QB - Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph
WR - Ryan Switzer (kick returner)
TE - Vance McDonald, Jesse James
T - Alejandro Villanueva, Matt Feiler
G - David DeCastro, B. J. Finney
OLB - T. J. Watt, Anthony Chickillo
ILB - Tyler Matakevich
PK - Chris Boswell
P - Jordan Berry
LS - Kameron Canaday
Big Ben never gets the credit he deserves; it will only be in retrospect after he retires that it will be fully understood that he was the player that kept the Steelers a playoff contender every year, much like Tom Brady in New England, though obviously with not as much success.
The Caste formula followed for White players for Pittsburgh varies little from year to year -- great quarterback, outstanding tight end and one or two topnotch o-linemen, and now potentially a great one on defense in T. J. Watt. Watt had a fine rookie year and though he was waylaid by a hamstring injury in training camp, he worked out and trained like a beast in the offseason and it won't be surprising to see him reminding people of Clay Matthews in his prime in 2018.
Tyler Matakevich is another of those "all he does is make tackles" White linebackers who is widely disparaged because he "doesn't look the part." He may get a chance to start at some point this season, but it's more likely he'll languish as a special teams ace and backup at ILB.
Anthony Chickillo always does well in his limited playing time, and should be starting over first round dud Bud Dupree opposite Watt but once again won't.
Will Ryan Switzer actually get a chance at being the team's slot receiver? Not likely, and with divas like Antonio Brown, Juju Smith Shuster and Le'Veon Bell (if he reports) all demanding targets, it's hard to see Switzer having an impact other than as a kick returner.
Number of White starters: 5
Number of Whites on 53 man roster: 15
Grade: D-
WR - Ryan Switzer (kick returner)
TE - Vance McDonald, Jesse James
T - Alejandro Villanueva, Matt Feiler
G - David DeCastro, B. J. Finney
OLB - T. J. Watt, Anthony Chickillo
ILB - Tyler Matakevich
PK - Chris Boswell
P - Jordan Berry
LS - Kameron Canaday
Big Ben never gets the credit he deserves; it will only be in retrospect after he retires that it will be fully understood that he was the player that kept the Steelers a playoff contender every year, much like Tom Brady in New England, though obviously with not as much success.
The Caste formula followed for White players for Pittsburgh varies little from year to year -- great quarterback, outstanding tight end and one or two topnotch o-linemen, and now potentially a great one on defense in T. J. Watt. Watt had a fine rookie year and though he was waylaid by a hamstring injury in training camp, he worked out and trained like a beast in the offseason and it won't be surprising to see him reminding people of Clay Matthews in his prime in 2018.
Tyler Matakevich is another of those "all he does is make tackles" White linebackers who is widely disparaged because he "doesn't look the part." He may get a chance to start at some point this season, but it's more likely he'll languish as a special teams ace and backup at ILB.
Anthony Chickillo always does well in his limited playing time, and should be starting over first round dud Bud Dupree opposite Watt but once again won't.
Will Ryan Switzer actually get a chance at being the team's slot receiver? Not likely, and with divas like Antonio Brown, Juju Smith Shuster and Le'Veon Bell (if he reports) all demanding targets, it's hard to see Switzer having an impact other than as a kick returner.
Number of White starters: 5
Number of Whites on 53 man roster: 15
Grade: D-