The Steelers will open training camp July 28 at Heinz Field. As is usually the case, camp will include a number of battles, not just for roster spots, but for starting jobs.
This series will take a look at those battles as we head into camp.
Today: Backup outside linebackers
Who: Alex Highsmith, Ola Adeniyi, Tuzar Skipper, James Lockhart
The Skinny: T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree are locked in as the starters and came within a half a half sack of the team record for combined sacks by the starting outside linebacking duo.
They'll both play 85 to 90 percent of the snaps. But with Anthony Chickillo gone, somebody needs to pick up the slack to handle those 10 to 15 plays per game when Watt or Dupree aren't out there. Chickillo played 143 snaps in 11 games in 2019.
Adeniyi was the fourth outside linebacker last season and that added up to playing 62 snaps, mostly when Chickillo was out, so in reality, we're talking about somebody to handle around 200 snaps, assuming Watt and Dupree stay healthy.
Highsmith, a third-round draft pick, is making the roster. But the question is whether he'll be ready to make the jump from Charlotte, where he was very productive as a senior, to the NFL?
If not, the Steelers might feel the need to keep five outside linebackers instead of four, opening up another spot on the roster.
Adeniyi, as the most experienced player among the group, would seem to have one of those spots all but locked up. He played 222 special teams snaps last season in addition to his play on defense.
Skipper was the fan darling of the preseason a year ago, but has shown little ability to play special teams to this point. In fact, the coaching staff refused to put him on the field on special teams, even as he was leading the team in preseason sacks. That says a little something about his preparation for that role, which is the key to him making the roster. As a non-starter, he has to play special teams.
Lockhart is an undrafted rookie with some promise. He had 6.5 sacks last season at Baylor, putting together a nice jump in production in his senior season.
The Edge: As stated two of the spots seem assured with Highsmith and Adeniyi holding those down. Can Skipper force the Steelers into keeping a fifth with improved play on special teams?
The wildcard in the equation is the contract status of Dupree, who will be an unrestricted free agent again at the end of the season after playing this year on the franchise tag.
The Steelers might feel the need to keep an extra outside linebacker on the roster knowing they'll unlikely be able to re-sign Dupree and can't afford to tag him for a second consecutive season.
A lot of that also depends on how ready they feel Highsmith will be from the start. He's making a big jump in competition, but they didn't draft him in the third round to take three or four years to develop. He needs to come along quickly, which will be difficult since he'll have just 14 padded practices to do so before the regular season starts.
That could leave the door open for Skipper to earn a role. The Steelers did sign Skipper to a two-year deal when they got him back from the Giants, who signed him following his release by the Steelers at the end of camp last year. That shows they have some hope for him as a player.
Tomorrow: Outside Linebacker
Monday: If Feiler's LG, who's RT?
Tuesday: Options at nose tackle
Wednesday: Battle at tight end
Thursday: Safety in numbers
Friday: Hodges or Lynch as No. 3?
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