While the Steelers' offensive battles set to take place starting next week are interesting, the ones that will take place on the defensive side of the ball might be critical to the team's success in 2019.
The Steelers still feel they'll be good on offense. So if the team is going to make big strides in 2019, it might have to come on defense.
And they'll begin Tuesday when the Steelers open Phase 3 of their OTAs, as the team's rookie draft picks and veterans will come together on the field for the first time.
We'll take a look at the defensive battles and what to look for as they are set to begin. We’ll do these in order of significance, with the most pressing battles listed first:
INSIDE LINEBACKER
Out are Jon Bostic and Morgan Burnett. In are Mark Barron and Devin Bush.
This should be fun.
Barron was acquired after the Rams released him in a salary cutting move. But he can still play — he started in the Super Bowl last season.
Barron was signed as insurance in case the Steelers missed on a chance to improve the inside linebacker position in the draft, something that happened in 2018.
Then, they had the opportunity to move up in the draft and acquire Bush with the 10th pick in the draft.
One thing to remember is that Bush is just 20 years old. He played three seasons of college football, only starting the past two. And the Steelers ask a lot of their inside linebackers, who are called on to stuff the run, rush the passer and drop into coverage.
Although Ryan Shazier started as a rookie in 2014, Lawrence Timmons, who like Bush was 20 when he was drafted, didn't start ahead of Larry Foote in 2007. But, Foote had been in the defense for a number of years, and Barron will be learning it at the same time as Bush.
The rookie is talented -- more talented than Barron. But Barron also was the seventh pick in the 2012 draft, so he too has a valued skillset.
Even if Bush winds up starting -- which is likely -- it will be interesting to see if they come up with some packages to get both on the field along with Vince Williams. After all, Barron was drafted as a strong safety before moving to linebacker.
NICKEL CORNER
Mike Hilton is the incumbent and has been a find, to be sure, as a reclamation project who was cut by both the Jaguars and Patriots as a rookie in 2016.
The Steelers, however, would like some competition for Hilton in 2019, after he tailed off down the stretch in 2018.
Injuries were part of the issue, as the 5-foot-9, 183-pound -- and that might be generous -- defensive back just isn't going to get any bigger.
Heading into his third season, Cameron Sutton will likely be that competition. Sutton was injured most of his rookie season, but came back and played outside down the stretch in 2018 when Joe Haden was out with a broken leg.
Last season, he was used all over the field in the offseason workouts, but settled in as a dime player inside, backing up Burnett. He also stepped in to split some time with Hilton.
At 5-foot-11, he offers a little more length at the position. The guess here is that Hilton bounces back this season, but Sutton has talent and could make a strong push for the job in year three.
RESERVE DEFENSIVE LINE
We know who the Steelers' top four defensive linemen are. What we don't know is who is No. 5 or 6.
Daniel McCullers was re-signed in the offseason, but it was a minimum deal and, let's face it, he's hardly overwhelmed anyone with his play in his first five seasons. In fact, it's hard to believe the former sixth-round draft pick has lasted five seasons in the league while producing so little.
Enter Isaiah Buggs, a sixth-round pick this year.
The Steelers tried to push McCullers in 2018 with seventh-round draft pick Josh Frazier, a true nose tackle from Alabama.
Buggs, however, is more of a defensive end, though he also could play inside. He also was a player who started ahead of Frazier at Alabama, leading the Crimson Tide in sacks in 2018.
So, in reality, Buggs and McCullers, a true nose tackle, aren't competing for the same spot.
Can one of younger players -- Lavon Hooks, Casey Sayles, Winston Craig or Henry Mondeaux -- win a spot or beat out McCullers? If they show they can play the nose, it's possible.
Buggs, however, would seem to have a great shot at being no worse than No. 6.
BACKUP SAFETY SPOTS
The Steelers like to say their safety positions are interchangeable, but that's not really the case. There are times when the free and strong safety will switch spots depending on formation shifts, but they would prefer their free safety play deep and the strong be in the box.
But when free safety Sean Davis missed a game late last season, veteran Jordan Dangerfield -- a big hitter -- replaced him.
When you look at the safeties currently on the roster, including last year's first round pick Terrell Edmunds, all seem better suited as strong safeties.
Second-year pro Marcus Allen, a fifth-round pick in 2018, is the favorite right now to be the third safety.
A sure tackler, Allen was given a shot at the dime linebacker spot -- in place of Burnett -- against the Chargers in Week 12, but ended up benched for most of the second half of that game.
The Steelers are hopeful he'll be better in Year 2.
Dangerfield has hung around for several seasons now as a practice squad/special teams ace. As mentioned, he's a big hitter who has a very good understanding of the defense.
Mike Tomlin also mentioned Sutton and Hilton as possibilities at the safety position.
This is a spot the Steelers failed to address in the draft, but they did sign Dravon Askew-Henry and P.J. Locke, out of West Virginia and Texas, respectively, after the draft to compete for a spot.
It wouldn't be surprising if nobody steps forward in OTAs or minicamp and the Steelers sign a veteran at the position.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
The Steelers felt good enough about what they saw of sixth-round draft pick Sutton Smith that they released Keion Adams at the completion of rookie minicamp.
Smith and Ola Adeniyi are likely battling for the fourth spot. There's a chance they also keep five, meaning those two would make it along with T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree and Anthony Chickillo.
