Pittsburgh Steelers OTA Standouts Worth Keeping an Eye on This Offseason
The Pittsburgh Steelers' OTAs continue this week as the team ramps up its preparations for the 2015 season. Though voluntary, OTAs are important to the team, as they install its offense and defense prior to June's mandatory minicamp and July's training camp.
Though just a few days in, players are already making names for themselves on the practice field. Here are five players to keep an eye on this summer based on how they have performed in OTAs thus far.
NT Daniel McCullers
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Nose tackle Daniel McCullers, a sixth-round 2014 draft pick, has dropped weight. He's now at 350 pounds, and as he said last week to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly, "Everybody kept telling me that I looked good." Now, the hope is that the slimmed-down McCullers will have an expanded role on the Steelers' defense in 2015.
McCullers appeared in nine games last year with one start, but he totaled just two tackles in 82 snaps. But this year, Kaboly writes, McCullers should see more time at nose tackle as well as along the defensive line in nickel packages. Though No. 2 on the depth chart behind Steve McLendon, McCullers could certainly eat into McLendon's playing time this year.
Linebacker Lawrence Timmons is among a number of McCullers' teammates looking forward to what he can contribute. Timmons said, "He's going to [be] fun to watch." Cornerback Antwon Blake said, "The sky is the limit for him."
McCullers said, "I feel that if I continue to work hard and do what I need to do that I will get playing time. Coach Mitch [John Mitchell] likes me as a player and thinks I can be a great one." It will be interesting to see how the Steelers use McCullers this summer and where he lines up most often.
S Shamarko Thomas
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Safety Shamarko Thomas will be one of the Steelers' most scrutinized players this summer, given that he's the man tapped to replace the retired Troy Polamalu. But Thomas, who played only two defensive snaps last year, is up for the challenge.
Last week, via the Associated Press' Dale Grdnic, Thomas said, "I'm definitely sorry that Troy's gone, and I can't replace him. He's a Hall of Famer. I'm not worried about the job right now. I'm just out here trying to compete and trying to get involved with my team and just working hard."
Thomas has been working out with Polamalu and said, "That was a great experience for me, and I kept up doing the explosive stuff, plyometrics, all the things to keep me explosive, coming out of my breaks and turning my head, mostly all the things needed to take care of my mind and my body. I text Troy every other day. He keeps my mind right mentally and physically."
Veteran safety Will Allen is confident that Thomas will have a good year, saying, "Shamarko's going to be all right. He just has to keep working hard and stay healthy." Thomas has had a number of injuries, including a pair to his hamstrings last year. In order for Thomas to have a good 2015, he will have to remain healthy and on the field. So far, he's feeling good, but it will be something to watch this summer.
DE Stephon Tuitt
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Defensive end Stephon Tuitt took most of his rookie year to get comfortable enough to play a full complement of snaps. But he did manage to start the Steelers' final five games last year, including the playoffs. This year, he looks poised to be a full-time starter from Week 1.
Tuitt said to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ray Fittipaldo, "I come out here and work my tail off for my teammates every single day. It's nice to get recognition from the coaches to believe in me and hand me the position they gave me." Tuitt is expected to start in place of Brett Keisel, whom he filled in for late last year, when Keisel was placed on injured reserve.
Line coach John Mitchell noted the development he's seen out of Tuitt, saying:
"A lot of times, people don't realize last year that guy was a senior in college. You expect the mistakes he made. Those are mistakes you make senior year in college. He is playing in the NFL against guys who have been in the league [five], 10 and 15 years, and he did a good job. It took him a little while longer to pick up our scheme and understand what we are going to do, but you have to realize, he was a young man who just turned 20 years old and he would have been a senior last year at Notre Dame.
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Fellow starter Cam Heyward is also optimistic about Tuitt, saying to Fittipaldo, "I expect a lot from Tuitt because he's been in certain situations that most rookies don't get to be in. ... We're [expecting] Tuitt to be ready from Game 1. He definitely has a high ceiling and we're definitely going to see how high it is."
As OTAs give way to minicamp and training camp, we'll get an even better look at how well Tuitt's development into a starter has progressed.
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CB Antwon Blake
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When the Steelers drafted cornerbacks Senquez Golson and Doran Grant last month, it seemed like veteran Antwon Blake, who was given a restricted-free-agent tender from the team earlier this offseason, would have an uphill climb to retain his starting status from 2014.
But now, with OTAs under way, it appears that Blake has a larger role to play on defense this year than initially expected. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly and Chris Adamski reported last week that Blake has been working as an outside cornerback in the nickel defense with William Gay in the slot role.
In an ideal world, the Steelers would not have to field a pair of rookie cornerbacks as starters. And from the looks of what Blake is doing in OTAs thus far, it appears that he's locking down a starting job. As Blake said, "For the most part, I am an outside corner. 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 seems that is what the Steelers like him to do, as well.
WR Tyler Murphy
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Former Boston College quarterback Tyler Murphy was brought on as an undrafted free agent, not to compete for a No. 3 quarterback job—though that may still be on the table. No, Murphy, much like former Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner, was brought on to be a wide receiver. And Murphy is already turning heads in OTAs, which could make for an interesting positional battle as the summer wears on.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Chris Adamski notes, "Murphy has taken part in drills and meetings at quarterback and receiver during rookie camp and organized team activities." But he's also working as a holder in kicking drills.
Murphy is willing to do whatever it takes to stick on the Steelers' roster, saying:
"[Coach Mike Tomlin] definitely says it a lot: 'The more you can do, the better.' So I'm just trying to display that I can help out at the receiver position if needed and I can help out the quarterback position if needed and just different things, whether it's holding or trying to block a punt. I'm just trying to find a way to continue to play football.
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Fellow receiver Markus Wheaton said that Murphy "looked really good" in practices thus far. Though Murphy will have to master the nuances of the receiver position, such as route-running, Murphy's willingness to do it all makes him a player to watch this summer.
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