Winners and Losers of Pittsburgh Steelers' Offseason So Far

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, OTAs are over. Just mandatory minicamp remains before a month-long hiatus prior to training camp kicking off in July. Slowly, Pittsburgh's roster is taking shape.

Part of that roster-building is increasing the snaps for improved players. But that means snaps being decreased for others who aren't performing as well.

Let's take a look at some of the Steelers' biggest winners and losers from the offseason so far.

Winner: ILB Ryan Shazier

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The Steelers hoped that Ryan Shazier would be a major part of their interior pass rush as a rookie in 2014, and for a time, he was. He began his rookie season as a starter, but suffering numerous injuries to his knees and ankles forced him to miss seven games. By the time he returned later in the season, he ended the year as part of a three-man timeshare with Sean Spence and Vince Williams.

This year, Shazier is ready to prove that he can stay healthy as well as play at the high level the Steelers have expected from him. He's added seven pounds of muscle to his frame, and is ready, in his words, to "[d]o whatever I can in order to help the team," according to Chris Bradford of Goerie.com.

Inside linebackers coach Jerry Olsavsky is optimistic about Shazier's 2015, saying to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that, "He played at a pretty fast pace [last year]. How he played from whistle to whistle was pretty good. We picked him in the first round. When you get picked that high, it's for a reason, and we expect him to fulfill his potential."

Given that Shazier started Week 1 as a rookie, expect him to regain that job this summer as long as he stays healthy.

Losers: ILBs Vince Williams and Sean Spence

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Steelers' inside linebacker coach Jerry Olsavsky's recent praise for Ryan Shazier was so strong, that it led the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Chris Adamski to the conclusion that a three-man rotation of Shazier, Vince Williams and Sean Spence is less likely to happen this year.

If that is the case, then Williams and Spence could be two of the Steelers' bigger offseason losers, because neither man is poised to take a starting job away from Lawrence Timmons, either.

Williams and Spence took over for Shazier when he was dealing with injuries last year and remained in the rotation once Shazier returned later in the season. Ultimately, Spence played 510 snaps, Williams played 253 and Shazier played 260, according to Pro Football Focus.

Granted Shazier can stay healthy, it appears that he's poised to play 900 or more snaps this year. Williams and Spence could appear as occasional role players, but it looks like Shazier will take on the duties of starter once again, making Williams and Spence simply depth for the defense.

Winner: OLB Bud Dupree

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Pittsburgh Steelers' Round 1 2015 draft pick Bud Dupree is proving to be a quick study. Fellow linebacker Jarvis Jones said of him (via the Steelers' official website) earlier this month that, "He's gonna be a great player. He's very smart. He has all the physical attributes. He's getting great coaching from Coach [Joey] Porter so he's learning. He's a fast learner, too. The sky's the limit for him."

It wasn't just lip service. Dupree is already working with the first-team defense, reports ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, and Dupree himself is feeling more comfortable, saying to Fowler, "Everything is starting to click. [My goal is] to show them I know the plays and show them they can trust me."

The Steelers' defense only totaled 33 sacks last year, so getting Dupree, a vaunted collegiate pass-rusher, up to speed quickly is good news. Though there's much more ahead for him to master about his position, that he's already working with the first-team defense is a good sign for his chances to start come Week 1.

Loser: OLB James Harrison

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Someone is going to have to lose snaps to rookie outside linebacker Bud Dupree if he is truly on-track to start this year. And that someone looks to be veteran James Harrison.

Harrison, who is 37 years old—and for what it's worth, believes he can play until he's 50 years old, according to Ralph N. Paulk of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review—is expected to be on a snap count of 15 to 25 plays per game this year. This is not just to limit wear and tear on his veteran body but also to allow for Dupree and fellow young outside linebacker Jarvis Jones to finally come into their own.

Veteran Arthur Moats, brought in this offseason as a free agent, will also be affected by Dupree's ascension. The pair have been splitting time at left outside linebacker during OTAs. But it's Harrison, with his pesky snap count, that has the most to lose from Dupree being such a quick study.

Winner: WR Martavis Bryant

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Last year, then-rookie wide receiver Martavis Bryant was inactive for the Steelers' first seven games of the season. But once he had finally earned a chance to be on the game-day roster, he was impressive, hauling in 26 passes for 549 yards and eight scores.

Now, Bryant has added weight to his frame—his former college quarterback and current Steelers teammate Tajh Boyd describes him as "swole" —and has been a dominant force during the Steelers' OTAs. There seems to be little question that he's now the Steelers' No. 2 wideout alongside Antonio Brown.

Bryant said that his improved 2015 is attributed to not having "to think like I did last year. I'm not stressing about learning the plays. Everything is slower for me. I don't have to do a lot of thinking. Now it's about going out, playing, performing and having fun with it."

A 6'4" playmaker like Bryant is certainly welcomed by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. And Bryant's ability to find the end zone will make him a crucial component in his 2015 season. Bryant won't be on the game-day inactives list this year.

Loser: WR Markus Wheaton

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With Martavis Bryant taking a starting outside receiver job alongside Antonio Brown, that leaves only slot receiver duties for Markus Wheaton. And though Wheaton has embraced this role, saying to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler last month, "I wouldn't mind it," when it comes to being moved to the slot, that may not present many opportunities for him.

Last year, Wheaton surmises that he played about half of his snaps on the outside and half on the inside in the slot. He totaled 53 catches on 87 targets for 644 yards and two scores. But the Steelers didn't need him in the slot very often, just as they didn't much need Lance Moore, who ultimately totaled just 14 catches for 198 yards and two touchdowns.

Running back Le'Veon Bell, tight end Heath Miller and even Brown have been, for the most part, responsible for the majority of the Steelers' slot routes. With Bryant not expected to be a part-time player in 2015, Wheaton's snaps could dry up considerably. Add in rookie Sammie Coates, who is best suited to an outside receiving job, and Wheaton's 2015 could look much like Moore's 2014.

Winner: CB Antwon Blake

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Steelers cornerback Antwon Blake has spent time in OTAs as an outside cornerback in nickel packages that have William Gay moving to the inside. He's looked good doing it, too, with linebacker Jarvis Jones saying to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly, "He is one heck of a player."

Last year, Blake got his shot on the outside, when Cortez Allen was demoted to slot corner and then ultimately benched for inconsistent play. He totaled 42 combined tackles, had six passes defensed and made an interception. The Steelers chose to keep him around for 2015, and so far he's been looking good in OTAs, giving Allen a run for his money as a starter on the outside—and playing all over the field.

Blake has risen from relative obscurity to become one of the most talked about players at the Steelers' OTAs. This bodes well for him having a strong 2015 to follow his impressive leap off the bench last year. 

Loser: CB Cortez Allen

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Though cornerback Cortez Allen was a starting outside cornerback at the start of the Steelers' OTAs, per USA Today's Neal Coolong, Antwon Blake's emergence is making it hard for him to keep that job. Also hurting that effort: his benching in 2014, one that damaged his confidence and came as a result of losing grasp of the fundamentals of the position, as he noted to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette earlier this month.

While Blake sees an expanded role in Pittsburgh's secondary, Allen is still trying to get back to his old form. Steelers' defensive backs coach Carnell Lake has been integral in this process, and he said to Steelers.com last week that, "Obviously, I'm his coach. I'm here to, No. 1, support him. No. 2, try to help him with his complete game, from technicals, to physical, to mental. Whatever I can do."

But Lake also noted, "I can't play for him," and said, "Corners have to play with confidence, and the only way that you get confidence is to make plays and be consistent in practice, and Cortez is working on that right now."

Allen needs time. But time is not on his side—not with Blake playing so well and rookie Senquez Golson in the mix at nickel cornerback as well. Allen is being rebuilt, something that Blake and the Steelers' other cornerbacks don't need to do. That puts him behind at this point in the offseason.