After the season opener, starting offensive linemen drastically decline
We’re just one game into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason, and half the fanbase acts like the sky is falling. Mike Tomlin’s team has work to do at the drawing board after their 2024 exhibition debut after going down 17-0 in the first half against the Houston Texans.
But it’s way too early to hit the panic button.
Lost in the fumbles, careless decisions, and the inability to put the football in the endzone overshadowed individual performances in Week 1 of the preseason. Pittsburgh’s showing included a mixed bag of results. Here is my Steelers player stock report entering Week 2 of the preseason.
Steelers with soaring stock after preseason opener
CB Cory Trice Jr.
I scratched my head as to why Cory Trice Jr. didn’t see the field until the second half. Mike Tomlin listed Trice as the primary backup cornerback behind Joey Porter Jr. on his initial Steelers depth chart. Regardless, this was a performance that stood out.
According to Pro Football Focus, Trice allowed negative two yards in coverage while recording a tackle for a loss. This equated to a 76.9 coverage grade. What more could you ask for from a talented cornerback coming off an ACL injury?
TE Darnell Washington
The first time I watched the Steelers vs. Texans preseason game, Darnell Washington didn’t do much to stand out. However, the second time through the film, it was clear the mammoth tight end was a bullish run blocker and was nearly flawless in pass protection. This resulted in a team-high 91.7 overall grade from PFF.
RB Daijun Edwards
If you want to get excited about a Steelers undrafted rookie in 2024, look no further than Daijun Edwards. The former Georgia Bulldog showcased quick feet and the ability to bounce off arm tackles. This helped him secure 9.3 yards per carry and a rushing touchdown in his NFL preseason debut.
RB Jonathan Ward
Jonathan Ward earned led the Steelers in carriers while busting off a 20-yard run. Though running lanes were scarce in this contest, Ward made the most of his opportunities from the backfield.
DL DeMarvin Leal
DeMarvin Leal is stuck between positions. Despite the slow start to his NFL career, he continued his impressive summer with an excellent showing against the Houston Texans in Week 1 of the preseason, which included three tackles and a sack on 33 defensive snaps.
WR Calvin Austin III
Austin’s statline of two catches for 49 yards might feel underwhelming, and some fans are blaming him for not reeling in a touchdown in the corner of the endzone. However, Austin had a huge play that was called back due to a penalty, and quarterback Kyle Allen missed him on what should have been an easy TD. Austin showed off his explosiveness in his first preseason game of 2024.
CB Kalen Barnes
The Steelers have some talented cornerbacks jousting for positioning at the bottom of their roster. Kalon Barnes showcased his 4.23 speed on a pass breakup deep down the field. He was one of the bright spots of the secondary against the Texans.
WR Scotty Miller
There’s a lot of overlap between Calvin Austin III and Scotty Miller, but that doesn’t mean both players can’t help the offense. Miuller finished his first preseason game with the Steelers catching three of four targets for 47 yards, including a 38-yard reception.
Steelers with plummeting stock after preseason opener
WR Quez Watkins
Quez Watkins will want to erase this performance from the memory bank. On his first punt return, Watkins called a fair catch when a defender wasn’t within 23 yards of him. The next time around, the former Eagles tried to field a punt over his shoulder and muffed the ball, which resulted in a turnover. To make matters worse, Watkins was not among the 16 players to catch a pass for the Steelers during their preseason opener.
IOL Nate Herbig
Going back and watching the film, I didn’t think Nate Herbig looked bad as a pass protector or run blocker. But any time there are two fumbles on exchanges from the center to the quarterback, there is going to be critiquing. Herbig owned the blame for both fumbles on these muffed snaps to Justin Fields.
OT Broderick Jones
This was not a good game for Broderick Jones. The Steelers’ 2023 first-round pick was lazy out of his stance with sloppy footwork on a handful of reps. Jones’ performance was not the encouraging sign Pittsburgh wanted to see for Broderick to take control of the starting left tackle job. His stock is trending in the wrong direction.
CB Beanie Bishop Jr.
After all the hype of Beanie Bishop Jr. at Steelers training camp, the undrafted rookie free agent underwhelmed in his first NFL preseason game. Though Bishop was a sound tackler, he gave way too much space in pass coverage and will need to improve in this area if he wants to be the starting slot cornerback for Pittsburgh to open the season.
RB La’Mical Perine
As Daijun Edwards and Jonathan Ward caught the attention of the coaches with their impressive runs, La’Mical Perine did virtually nothing to set himself apart from the pack. The veteran running back carried the ball four times for a mere 10 yards (2.5 yards per carry). He won’t have a job for long if his performance doesn’t improve next week.
