There are the obvious jobs to be won in a preseason game. Then there are the hidden ones.
Many times, the less-than-obvious ones can only be won during preseason games. And since there are only four for most NFL teams -- five for the teams that play in the Hall of Fame game -- each preseason game is critical.
Those hidden jobs in this case come on special teams. For the Steelers, many of the true training camp battles aren't really that. Many are already well into being sorted out or already are.
But while the team can simulate a lot of things at training camp, having guys make plays on special teams is not one of them. Those are things that can only be sorted out working against another team in a live situation.
The Steelers will get their first shot at that Friday night when they host the Buccaneers at Heinz Field.
"I feel like we have great veteran presence on our special team units. With guys like Tyler (Matakevich) and Rosie (Nix), (Anthony) Chickillo, (Jordan) Dangerfield and others who have been core components of our units still returning," Mike Tomlin said. "I am comfortable with that unit and I am looking for some young guys to work their way into the fray. Some guys have displayed some skills that might be in line with that. It will be interesting to see them perform.
"Some of the guys who have been around like I mentioned earlier, that we know have an established skillset in that area, you won’t see playing (special) teams in a game because we are so interested in what some of those younger guys, those unknown guys are capable of. I know that Tyler can cover a punt. I know Rosie can cover a kick."
One of those players to whom Tomlin referred is first-year linebacker Robert Spillane. A former Western Michigan star, Spillane signed with the Titans as an undrafted rookie last season and played well enough to earn a spot on the team's practice squad.
Spillane was signed to the Titans' active roster in early October last season and appeared in two games before suffering a bone bruise in his leg. That wound up getting him released and he was out of the league until the Steelers called in early February.
"It was an unfortunate situation," Spillane told me. "But it showed me how quickly things can change. It makes me appreciate my chance here all the more."
Spillane, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound coverage linebacker, has shown the Steelers enough that he's worked next to Matakevich with the second-team defense. Inside linebacker is a crowded position, with Matekevich joining Vince Williams, Mark Barron and first-round draft pick Devin Bush as players whose spots are all but assured, but the way he performs on special teams could go a long way toward winning him a spot.
"The scouts did a good job watching him at Tennessee and (Mike) Vrabel is a good coach," Steelers inside linebackers coach Jerry Olsavsky said. "He does a lot of things proficiently. And he makes a lot of plays. It’s great. You just want to see guys control the game. He loves it. He talks about working out with his brother. It’s just a great thing. When you like something and you succeed in it and you work in it, that’s fun to do."
Spillane has good football bloodlines. His grandfather, Johnny Lattner, won the 1953 Heisman Trophy Award as a halfback at Notre Dame. He played one season in the NFL, in 1954 for the Steelers. Lattner had more than 1,000 total yards that season and was named to the Pro Bowl.
But he left the Steelers the following year to go into the Air Force, then became a football coach.
Spillane has similar ambitions.
"I would really like to get into coaching someday," he told me. "That's something I really want to do. But hopefully that doesn't come for quite a few years after a long NFL career."
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THE ESSENTIALS
• Who: Steelers vs. Buccaneers
• What: Preseason opener
• When: 7:30 p.m.
• Where: Heinz Field
• TV: KDKA (local), NFL Network (national)
• Radio: 102.5 WDVE, ESPN Pittsburgh
• Satellite: SiriusXM 88, Internet 826
• Forecast: 70 degrees, partly cloudy
• Lots open: 3:30 p.m.
• Will call open: 5:30 p.m.
• Gates open: 5:30 p.m.
• Boxscore: NFL Game Center
• Odds: MyBookie.AG
TEN TO WATCH
1. Devin Bush -- The rookie should get plenty of playing time in this game, especially with Williams not expected to play. Bush has had a lot thrown at him by the Steelers. And they'll continue to do that in this game. He'll also be on the same field as fellow first-round draft pick Devin White, so he'll want to stand out.
2. Robert Spillane -- Watch for No. 49 on defense. He's been a pleasant surprise at training camp and has worked his way up the depth chart. Spillane had more than 300 career tackles at Western Michigan to go with 10 sacks and four interceptions. He can make plays at all three levels. But he'll need to show up on special teams.
3. Chris Boswell -- Everyone knows Boswell struggled through a tough season in 2018. He's been good at training camp but the true test will come in games. Boswell will rotate with rookie Matthew Wright, but the placekicking job is his to lose.
4. Kevin Rader -- Rader, No. 87 on offense, was in camp last season with the Packers. But the Youngstown State and Pine-Richland High School product has been the best of the young tight ends the Steelers have in camp. Xavier Grimble hasn't exactly impressed as the No. 2, so if Steelers make a move to acquire a No. 2 tight end at some point, it could come down to the veteran (Grimble) or the young guy (Rader) as the No. 3.
5. Fred Johnson -- An undrafted rookie out of Florida, Johnson is big (6-7, 326 pounds). And he's been pretty good thus far. The Steelers have a nice track record of finding and developing undrafted rookie linemen and Johnson could be the next. No. 74 on offense has played both guard and tackle and done well at both.
6. Benny Snell -- Snell should get a lot of playing time in the preseason. In fact, he's my early favorite to lead the NFL in rushing in the preseason. The Steelers want to get a good look at No. 24.
7. Trey Edmunds -- When the Steelers signed Terrell Edmunds' (slightly) older brother to the practice squad last season, it was assumed it was done as a goodwill gesture. But Trey Edmunds can play. He's shown good power and wiggle in the live running drills. Edmunds, No. 33, was active for 16 games for the Saints in 2017, gaining 46 yards and scoring a touchdown on just nine carries. He also returned kicks for the Saints. Can he be a special teams ace, as well?
8. Kameron Kelly -- Kelly has gotten a lot of playing time with the first unit at free safety and done well. He bumped down to the second unit Wednesday to work at strong safety alongside Dangerfield. A former AAF player, Kelly has good size (6-2, 205). If he shows he can play both safety spots and special teams, No. 38 could win a job.
9. Mason Rudolph -- Rudolph won't start this game. He'll relieve Josh Dobbs and then get the start next week against Kansas City. He's been better overall in training camp than Dobbs, the incumbent No. 2 QB. Can the 2018 third-round draft pick move past Dobbs on the depth chart? The preseason games will go a long way toward that.
10. Devlin Hodges -- No. 4 on the depth chart at QB, Hodges has been playing like a guy with nothing to lose -- much like Dobbs did a year ago. It's paid off thus far. The former Samford star and FCS all-time leading passer has been a pleasant surprise. No. 6 is a guy to watch -- if he gets into this game. Tomlin would make no promises on that. But Hodges could continue his push with a good outing if he gets into this game.
