As the Steelers get ready to head to training camp next month, there are a number of players who will need to have a strong showing in order to secure a roster spot in 2015. Today we will look at three players on offense who need to impress at St Vincent’s if they want to make the 53-man roster.
Landry Jones: Jones heads to his third training camp with his roster spot very much in doubt. After two lackluster seasons where accuracy and decision making were major question marks, Jones will have to prove early and often that he has taken major steps forward in his development.
The addition of former Clemson standout Tahj Boyd and Boston College QB/WR Tyler Murphy provides an intriguing dynamic to the battle for the third quarterback spot. Unlike the previous two camps, the Steelers have brought in two players who could supplant Jones with solid camps.
Boyd was a first-team All-American and ACC Player of the Year in 2012, and passed for nearly 4,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Additionally, Boyd adds a dual-threat dimension due to his running ability, something that might be even more intriguing to the Steelers with the changes occurring with PAT’s and two-point conversions. Though Boyd was unable to secure a roster spot after being drafted by the New York Jets last season, a strong camp could make him an interesting option.
Murphy joins the Steelers as another dual-threat option at the position. An undrafted free agent, Murphy spent one year at Boston College as the starting QB after transferring from Florida. Though limited as a passer, Murphy is outstanding with the ball in his hands and is likely to get looks at both quarterback and wide receiver.
Considered a dark horse candidate to challenge for a roster position, Murphy might amplify his chances of making the team by proving he can play multiple positions. Some teams have gone away from using a roster spot for a third QB, and if Murphy could provide an emergency option while helping at WR and special teams, this might make Jones even more expendable.
Regardless, this camp will be extremely important for Jones. If he does not come up with a better showing in camp, he could very well be cut by the Steelers.
Josh Harris: Harris came in last season as an undrafted free agent and did enough to earn a practice squad spot after being among the last cuts at the end of training camp. A few months later, Harris was getting reps with the starters after Le’Veon Bell’s late season knee injury, and showed glimpses of a back that could be good enough to stick with the team in 2015.
Despite being without Bell for the first three games of the season, the Steelers did not look for depth at the position outside of the signing of DeAngelo Williams from the Carolina Panthers. With Dri Archer the only other back on the roster with NFL experience and looking more like a slot back/wide receiver, Harris should have a decent to be Williams primary backup to start the year.
However, with roster spots hard to come by, and a number of other players in the mix for the last few, Harris will need to not only prove he’s capable of being a primary ball carrier if needed, but just as importantly, that he can be a contributor on special teams. This could ultimately determine the fate of a number of players, including Harris.
Darius Heyward-Bey: Speaking of special teams contributors that may be on the bubble to make the roster, Darius Heyward-Bey will have to once again hope this will be enough to keep him on the team. With Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, and Markus Wheaton locks, the remaining wide receiver roster spots will be hotly contested. The Steelers used a third-round pick on Sammie Coates, so it’s likely he will secure a spot. Coates has some ability as a return man potentially, as does Wheaton and slot back Archer.
Ultimately, Heyward-Bey will battle players like C.J. Goodwin, Devin Gardner and Murphy for what will likely be the final WR roster spot, assuming the Steelers keep Archer around. It will also be important to consider that if the Steelers can save a little cap space, moving on from a more expensive option like Heyward-Bey could be a determining factor.
Tomorrow we will look at three defensive players who need to impress at camp to make the roster.
