Steelers Position Battle No. 2: Keenan Lewis vs. Joe Burnett vs. Keiwan Ratliff

Position battles are normally battles for one spot between two players. But teams, even ones that are talented from top to bottom, can have two or more spots open at a certain position during an offseason.

This is the case for the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive unit, where both the dime and quarter-package cornerbacks are undecided.

While many might view these holes as insignificant, depth in the defensive backfield has become increasingly important each year ever since the development of offenses such as the run-and-shoot and the West Coast offense.

Modern teams like to spread defenses out, which means more receiving threats on the field. For the Steelers to repeat their Super Bowl victory and maintain their top-rated defense, they must find the right men for the job of covering these extra pass-catchers.

The leading candidates for the last two cornerback spots are rookies Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett, and veteran journeyman Keiwan Ratliff. There are a few other defensive backs on the roster who could potentially earn a spot, but Fernando Bryant’s retirement puts Burnett, Lewis, and Ratliff in the driver’s seat.     

Here’s the skinny how things just might shake out at camp.

Lewis and Joe, being rookies, are unknowns. But the Steelers are hoping at least one of them can eventually be a solid nickel or starting back. There will be an intense scouting process to see who is most worth a roster spot.

Most fans, as well as players and coaches, expect Lewis to be the most promising of the bunch—if not the best in camp already.

Lewis was the Steelers' second third-round selection in the 2009 draft, and the six-foot, 208 pound cornerback out of Oregon State plays the physical kind of defense Mike Tomlin loves.

While the higher pick always gets more attention, lower picks can often surprise—especially when they have a chip on their shoulder and a fellow rookie to compete with.

That chance to compete will be given to Burnett, who will try to prove that he should’ve been the third round pick instead of going in the fifth round.

Burnett not only offers great ball-hawking skills—16 interceptions at Central Florida—but also gives the Steelers a potentially dangerous return-man. The Steelers have not had good return-man since Antwaan Randle El.

So if Burnett can show the potential to fill this hole, he will find himself among the final 53 men at the end of camp.

The final possible piece of the puzzle is Ratliff. Ratliff played in 13 games for the Indianapolis Colts last season, starting four of them and ending the year with two interceptions and one defensive TD.

It would be hard to imagine that a player talented and experienced enough to start for a playoff team wouldn’t make the final roster cut—especially with so many unknowns in the defensive backfield for Pittsburgh.

Lewis is too talented and has too much upside to cut.

Burnett is too valuable a return-man to cut.

Ratliff is too solid a veteran to cut.

While this is a preferable conundrum to be in, the wrong decision could create a weakness in a Steelers team that must be better than last year in order to repeat their Super Bowl win.

While it appears all three candidates are worth keeping there, just isn’t enough room on the roster for them all to make final cuts. Look for Lewis and Ratliff to make the 53-man roster, with Burnett heading to the practice squad.

Mike Wallace, Mewelde Moore, or Santonio Holmes will take the return job from Burnett—if not based on mere talent, then on their value at their primary positions.

And while Tomlin and Colbert will look for Burnett to develop and make the team next year, he will wait in the wings, hoping for injuries to get him some playing time.