With six games in the books, the Pittsburgh Steelers currently sit at 2-4. But the season isn’t lost despite the team’s struggles. Some players stepped up bigtime while others fell flat. Here are our main studs and duds at the team’s bye week.
Stud
LB Devin Bush
Through six games, Bush might be the best defensive player on the Steelers defense. He’s got 52 total tackles, a sack, two interceptions and has been responsible for six total takeaways. Every week he gets better and more involved in the defense and has just be rewarded his first AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Dud
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
What in the world is wrong with Smith-Schuster? Through six games the guy who had 111 receptions last season only has 25 so far this time around. Despite the injuries at quarterback, if you are a true No. 1 wide receiver you need to find a way to get your numbers and make the team better.
Stud
DE Stephon Tuitt
Before going on IR, Tuitt was on pace to have his best season as a pro. Despite playing fewer than six games, Tuitt deserves to be on this list. Tuitt has tremendous potential and keeps flashing it but the defense is going to have to rally without him going forward.
Dud
TE Vance McDonald
It’s hard to fault McDonald too much at this point. It really feels like a Randy Fichtner coached offense is a place where tight ends go to die. Nevertheless, McDonald isn’t doing himself any favors.
Stud
CB Cam Sutton
I’m not sure if there is a player who improved more over the last year than Sutton. After playing sparingly in 2018, Sutton has become the team’s third-best cornerback and probably the best slot corner on the team.
Dud
WR Ryan Switzer
There was hope, with Antonio Brown gone, Switzer might be one of the guys to break out as a receiver and return man. But so far neither have happened. Switzer is the primary kicker returner but has struggled all season and only has eight receptions for 27 yards.
Stud
K Chris Boswell
After a disastrous 2018 season, Boswell is back to full strength in 2019. He has yet to miss any of his 11 field-goal tries and all 12 of their extra-point attempts. Boswell has once again returned to form and become the team’s most consistent scoring threat.
Dud
LB Ola Adeniyi
For two straight preseasons, Adeniyi has flashed elite skills in the preseason. Last season his season was cut short by injury but this season he’s healthy and was supposed to really help the defense. But so far Adeniyi has been a dud, even when Anthony Chickillo went down with injury.
