Early look at the Detroit Lions 2017 opponents: Pittsburgh Steelers
By Ash Thompson
Running Backs
Le’Veon Bell is one of the best three down backs in the NFL. He has elite vision. Bell also has the patience of a Tibetan monk as he follows his blockers. He runs with power when he needs to, and he is a dangerous receiver out of the backfield. There really is nothing that Bell can’t do. Stopping Bell is the first step in slowing down the Steelers offense, as if a team doesn’t do that, the other superstars stay in the background. Bell is in a contract year and has taken on the cause of all running backs being grossly underpaid. He will be out for blood this season, trying to maximize his future income.
The Steelers drafted one of my favorite running backs in the 2017 draft. James Conner. Conner is a cancer survivor and a jackhammer between the tackles. He is 6’1″ and 233 lbs but has the agility to prevent tacklers from getting a solid shot at him. If the Steelers need to seal a game in the fourth quarter, Conner is the kind of back that runs into holes that have not opened yet and gets a yard or two extra. he could be a sneakily dangerous factor in the Lions week eight game.
Offensive Line
The Steelers starting left tackle is not currently under contract. Ali Villanueva has refused to sign his ERFA free agent tender to make only $615k. Villanueva will enter his third season in the NFL in September but will turn 29 that same month. He served a tour in Afganistan before joining the league. He has started 26 games at left tackle in the last two seasons and has been attending OTAs. It will be interesting to see how that turns out because the Steelers need him.
Ramon Foster signed a contract last year with an AAV of $3.2M per season. that is not what a team typically pays a starting caliber guard. He had a very good season last year though. Maurkice Pouncey‘s job is to put his hands on people and played one week after thumb surgery last season. He is one of the league’s better centers. David DeCastro gets paid like a pro bowler and plays like one. His run blocking is elite, and pass protection not much worse. On the right side, Marcus Gilbert provides solid play.
The offensive line is important for all teams, but the Steelers, in particular, need these five men to play to their ability. Rothlisberger is not a mobile quarterback, and as he ages his trademark ability to shrug off pass rushers is turning in to an ability to get hit. Bell can do a lot to make his blockers look good, but he can only do so much if no holes are there. This offense can be the best in the league, but only if the linemen get their job done. The percentage of them that are available in week eight will be a huge factor for the Lions chances in week eight.