On Friday, football will finally return for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home in its first preseason game of the year. The team has been working hard at training camp with a singular focus of improving on last season’s performance.
There are so many players we are anxious to see get on the field in live action but we narrowed our list down to the seven we are looking forward to the most.
QB Devlin Hodges
Pittsburgh’s fourth quarterback has been drawing rave reviews in training camp for his live arm and quick reads. But if he really wants to push for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart, we want to see what Hodges can do in a live game situation.
RB Benny Snell Jr.
It’s highly unlikely James Conner will play against the Bucs so we should get a heavy dose of Snell. The rookie comes to the Steelers after an incredibly productive college career at Kentucky and has the talent to supplant Jaylen Samuels as the team’s No. 2 running back.
TE Zach Gentry
Of all the 2018 rookie class, the one with the easiest path to playing time but who doesn’t seem to want it is Gentry. He runs like a wide receiver but his lack of physicality is a problem for a team who asks their tight ends to block.
LB Ola Adeniyi
The hype train is full for Adeniyi and it’s flying down the tracks. The second-year edge rusher had a big preseason last year before getting injured so we are hopeful Adeniyi can show out again this time around and stay healthy.
LB Ulysees Gilbert III
Things have been pretty quiet for Gilbert in training camp so far. His speed has been evident but there hasn’t been much talk about splash plays. Gilbert will need big performances in these preseason games to hold onto a spot on the 53-man roster.
S Marcus Allen
To call the depth at safety questionable for Pittsburgh is being kind. After Sean Davis and Terrell Edmunds, there’s no one to get excited about. The one guy who might be able to provide a spark at safety is Allen. He didn’t get to show much of anything as a rookie because of injuries, but we really want to see if he brings that big-hitting style he showed at Penn State.
K Chris Boswell
So far in camp, Boswell has been nearly perfect. But on Friday, we will see what happens when the kicks matter a bit more. Boswell is trying to come back from his worst season and become the weapon he has been in the past.
