Who Are Pittsburgh Steelers' Biggest Wild Cards Entering 2015 Season?

With a roster rich with talent, the Pittsburgh Steelers have high aspirations for the 2015 season—ones that include a deep run into the playoffs. Even with a strong roster, there are several players who need to step up in order for the team to have a successful season.

Stacked on the offensive side of the ball, Pittsburgh’s defense is loaded with question marks. Whether it is players coming off a subpar season or the lack of experience, the wild cards on the roster could make or break the season.

Even with these concerns, Ben Roethlisberger told Bob Pompiani of KDKA-TV that he believes the Steelers have the players to have a successful year:

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We could be a better football team and have a worse record [than last season]. Does that make us more battle tested if we make the playoffs? Do we fold because we’re not tough enough? I don’t think so, because I think we have a good group. It’s all there for us. The pieces are there. We just have to put it together, play together as a team and stay healthy.

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When Roethlisberger says that the team must “put it together,” not only does that mean coming together as a cohesive unit but also individuals developing and playing to their potential.

Based on last season’s results, the offense appears set with eight of its 11 starters rated as “good” or better by ProFootballFocus.com. By contrast, the Steelers only have four players rated in these categories on their defense.

For that reason, the biggest question marks are found on the defensive side of the ball. Loaded with young talent, the defense has the chance to improve this year as long as these players can reach their potential. However, while they could impress, there is also a chance they never develop.

With organized team activities underway, here is a preview of the biggest wild cards on the Steelers’ roster entering the 2015 season.

Cortez Allen

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

When the Steelers signed Cortez Allen to a contract extension last offseason, they believed they had the foundation to their secondary.

The 6’1”, 196-pound Allen was a young, improving cornerback poised to have a breakout season. Through his first three seasons, he proved to be a playmaker, with three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and four interceptions.

Season	Games	Games Started	Tackles	Passes Defended
2014	11	7	41	11	2
2013	14	8	51	13	2
2012	15	3	55	10	2
2011	15	0	15	0	0

However, last season did not go as planned and Allen found himself on the bench in favor of Brice McCain. It was the second straight season the coaches had benched him for poor play. At some point, he will run out of opportunities—but not before he has one more.

Allen’s poor play was not a result of the lack of talent, ability or desire. Instead, he must focus on the mental part of the game and his technique.

“There’s a lot of little things,” Allen told Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “A lot of fundamental things I was so critical on in college that I sort of got away from, in my opinion. That’s what I’m working on now, just getting back to the basics of football as far as technique and stuff.”

Until he proves otherwise, Allen’s play in the secondary is a cause for concern entering the season. The pass defense will, in part, go as far as he can take it. Given his willingness to improve, Allen will do whatever it takes to solidify his spot in the starting lineup.

“I asked Coach to help me with everything—anything he sees or feels that I’m doing, however small or big,’’ Allen told Bouchette. “I like to be coached. I have a desire to be better. I’m all for any coaching he can give me.”

Allen has an attitude coaches love. Now he must back up his play. If he does, the defense will be much improved next season.

Shamarko Thomas

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

It is a challenge for any young player to replace a legend on the field. It is even harder when that legend was also your mentor, teacher and friend.

For Shamarko Thomas, replacing Troy Polamalu is an immense challenge, but he plans to take everything he learned from the future Hall of Fame safety to become the best professional that he can be.

"I learned a lot," Thomas said, relayed by Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Even off the field, how to carry myself as a man, to put God first and keep the faith when things don’t go right. He taught me how to become a pro and take care of my body, stay in my playbook. He taught me a lot. I appreciate it."

But now it is time for Thomas to take everything he learned and put it into action. After rarely seeing the field last year, he must prove that he is capable of being an every-down player.

Year	Defensive Snaps	Defensive Snap Percentage
2014	3	0.3%
2013	189	17.7%

Thomas does not need to be a magician on the field like Polamalu. Few players could do the same things Polamalu could. Whether it was confusing offenses by lining up all over the field to flying around making plays to one-handed interceptions, he was a special player.

Instead, Thomas needs to become a player the Steelers can depend on, one who knows his assignments and limits his mistakes while taking calculated risks. He has battled injuries over his short career but has an excellent work ethic and elite athletic traits that, when healthy, will help set him up for success.

“It’s definitely an important year for me,” Thomas said, via Fittipaldo. “It’s my third year. I’ve been in the playbook for two years. I know the defense. I know the techniques, adjustments, I know how to watch film, how to be a pro. I just want to seize every moment and take full advantage.”

The moment is now for Thomas, as he will get his chance to work with the first-team defense during practices. Learning from the sidelines is one thing, but learning on the field is another.

Thomas needs to show that he can play in the NFL. If he struggles on the field or has another injury-plagued season, Will Allen will step into the lineup. It may also mean that Thomas will have used up his last chance to make an impact.

As with Cortez Allen, the Steelers need Thomas to show that he can develop into a capable NFL starter. A strong first season in the starting lineup will help the defense regain its edge in the secondary and set the Steelers up for another strong finish in the AFC.

Jarvis Jones

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

As the Steelers transition from Dick LeBeau to Keith Butler, the one thing that we can count on is that, they will count on production from their outside linebackers.

A lack of pass rush has hurt the defense in recent years, and with four first-round linebackers on the roster, it is time this unit becomes the best on the defensive side of the ball. Based on what former linebacker James Farrior had to say, Butler will take advantage of his talent:

“He is an aggressive coach,” said Farrior, via Teresa Varley of the team's official site. “Some coaches lay back and let athletes make plays. He is an aggressive coach and they will have some exciting things going on this year.”

No longer should the Steelers have to rely on James Harrison. It is time for Jarvis Jones to step up and become the pass-rusher Pittsburgh’s coaching staff believes he can be. That means he must take a big leap forward as he enters his third season.

Through his first two, injury-plagued seasons, Jones only has three sacks and one forced fumble. However, he did start the 2014 season with two sacks and a forced fumble over the first three games. A wrist injury derailed his season and continues to cause issues as he prepares for his third season:

 “It was a serious injury and I am still rehabbing it and everything but I still have some strength and motion and mobility stuff I am working on with it,” Jones told Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

A lack of production early in his career is a cause for concern, but it isn’t a surprise, given his position. Pass-rushers take time to develop, and with injury setbacks, Jones’ developmental track is slower than usual.

Despite all of the setbacks, outside linebackers coach Joey Porter feels confident the youngster can make an impact, via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

“I thought Jarvis was playing good last year until he got hurt. So it doesn’t bother me on how it ended last year with Jarvis. I still think he is one of the better linebackers in the league and he will be that. It just hasn’t happened yet.”

Jones and the rest of the Steelers’ linebackers seem to be on a mission this offseason. They have worked out with James Harrison in Arizona, and Jones admitted that the veteran linebacker can train like few others, via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

“Man, it’s unbelievable. He’s in a league of his own. I do what I can do to push myself, and it’s definitely motivation just watching him and seeing the things he does. But, as far as doing the things he does, he’s in a league of his own.”

Not being able to keep up with Harrison in the weight room is not an issue—few can. The fact Jones is trying with the best is more important and shows he is doing what it takes to train like an elite athlete.

By getting stronger, Jones will have an easier time with the powerful tackles he will face on a weekly basis. Combine this with improved technique and a more aggressive scheme, and he may be in position for a breakthrough season—one that the Steelers have been waiting for.

The Steelers only recorded 33 sacks last season—their worst total in a quarter of a century—and will need Jones to produce for that to rise. If Jones isn’t up to the task, there are a number of other players who will compete for playing time, according to what Porter told Bouchette:

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The competition is going to be set at a high level and I’m going to expect everybody every day to come to work with their hard hat on. They’re going to have to get after it because there are only so many spots that we can keep because we have a deep middle linebacker group with a deep outside linebacker group now. They’re going to be scratching and clawing for some playing time.

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Jones has the potential to be a very good pass-rusher and an all-around disruptive player. He also has the potential to be neutralized by the offensive tackle and not show up on the stat line.

Although he will not be a dominant player this year, the Steelers need Jones to show signs of growth, otherwise it will be another long season for the defense.

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

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