Playing time winners & losers for Steelers vs. Falcons (Preseason Week 2)
The second week of the preseason brought some more winners and losers when it came to playing time on Sunday. With only two more games remaining, the coaching staff continues to thin the herd when it comes to determining who will make the final 53-man roster.
I believe wholeheartedly that this second game was the dress rehearsal for those players at the bottom of the food chain. Next Saturday’s game against the Colts will likely be the “real” dress rehearsal for the starters, such as Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, who will assume their regular roles while a number of other players take a snap count hit in their quest of continuing an NFL career.
Let’s take a look at who received an extended look on Sunday, and how that may reflect on their future.
Offensive Winners
The big winner on Sunday, without a doubt, was James Conner. Making his debut in a Steelers jersey, the former Pitt running back played a whopping 90% of the offensive plays. I felt like Fitzgerald Toussaint‘s start and low usage (six snaps) were a positive sign that he’s made strides in training camp and could be seen as competing for the immediate backup spot with Conner.
Filing in behind him were Matt Feiler, Keavon Milton, and Jerald Hawkins: all three are tackles competing for one possible roster spot, or perhaps a place on the practice squad. Feiler saw extended snaps as the left guard in Ramon Foster‘s place, playing 83% of the game to Milton’s 75% and Hawkins’ 67%.
Josh Dobbs played 62% of the game, while Justin Hunter made an appearance as one of the last “winners” to play half or more of the game.
Offensive Losers
Were you aware that Sammie Coates played as much of the game on offense as Josh Dobbs?
He did.
Coates had a quiet afternoon, catching three of his four targets.
So why is he listed as a loser here?
He only gained 20 yards with a long of eight on those three catches. While I do understand quarterback play here is paramount, Coates was a ghost in this game, with Martavis Bryant, David Johnson, and Justin Hunter all outdoing Sammie in the long reception department. Add in that Fitzgerald Toussaint nabbed an eight-yard reception (his only one of the game) and that doesn’t bode too well for Coates.
Darrius Heyward-Bey was another loser in the reps department. While he played the same amount of snaps as Eli Rogers, I feel DHB’s roster spot is in more jeopardy than Rogers’. Ditto for Cobi Hamilton who took a sizeable playing time hit down to 10 snaps. Each of these receivers were downsized by the returns of Martavis Bryant and Sammie Coates. Anticipating at least a quarter’s worth of playing time for Antonio Brown next week means one of these three wideouts may not see the field at all in Week 3 of the preseason.
Running backs Trey Williams and Terrell Watson were casualties of Conner’s monster day as well. As for Brandon Brown-Dukes, he can barely find special teams snaps let alone a single preseason offensive play to hang his hat on.
Update: Looks like I hit the nail on the head when it comes to Brown-Dukes, who was officially released on Wednesday morning.
We have waived RB Brandon Brown-Dukes, and signed CB Antonio Crawford.
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 23, 2017
One more for the loser column: Phazahn Odom, who saw 15 reps to Jack McGee’s 19. McGee was targeted once in the passing game while Odom saw zero. Xavier Grimble only had three additional snaps to McGee’s, which means on tight end’s stock could be on the rise with the others falling: Odom is trending downward thus far.
Defensive Winners
Anthony Chickillo saw an uptick in playing time, an obvious nod that the coaching staff is debating on who the final men at outside linebacker will be on depth chart. The same can be said for Arthur Moats, who played the second-most amount of plays to Chick.
L.T. Walton saw extended time due to Javon Hargrave exiting the game under the concussion protocol.
Matt Galambos, Tyson Alualu, Jordan Dangerfield, L.J. Fort, Tyler Matakevich, Artie Burns, Sean Davis, Ross Cockrell, Jacob Hagen, Vince Williams, Robert Golden and T.J. Watt played nearly equal portions of the game.
The winner of that group? Jacob Hagen, who could sneak in as a backup safety.
Jordan Dangerfield had a strong game, including his reps with the special teams unit.
Defensive Losers
It’s unfair to call someone a “loser” due to injury, but I believe veteran inside linebacker Steven Johnson is in a fight for a roster spot again. Fort is listed as Ryan Shazier‘s primary backup, but it was Matakevich who started in his place on Sunday. Both players figure to take more time from Johnson if he’s not healthy.
And if he can’t show he can play, Johnson could be shown the door.
Daniel McCullers couldn’t find but 11 snaps (14%) on the field despite Hargrave leaving early and a reported injury to Lavon Hooks (8 snaps). That’s not a good sign for his 2017 season.
A large number of defensive backs split about a quarter of playing time including Coty Sensabaugh, Brian Allen, Greg Ducre, and Brandon Dixon. Someone needs to stand out in this area.
The players in most jeopardy outside of anyone previously mentioned include LB Keith Kelsey, S Terrish Webb, DB JaCorey Shepherd, DE Francis Kallon, S Malik Golden, DT Roy Philon, LB Austin Gearing, and DE Christian Brown: each played six or fewer reps, and appear to be the best bets as to whom is cut in the weeks ahead.
