The Pittsburgh Steelers finally return to the field this week. It's here. No, it's not quite Week 1 yet, but training camp in Latrobe will do. With an influx added to the roster this offseason, expectations are high in Pittsburgh. Things kick off on July 27th and from there, football season will be in full force. There will be several position battles to watch, and one of those will be at running back when it comes to depth.
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Steelers veteran running back Anthony McFarland will have to prove himself once again in order to win the No. 3 RB job.
Quite obviously, the top two spots are locked into place. Beyond that though, there's a real battle brewing for the third spot. Anthony McFarland Jr. is the veteran of the group, but Alfonzo Graham impressed in the early summer portions. An undrafted rookie, Graham seemingly gained some ground on McFarland in the Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamp sessions.
Now, heading into training camp, that gap seems minimal. Darius Hagans is another name to watch in that running back room, as he has the traits to be a key special teams contributor. With Benny Snell Jr. no longer in the fold, Pittsburgh doesn't have a special teamer in the RB room. Steelers insider, Brooke Pryor of ESPN put together her prediction for the 53-man roster. In fact, she thinks the front office will be active on the running back waiver wire, as teams make roster cuts throughout the fall.
"[Najee] Harris and [Jaylen] Warren are locks, but McFarland's spot isn't as secure. Harris will still likely get the bulk of the carries in 2023, but Warren proved last season that he's a solid third-down back and a complementary piece to Harris. Beyond those two, though, the Steelers lack quality depth. Look for the team to use training camp to explore other options."
There will be starting battles to watch like Broderick Jones and Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle, but we know those guys will be on the 53-man roster. That's why the wideout position will be another one to keep an eye on despite four guys being locked in on the roster. Pryor included a shocking name in her 53-man roster prediction in the form of Gunner Olszewski. He was benched as the return man in 2022 and never earned the spot back.
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Steelers returner Gunner Olszewski didn't have the impact that some expected him to have in 2022.
Now, he seems like an obvious cut candidate. Pryor opted for Olszewski over a talented guy like Hakeem Butler for the sixth wideout spot. Without much to offer offensively, Olszewski will have to prove he can still be an above-average returner if he wants to make the roster. Additionally, for the first time in a few years, there will also be a legitimate competition for the starting punter job.
Steelers' Punter Battle Certainly One To Watch
The Steelers drafted Pressley Harvin III in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but he hasn't lived up to that hype. In two NFL seasons, he's endured his fair share of struggles. In 2022, he showed an improvement though, upping his average per punt by two yards from his disastrous rookie campaign. His 44.5 average was still ninth-worst amongst qualifying punters.
Harvin had moments of excellence, most notably his clutch punt vs. the Atlanta Falcons in a Week 13 victory. Unfortunately, he still had far too many blunders and blatant shanks. As a result, the front office went out and got some competition this offseason. Shortly after the New York Jets released Braden Mann, the Steelers scooped him up.
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Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III walks on the field at Acrisure Stadium prior to a 2022 regular season game in Pittsburgh, PA.
Now, it will be a full-on competition for the rest of the summer and into the fall. While Mann averaged 2.4 more yards per punt than Harvin, his net average was actually worse. His 40.6 net yards per punt was seventh-worst in the NFL. Some of that has to do with the team's punt coverage and blocking, but that could be seen as a slight concern nonetheless. There's no doubt that both of them have capable legs, but it will be about who is more consistent.
As for a few other noticeable inclusions and omissions on Pryor's prediction, 2021 third-rounder Kendrick Green was absent. After making 15 starts at center in 2021, he didn't appear in a game in 2022. Now, he seems to be on the outside looking in after the team beefed up the interior this offseason. Additionally, Pryor included Elijah Riley as the fifth cornerback over Chandon Sullivan and James Pierre.
The slot corner spot is still an area of concern entering training camp. While Peterson will likely play a little bit there, cutting Sullivan leave the Steelers with minimal experience in the slot. It'll be just another area of the field to watch for through training camp and into the preseason.
What battles are you looking forward to paying attention to in Latrobe? Who do you think will ultimately win the punting competition between Mann and Harvin? What will the Steelers' record be in 2023? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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