Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 Players Whose Stock Is on the Rise After OTAs

As organized team activities kicked off this week, it was the first opportunity for the 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers to hit the practice field as a team.

Unlike previous years, when the Steelers were a veteran-laden team, this year’s squad features a lot of new faces—including several who will enter the starting lineup for the first time. As quarterback Ben Roethlisberger put it, it is something that the team has not had to experience in quite some time, per Mike Prisuta of Steelers.com:

“We have a lot of new guys,” Roethlisberger said. “There aren’t a lot of old guys around anymore. It’s not a bad thing. It’s just a new thing.”

Part of the OTAs is to introduce new players to how the team operates but also to begin to install the schemes that the Steelers will use throughout the season. It also provides the first opportunity for players to stand out in front of the coaches.

With practices underway, here is an early look at five players who are on the rise after the first week of OTAs.

Antwon Blake

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Antwon Blake will compete for a role in the nickel defense.

After selecting two cornerbacks in the draft, it is easy for Antwon Blake to become the forgotten man in the secondary. However, he is not ready to give up his spot on the depth chart without a fight.

The versatile defensive back has the ability to play any cornerback position—or even safety—and is looking for an expanded role this season. Throughout the early part of OTAs, Blake has worked on the outside in the team’s nickel package.

According to Blake, that is where he is most comfortable on the field, per Mark Kaboly and Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

“For the most part, I am an outside corner,” Blake said. “I have been known to move around, but I feel like I am an outside corner and that's what I like to do.”

It’s unlikely that Blake will compete for a starting job, but his experience—11 games played last season—will serve him well when vying for a spot in passing packages.

As much as the Steelers would like to get their two rookies on the field, they will not rush them into action. That leaves the door wide open for Blake to lock down his role with the defense—at least for the early part of the season.

Cortez Allen

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Cortez Allen hopes to regain a spot in the starting lineup.

Cortez Allen entered the 2014 season as one of the most promising young players on the roster. The front office was so confident in his abilities that it signed him to a five-year, $25 million deal.

All seemed to be going right for Allen, but then the regular season started. He struggled in his starting role and was eventually benched before finishing the year on the injured reserve with a thumb injury.

As the 2015 begins with offseason workouts, Allen is ready for a fresh start, per Mark Kaboly and Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

“It's a new year,” Allen said. “Last year, that's over with. We're working on the 2015 season.”

Allen did not play to his potential and was a part of the reason the defense struggled. However, he would not offer up any excuses for his play and knows that if he is on the field he must perform to a high level.

“I never make excuses,” Allen said. “If I'm on the field and they allow me to continue to be on that field, it's my job to, you know, help and not hurt. So I will never talk about what I could do, what I couldn't do. If I'm on there, I'm expected to produce.”

Allen has entered OTAs with the right mindset. He knows that he is not guaranteed a starting position alongside William Gay in the secondary. He will have to hold off Blake as well as rookies Senquez Golson and Doran Grant.

With the defense in need of an upgrade, the coaching staff will choose the best player for the job. As Daniel Sager of Steelers Wire points out, if Allen earns a starting position, “It’s because he is truly the best option available.”

Shamarko Thomas

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Shamarko Thomas is putting in extra time on the field after practice.

Without No. 43 roaming Pittsburgh’s defensive backfield, it is Shamarko Thomas’ job to lose.

That is a stark contrast from last year, when Thomas couldn’t sniff the field on defense. He was buried on the depth chart behind Troy Polamalu and Will Allen but used the time as a learning experience.

It is not often that a player has the chance to learn his craft from a future Hall of Famer, but that is exactly what Thomas had the opportunity to do. Now that he is getting reps as a starter, he is remembering everything Polamalu taught him, per Teresa Varley of Steelers.com: 

“Troy (Polamalu) taught me always do extra and have expectations higher than what others have for you,” said Thomas. “That is my mentality, come out here and do more and set myself up.”

The lessons the young safety learned from Polamalu extended well beyond the playing field, which will help him excel in life. The 24-year-old also learned how to be a successful professional, and that is through a strong work ethic.

It is no wonder that Thomas remains on the practice field when many of his teammates head off to the locker room. His drive, his work ethic and his passion will only help him as he tries to replace his mentor’s position on the defense.

“That is why I am out here doing extra. I always work hard,” said Thomas, per Varley. “I have been keeping in my faith and pushing. When I get the opportunity I am going to seize it. My passion, I learned from a young age you have to work hard. I love the game. I dedicate myself.”

Thomas has a lot to prove, but he is taking the approach necessary to replace a legend.

DeAngelo Williams

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

DeAngelo Williams is picking up the offensive scheme.

When the Steelers signed DeAngelo Williams, not only did they find a quality backup to Le’Veon Bell, but also a quality teammate, leader and person.

Immediately upon his signing, Williams made it clear that he would be a team player and fill any role that Pittsburgh needed him to take on, per Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

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I want to come in and help them be productive on offense. Whether that means me coming off the bench, giving the offensive line water, making sure Ben Roethlisberger’s towel is dry so he can wipe his hands and throw the ball better – whatever it takes for us to win a Super Bowl, I’m willing and able to do it.

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Williams’ sentiment has not changed now that he has put a helmet on. He is getting comfortable with the offense and hopes that he can help the Steelers compete for a title, per Teresa Varley of Steelers.com: “I really appreciate the opportunity. It’s a different team, the same cast of characters. We all come in striving for one goal, to win a championship. Everybody is putting forth that effort.”

The Steelers will count on Williams to carry the load while Bell serves his suspension, but after he returns, he should settle in nicely as the backup. He has experience in a two-back system and has the necessary skills to play on all three downs.

Over his nine-year career, Williams has played in 117 games and amassed 6,846 rushing yards—with an impressive 4.8 yards per carry—and 46 touchdowns. He has also added 178 receptions for 1,621 yards and seven touchdowns.

Beyond his stats, he is fitting in well with the other running backs.

“We started talking after he was signed,” said Bell, per Varley. “He is a great guy. Really talkative. Really outgoing. He fits into the running back room perfectly.”

With a strong presence in the locker room and knowledge of the offensive system, Williams is off to a great start to his career in Pittsburgh.

Ben Roethlisberger

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Roethlisberger knows that the offense has room for improvement in 2015.

After a record-setting year in 2014, it is hard to imagine that Ben Roethlisberger could be any better this season.

It was the best statistical season of his career as he completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 4,942 yards, 32 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. His 103.3 passer rating was the second highest of his career.

As impressive as his season was, Roethlisberger expects to perform even better this year, per Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

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There are still a lot of areas we can improve in. We want to improve on third downs, improve in the red zone and we want to score more points. Obviously, guys had some amazing individual seasons last year and we had a really good season on offense in general, but there are always areas we can improve in and get better.

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The Steelers wasted no time working on their red-zone offense, as head coach Mike Tomlin began practice with it on Tuesday. Part of the reason is their discrepancy between total yardage and scoring offense.

Despite ranking second in the league in yards per game, Bouchette wrote: “The Steelers ranked seventh in the NFL with 436 points, and those did not come with consistency, reasons it lost to the lowly New York Jets (20-13) and Cleveland Browns (31-10).”

Improved execution from the offense is one way to improve in this area, and the Steelers are already putting in the work. Given all of the weapons who are returning to the offense as well as the addition of Williams, Sammie Coates and Jesse James, the offense is poised for a more productive season.

Roethlisberger’s style of play combined with Todd Haley’s offensive system has been a work in progress but also one that continues to improve each year. With yet another season of these two working together, the Roethlisberger-led offense will be on the rise in 2015.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, all stats are courtesy of Sports-Reference.com, and roster information is courtesy of Steelers.com.  

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