Even though each NFL team has 53 players on its active roster, it stands to reason that some are more important to the team’s success than others.
After all, that’s why certain players are paid more than others. And that’s the case with the Steelers, who have their share of high-paid stars.
But it’s easy to pick out Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell or Cameron Heyward as being important to the team’s success in 2018. What we’re going to do here is delve a little deeper into the roster and look at some players who are equally important, in no particular order, even if they’re not necessarily the stars.
1. MORGAN BURNETT
Safety
The team’s biggest offseason signing is going to be tasked with handling a lot of different jobs. Though it hasn’t sorted itself out just yet, expect Burnett to line up at both strong and free safety during training camp, while also sliding up into the box on passing downs to serve as a linebacker.
How good is Burnett as a run-stopper?
According to Pro Football Focus, since 2012, when Burnett is lined up in the box, he has 93 run stops. That’s tied with the now-retired Kam Chancellor for the most by any safety in the league over that time. Burnett just doesn’t miss tackles, allowing opponents to slip out of his grasp just two times in 2017.
With a young secondary — third-year pros Artie Burns and Sean Davis are the longest-tenured players among the team’s defensive backs — Burnett’s leadership and communication skills will be key, as well.
"He's fit in really well," Davis told me. "He's a true veteran. He's seen everything. And he communicates everything really well."
2. VANCE McDONALD
Tight end
McDonald was a late addition to the team in 2017, coming over from San Francisco in a trade at the end of the preseason. He was initially held back by some minor injuries. The coaching staff just didn’t feel comfortable putting him on the field if he didn’t practice during the week, so some injuries that might not have typically held him back limited him to just 10 games.
But McDonald is the Steelers’ most athletic tight end since they had Heath Miller in his prime. His career average per reception is 13.5 yards, the same average produced by Brown, the game’s best receiver. The Steelers need someone to help replace the production lost in the Martavis Bryant trade and, with all apologies to rookie James Washington, McDonald is the most likely player to provide that.
He does, however, need to stay healthy. He has yet to play in all 16 games in his five previous NFL seasons, so perhaps he’s due. Bryant had 50 receptions for 603 yards and three touchdowns last season. There’s no reason to think a healthy McDonald can’t approach or surpass those numbers as evidenced by his 10-catch game in the playoffs against Jacksonville.
“I just think availability is the key with him," Mike Tomlin said of McDonald at the NFL Owner's Meetings this spring. "He had some ups and downs physically. When available, obviously, he is very effective. I look forward to 2018 and him being more available and seeing what that holds for him and for us. His ability to build a rapport with Ben and be an outlet for him is going to be critical for us.”
3. MARCUS GILBERT
Right tackle
Gilbert was limited to just seven games last season thanks to injuries and a four-game suspension for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. That opened the door for Chris Hubbard to make nine starts at right tackle in his place.
But Hubbard is gone, signed by Cleveland to a $36.5 million contract. And Jerald Hawkins, who was expected to step into the swing tackle role in Hubbard’s place, suffered a season-ending torn quad during OTAs. That means the Steelers need Gilbert to stay healthy and on the field. When he has, he’s been one of the best in the league. In seven games last season, he allowed just one sack and had one penalty. Since 2015, he has committed just 11 penalties and given up six sacks.
"We know the time is running short if we want to win this thing as a group," Gilbert told me. "We owe it to each other to be out there and make a run at the Super Bowl."
While Hubbard played better than anyone could have expected last season, he’s no Gilbert. Hubbard allowed four sacks last season while committing three penalties.
4. STEPHON TUITT
Defensive end
The Steelers gave Tuitt a five-year, $60 million contract extension prior to last season with the expectation he would have a breakout year. And for the first series of the season at Cleveland, it looked like that would be the case. Tuitt was in the backfield on two of Cleveland’s first three plays, snuffing out a possession all by himself.
But he also suffered a partially torn biceps in that same series of downs that forced him to miss four games and limited his production in others. Tuitt finished the season with 19 tackles and three sacks, far less than the Steelers expected when they paid him more money than fellow lineman Heyward. Tuitt had 6.5 sacks in 2015 and the Steelers expect a healthy Tuitt to approach or surpass that number in 2018. Though Heyward is coming off his first All-Pro season, it’s Tuitt who is the team’s most athletically talented defensive lineman. But even though he’s heading into his fifth NFL season, he’s still just 25, just a couple of years older than many of the players selected in this year’s draft.
For the Steelers defense to take the next step, someone other than Hayward has to be a dominant player in the front seven. Tuitt is the most likely player to reach that status.
"Pressure is something if you don’t believe you can do it. This is a new year. I know how I can play. You know how I can play," Tuitt told me. "I just want to go out and play consistent and help this team go to the ultimate goal, which is to win a Super Bowl."
5. JOE HADEN
Cornerback
The Steelers haven’t had a defensive back record more than three interceptions in a season since Troy Polamalu had seven in 2010. That needs to change this season. And Haden, a former Pro Bowl performer, is the most likely player to do it.
Haden had six interceptions as a rookie in 2010 and four more in 2013. He’s got 20 for his career and last season was just the second time in his career he appeared in more than 10 games and failed to record at least three. Haden did have one interception and broke up seven passes in 11 games in his first season in Pittsburgh, but he’s capable of much more. We’re talking, after all, about a player who has at least 18 passes defensed in four of his eight pro seasons. And he’s reached double digits in two of the others. In 101 career games, Haden has recorded 107 career passes defensed, meaning his interception rate is just under 20 percent of the passes he gets his hands on.
Haden missed time with the Steelers last season with a fractured bone in his leg and was held back in previous seasons in Cleveland because of groin issues. But he's healthy and looking forward to this season with the Steelers, especially since he's had an entire offseason to work with the team after being signed after training camp last year.
He even was able to spend more time training for this season, something he hadn't been able to accomplish the past couple of years.
"It was just trying to get the plays and that stuff down," Haden said of last year. "Now, I can work on myself and my individual game and put it together. I was happy I could do it, being able to be healthy."
If he can pick off four or five passes this season, something that’s not out of the realm of possibility, it would go a long way toward helping the defense improve.