The Steelers report to their 50th training camp today at Saint Vincent College in Latraobe, where they will try to spit-shine the highest-ranked offense in 35 years and scrub clean a defense coming off its worst performance this century.
Within that defense are four young players who have not panned out yet but could help turn them back into a champion.
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Linebackers Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier and defensive backs Cortez Allen and Shamarko Thomas have not come close to reaching the high expectations the Steelers had for them and still do. Their performances in 2015 could go a long way to making the transition to a new and much younger defense go more smoothly and successfully. Or not.
All had injuries that helped ruin their 2014 seasons, none has proven himself a capable starter in the NFL, yet their resumes and abilities say they can be. Starting with the first practice Sunday (no pads until Wednesday), they get to show if the Steelers’ faith in them was warranted.
That is particularly so with Jones and Shazier, their consecutive first-round draft picks in 2013 and 2014. The spotlight shines brightly on first-round picks, and the Steelers have not had any flops in that round in this century. But as Jones enters his third season and Shazier his second, they have yet to back up their college resumes through no fault of their own.
Jones was thrown into a starting job too early as a rookie — something never before done at outside linebacker with the Steelers, who always allowed those players one or two years as backups and special teams performers before elevating them to that critical job.
Both were hurt in last season. Jones had two sacks, a forced fumble and 11 tackles at right outside linebacker in 2014 before he tore up his wrist early in the third game of the season and went on short-term injured reserve. He returned for the final four games but did not play much because of the injury.
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Shazier also started as a rookie at inside linebacker but after getting 11 tackles against Baltimore in the second game of the season, he, too left that third game in Carolina with a right knee MCL sprain. He missed the next four games, and it reduced his effectiveness when he returned. A severe ankle sprain early in a game against Baltimore Nov. 2 prompted him to miss the next three games, and he did not start again.
“The hardest part from last season was just being able to play [to] not playing and watching,’’ Shazier said. “Yes, you learn a lot, but I’m not used to watching and not being able to play.”
He could be poised for a big season based on the small sample from 2014 before he was hurt. He will team with Pro Bowl linebacker Lawrence Timmons on the inside, with Shazier playing the more wide-open mack linebacker spot.
“If they let me blitz, I have to make a sack ... I have to make a solid tackle or make a fumble or something,’’ Shazier said. “I’m going to try to do whatever I can and whatever they thought of me to be able to help the team.”
They plan to use him in many ways.
“They have me in all-case scenarios — open field, in the box, in passing situations. I feel anything they ask me to do, I can help,” he said.
His blazing 4.3 speed can be a real asset, but he is learning not to always use it and become more patient.
“I think if I slow down my game, it will help a lot. A lot of times, I overrun things.”
Thomas has the tough task of replacing Troy Polamalu at strong safety. He, too, lost time and effectiveness in 2014 with injuries to both hamstrings. He missed five full games and half of another. He did not start a game and did not record a tackle or have any defensive stat of note.
Scroll over the graphs below to get more info on each member of the Steelers roster.
The Steelers made a rare trade with division rival Cleveland in 2013 to grab Thomas in the fourth round. He has said he learned much from Polamalu. No one will compare him to his mentor, but the Steelers count on him to produce in his third season.
Cortez Allen was the recipient of a surprise, five-year, $26 million contract before the start of the 2014 season after starting just half the previous season. He was benched, however, after just seven games for performance reasons last year. They put him on injured reserve Dec. 6 with a thumb injury. The Steelers still believe he has the talent to live up to their financial faith in him, and he is back as the No. 1 left cornerback as they enter camp.
“It’s a new year,’’ Allen said. “I like to focus on what I do from here on — that’s to continue to work on my fundamentals and get better. As far as last year, that’s over with, we’re working on the 2015 season.”
His play, and that of the other three, could determine just how that season works out on defense.
Ed Bouchette: ebouchette@post-gazette.com and Twitter @EdBouchette.
First Published: July 25, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
