the opportunity to play physical with larger wide receivers and bait quarterbacks into bad throws.

This defense has been woeful in forcing turnovers. An expanded role from Allen, paired with an improved pass rush would have to help that. Even if Pittsburgh drafts a cornerback early, the Steelers must get Allen on the field to see what they have, before he hits the free-agent market.