The information to begin examining training camp battles is here now that the rosters are set. We will look through the Steelers roster and predict who will make the team. Also, we will see where the team stands in terms of playing time for the 2016 season and beyond. Reasons to hold on to these lower-end players vary. Some may be able to make a future impact as players come and go via free agency. This edition will look at outside linebackers. The Steelers should look to carry five outside linebackers in 2016.
Pittsburgh Steelers Outside Linebacker Projection
Right Outside Linebacker
James Harrison: James Harrison and Jarvis Jones will be the one training battle that catches everybody’s eyes. At this point, Harrison probably wants Jones to take the starting spot from him. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely Jones can. Harrison will enter the season at age 38. He has hinted at retirement every step of the way, despite posting five sacks in each of the past two seasons. This should be his last season. Jones was drafted four years ago to replace Harrison. The fact that Harrison continues to beat out the former first rounder is troubling for Pittsburgh.
Jarvis Jones: Jones will get every opportunity to take the starting job. Unfortunately, at his best, he looks like a rotational pass rusher with better run skills than pass rushing ability. At the end of the season, it should look close to a 50/50 split between Jones and Harrison. Jones will be an unrestricted free agent this off-season, and if he does not take over this year, it would be hard to convince the Steelers to bring him back.
Left Outside Linebacker
Bud Dupree: Like Jones, the former first-round pick Dupree needed to beat out a veteran for playing time. Dupree won his spot rather easily, unlike Jones. Sure, beating Arthur Moats should have been easier than James Harrison, but after one season Dupree showed much more promise than anything Jones has shown in three. Dupree posted four sacks last season. While none of them were bulldozing highlight reel sacks, Dupree was a raw rookie who may have provided more off the ball in 2015. His arrow is pointing up and all hope is that he will be the starting right outside linebacker for years to come.
Arthur Moats: Moats can now finally go back to the role in which he thrives in as a rotational pass rusher. Moats is a player Pittsburgh likes to have around because he does all of the little things. He plays his role, and plays special teams, but he will never wow with skill or athleticism. With young and unproven linebackers, Moats was seeing the field more in the past two years than he ever has. Now with Dupree emerging, Moats will go back to his ideal role. Moats only has one year left on his deal. However, right now, the Steelers should probably prioritize signing Moats instead of Jones in the off-season.
Anthony Chickillo: The Steelers seem pretty likely to carry ten total linebackers. That being said, it will more than likely be five outside and five inside. On the outside, the training camp battle will feature Chickillo and Travis Feeney. A couple of things give Chickillo the edge heading into training camp. For one, Chickillo started last year on the practice squad, but ended it on the 53-man roster. It had been speculated that other teams were interested in signing Chickillo off of the practice squad and the Steelers bringing him up showed they have plans for him. The second factor is that Feeney is undersized and inexperienced. He played every linebacker position in college and last year had a back injury. Furthermore, Feeney is not much of a pass rusher. These facts point to him being able to clear waivers and spend an entire season on the practice squad. With Moats, Jones, and Harrison potentially leaving next year, the idea to keep both young linebackers on the team (practice squad or 53-man roster) should be a priority.
Just Missed the Cut
As mentioned, Feeney is close to the cut and will end up on practice squad if he does not make the team. Along with Chickillo, he will be dueling with seventh-round pick Tyler Matakevich for a spot. Jordan Zumwalt can play both linebacker positions. However, injury has derailed the former sixth-round pick’s chances of making the team. Mike Reilly is another option, but as an undrafted free agent, he looks more like a training camp body than a player who will compete.
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