Pittsburgh Steelers training camp: 3 Most important position battles
By Samuel Teets
While most of the Pittsburgh Steelers key players entered last training camp with secure starting roles, things are different this time around.
After a year where the Pittsburgh Steelers battled injuries and missed the playoffs, the franchise faces some changes.
A few long-time starters left the team and there’s uncertainty brewing around the organization’s young starting core. Veteran free-agent additions and recently signed rookies could displace players on the depth chart this summer.
While there’s some scrapping over who’s going to fill Javon Hargrave’s role and which corner is going to start in the slot, Pittsburgh’s primary training camp battles are on the offense.
3. Left guard
When Ramon Foster retired earlier this offseason, a hole opened on Pittsburgh’s offensive line. Foster began seeing playing time with the Steelers in 2009, and he cemented himself as the team’s starter by 2011. Unfortunately, the former undrafted free agent began showing his age over the past two seasons. Facing the potential of being cut, Foster retired this year.
Needing a veteran replacement for Foster, the Steelers reached a two-year, $2.85 million deal with Stefen Wisniewski. The former second-round pick started 11 games for the 2017 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and made 11 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs last year. The 31-year-old guard hasn’t started more than eight games since 2017.
Wisniewski won’t capture the starting guard spot without a challenge. Head coach Mike Tomlin announced earlier this offseason that he plans on moving starting right tackle Matt Feiler, per Pro Football Talk, to left guard, at least for the start of training camp.
“With the lack of opportunity and learning in the offseason and teaching, we’re acknowledging as a staff that we have to make some quick decisions and roll from there,” Tomlin explained.
Feiler began his NFL career at guard, but he thrived at right tackle over the past two seasons. Frankly, the move could be a huge mistake. Feiler played exceptionally well at right tackle last year. However, Tomlin wants to at least experiment with the move to left guard. Feiler is a free agent in 2021.