Steelers minicamp at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex is over. The 90 players on the roster will now break away for more than six weeks until it's time to report to Latrobe for training camp at Saint Vincent College.
Minicamp is a good time for both younger players and seasoned veterans to come in and begin the process of establishing a culture and building a foundation for what the team will work on when the pads come on in July. But there isn't a guarantee that the same 90 players will take the field in Latrobe July 26.
"The next time we come together in an official capacity, it's going to be compete time," Mike Tomlin said Thursday. "I'm sure we'll all be excited about that."
Even the deepest rosters in the NFL require a look around for potential upgrades in the time between minicamp and training camp. There are areas of the roster that could be addressed via free agency or trade, and the Steelers have recently bucked the traditional trend of not relying on free agency to supplement the roster. Even last year, the Steelers signed Melvin Ingram just days before training camp began.
There are always multiple position battles in training camp, and this year is no different. One way to breed competition is to bring in external options and put pressure on those already on the roster.
"Any position, you’re always looking to strengthen the team," Teryl Austin said Wednesday. "Like with Melvin last year, if we think he can strengthen it, we’ll bring him in. Until then, we’re going to coach the guys we’ve got. If there’s someone who can strengthen our team, I would hope we’ll look at him."
According to Spotrac, the Steelers have $19.6 million in cap space counting their top 51 contracts, injured reserve and dead money. There is room to add more pieces. But where? We'll focus on one spot on each side of the ball:
• There has been quite a bit of talk about lightening Najee Harris' load this season after leading the league with 381 touches last season. Harris is the centerpiece of the offense, and the Steelers must find a balance of keeping him both available and healthy. And when Harris does need a series or play off, the drop-off cannot be drastic.
The group of Benny Snell, Anthony McFarland and Trey Edmunds are currently in line to fill that void, with Snell leading the pack. The Steelers could take a look at free agents such as David Johnson and Carlos Hyde if they believe the current group isn't capable of picking up the slack when Harris isn't on the field.
Johnson is a former All-Pro, and could help in the passing game as well. Hyde is a former 1,000-yard rusher and has caught as many as 59 passes in a season. Both could fit in well with what the Steelers will do on offense.
I talked to Snell in particular about what he's doing to take that next step toward becoming a more reliable option. He said his focus thus far has been on his footwork and speed, but he really believes he is more prepared for the opportunity after the ups and downs over his first three seasons.
"I feel like I have a solid foundation where I know the playbook, I know what my special teams role is," Snell said. "Now it's all about when the running back chance presents itself, I'm ready for it."
And if the Steelers bring someone in from the outside?
"All I can really do is put my head down and work," Snell said. "They could bring whoever in, they can keep it the same, whatever. I've still got to put my head down and get the job done."
• There is a Stephon Tuitt-sized hole in the defensive line. Yes, it was there last year as well, but until his recent retirement, there was an expectation Tuitt would come back.
The return of Tyson Alualu significantly helps make up for Tuitt's absence, especially for a defense that ranked dead last in the NFL against the run last year. But there are still external options available that could help improve run defense, including Eddie Goldman and Star Lotulelei. Both are interior lineman and are great fits for the times the Steelers are in their base 3-4 defense.
While the Steelers primarily deploy a nickel, having another true nose tackle would help since they still run the base defense on the field at least one third of the time. Again, this is a team that finished last in the NFL against the run. That can't happen again.
"Nobody was happy with the results, I can say that much," Isaiahh Loudermilk told me Wednesday. "Not really getting it done last year was tough. Coaches are working. Players are working. Pretty much everyone in here is working to fix whatever it was."
One way to fix that is to spend some money to bring in a guy who has a track record. However, there is a real chance the Steelers go with who they have in-house. Alualu and Cam Heyward will lead the way with Loudermilk, Chris Wormley, Montravius Adams and third-round pick DeMarvin Leal vying for snaps. Wormley racked up seven sacks last season and Loudermilk has made quite an impression during OTAs and minicamp.
"Loudermilk looks great," Karl Dunbar said. "I mean, his chest is a little bit more puffy. He looks around, he's bouncing around. He has more confidence because he's in the same defense."
Maybe if the Steelers don't add a defensive lineman, that's the reason why -- continuity. With a guy such as Loudermilk already knowing the minute details of the defensive schemes, along with gaining valuable experience last season, the Steelers may be better off with their internal options. After all, a free-agent signing isn't a guaranteed fix. Remember, the Steelers traded Ingram after just six games last season.
Continuity may be necessary for this team. The Steelers only have 21 players on the roster that have participated in training camp in Latrobe. Every team needs talent, and the Steelers have it. But it goes without saying that a cohesive group is vital for success. The Steelers will look to continue to build on that July 26.
"I'm a lover of camp," Tomlin said. "I like the opportunities to work on the intangible quality that good teams have. The informal time up there to me is as significant as the formal time. Guys sitting out on the stoop at night outside the dormitory, getting to know one another, talking about life and football, I just find value in that and am really excited about that."
