CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- When he joined the Steelers in January, all Dwayne Haskins wanted was a chance to reclaim his stalled NFL career.
The Steelers gave him that chance. What Haskins did with the opportunity was up to him.
Friday night in Charlotte, Haskins will get a chance to prove to his detractors that he is more than the first-round draft pick tossed aside by Washington after just two seasons when he starts the final preseason game for the Steelers against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.
Yes, it's a preseason game. Yes, Haskins won't be playing with all of the Steelers' starters -- though some will be out there. But this is all about what Haskins earned.
"This is a chance for me to show what I can do and keep getting more reps," said Haskins. "I feel like if I do my job and show that I can perform at a varsity level, against varsity defenders and have varsity guys around me, that I will be more deserving of those reps.
"It's all a business. You have to earn the right to have those types of reps. It's my first year here so the opportunities that I do get, I have to make the most of them so I can get more. I don't have the expectation that I have to get varsity reps, or I want to be with the ones, and if I don't have that I will be unhappy. I don't feel that way at all. But when I do get those reps, I look at it as an opportunity to show them why they brought me here."
When training camp began, Haskins wasn't even guaranteed a roster spot. He still isn't -- though he certainly seems to be ahead of Josh Dobbs in the Steelers' quarterback pecking order behind Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph, neither of whom will play in this game.
But the Steelers have been impressed with Haskins both on and off the field, a contrast to some of the rumors about him after his release by Washington. Jay Gruden, the head coach in Haskins' rookie season, reportedly didn't want to select the quarterback with the 15th pick in 2019, only doing so at the behest of owner Daniel Snyder. Snyder reportedly wanted Haskins because he was a quarterback who happened to be from the Washington, D.C. area.
Then, after Gruden and his staff were fired after that 2019 season, new head coach Ron Rivera and his staff weren't especially happy with the young quarterback, either, since they weren't around when he was drafted.
Haskins didn't help matters by running afoul of the league for breaking COVID-19 protocols, but there were rumors that he wasn't the hardest worker, either.
"I have always been the type of person to watch film, staying late, come in early, regardless of what was said," said Haskins. "I feel like with this offense we do a lot of different things that can exploit a defense."
Haskins won't be alone out there getting an extended look with a big opportunity. Third-year running back Benny Snell will be given a heavy workload in this game.
Snell has missed all three preseason games with an injury, perhaps allowing both Kalen Ballage and Anthony McFarland to pass him on the depth chart behind rookie starter Najee Harris.
Snell has rushed for 794 yards the previous two seasons, serving as the team's primary backup runner. But he'll need to show something in this game to earn a roster spot.
"We’re excited about getting Benny Snell back," Mike Tomlin said. "He’s missed some time due to injury. He’ll get an opportunity, particularly in the early stages of the game to do the things that feature runners do and prove his health."
Those two won't be the only ones looking to be featured in this game. There are countless other instances over the years of players earning a roster spot based on what they do in this annual preseason game against the Panthers, something of which Mike Tomlin reminds his players about every year.
One such player could be wide receiver/return man Mathew Sexton. Sexton has two punt returns of more than 30 yards in this preseason and has, like Haskins, earned more "varsity" reps this week with other sitting out.
Another big return -- or at least showing that he can contribute as a wide receiver -- could win him a spot on the roster.
"That’s the beauty of this process. We were studying the history of the series this morning in a team meeting and talking about guys using this as a springboard to success," Tomlin said. "We had a guy about 10 years ago named Stefan Logan who nobody knew and really didn’t have a position. But he kept adding in the return game and he had about an 80-yard punt return in the Carolina game and really ran his way onto the football team.
"Matt has had his moments and he’ll have an opportunity to put an exclamation point on his work like a lot of guys will."
THE ESSENTIALS
• Who: Steelers (3-0) vs. Panthers (0-2)
• What: Preseason Week 3
• When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
• Where: Bank of America Stadium
• Forecast: 88°, 6 mph wind
• TV: KDKA
• Radio: 102.5 WDVE, ESPN Pittsburgh
• Streaming: Steelers Nation Radio
• Satellite: Sirius XM 381, online 826
• Boxscore: NFL Game Center
• Media notes: Steelers | Panthers
THE KEY VARIABLE
This is Matt Canada's first opportunity not only at being an offensive coordinator at the NFL level, it's his first preseason, as well. The longtime college coach jumped to the NFL a year ago, joining the Steelers as quarterbacks coach.
But because of the pandemic, there wasn't a preseason for him last season to see how the process works. That's what has made this season so enlightening.
"It’s a great opportunity to watch guys in a game situation," Canada said. "With everybody out watching, the lights are on, it’s a different environment than a scrimmage you might have or something like that. I’ve certainly enjoyed it. But for us, every day is just a workday, and I do appreciate that, the way we handle it, the way Coach sets it up. But it’s been a great experience to watch and learn."
It's also helped Canada as a first-time play caller. He's gotten some practice at calling plays without the pressure of a meaningful win or loss hanging in the balance.
Canada has chosen to call plays from the press box, becoming the first Steelers offensive coordinator to do so since Ken Whisenhunt more than a decade ago.
"I’m able to talk directly to Ben on the field up until 15 seconds (before the play clock runs out)," Canada said. "Calling the plays, there’s no middleman with that. A lot of guys are obviously doing it in the league. When Ben comes off, Sully (quarterback coach Mike Sullivan) is right there with him. We’ve got a headset for Ben.
"If Ben wants to talk to me or if I want to talk to Ben, he puts the headset on. We did that last week: Here’s what we saw, here’s what we’re thinking, what about this. It’s a very fluid situation there. I think it went very well last week, and obviously last week was just what it was, but we feel good about where we’re at with that."
That's good because this will be their last opportunity to smooth out any wrinkles before the Steelers open the regular season Sept. 12 at Buffalo.
For obvious reasons, Canada has left a lot of the playbook unseen to this point, doing just enough to win each game. There's no reason, after all, to show their hands to the Bills.
"It’s just been enough to move the ball and, hopefully, win," Canada said. "That’s all we’re trying to do, so every game we’ll do that to the best of our abilities."
THE FIVE DATA POINTS
• The Steelers haven't gone unbeaten in the preseason since going 5-0 in 1997.
• This will mark the 17th consecutive preseason -- at least ones that have been played -- the Steelers have closed with the Panthers. The last time the two teams didn't meet to finish the preseason was 2002.
• The Steelers have converted 53 percent of their third downs in the preseason, twice the percentage of opponents, who have converted just 26 percent.
• Steelers quarterbacks have completed 72 percent of their passes in the preseason, compiling a passer rating of 103.5.
• Reserve outside linebackers Jamir Jones and rookie Quincy Roche are tied for the team lead with 1.5 sacks each. But Jones leads the team by far with seven quarterback hits. Three other players (Roche, rookie Isaiahh Loudermilk and Alex Highsmith) have two hits each.
THE FIVE I WANT TO SEE
• Benny Snell, running back -- Snell is a repeat performer on this list. It looked like he was slated to play last week, then didn't, making this a very important game to him. Can he force his way onto this roster? Right now he appears to be on the outside looking in, but a strong game here could persuade the Steelers into keeping four running backs.
• Mathew Sexton, wide receiver -- He's a slightly bigger -- and maybe faster -- version of Ray-Ray McCloud. Sexton ran the 40 in the low 4.3s at Michigan State's pro day earlier this year as a special invitee. The former Eastern Michigan star spent 2020 in the Spring League. Can he spring past McCloud onto this roster?
• Justin Layne, cornerback -- Much of the attention in this camp has been on the progress of James Pierre, but Layne has quietly gained some steam in recent weeks. He's forced a fumble and intercepted a pass in this preseason and looks to be playing with more confidence. The former third-round pick likely has a roster spot locked up, but will he have a role beyond being a gunner on special teams?
• Christian Kuntz, linebacker/longsnapper -- This is Kuntz' third attempt to make the Steelers' roster, but he's pressing incumbent Kameron Canaday hard and is being given every opportunity to win this job. Can he score a knockout blow in this game? There's a savings of about $200,000 for the Steelers to go with Kuntz over Canaday. Is that enough of a savings if things are close?
• Isaiah Buggs, defensive lineman -- The Steelers seem pleased with the work of Carlos Davis in this preseason. And veteran Chris Wormley has continually run with the first-team defense with Stephon Tuitt out. Buggs is a premium run stopper, but can he get to the passer? He led Alabama in sacks his final season there, so getting home in this game would go a long way toward earning a spot on the roster.
