SCB Summer Series: Javon Hargrave

Today is the fourth in a series of thoughts on specific Steelers’ players as we approach Training Camp in late July. I’ll be focusing on a variety of players whose personal success this season could determine the team’s overall success in 2016.

Series One: Ladarius Green

Series Two: Mike Mitchell

Series Three: Chris Boswell

Javon Hargrave is the only rookie I have as one of my targets for this series of articles and you’re likely wondering why I wouldn’t have either Sean Davis or Artie Burns and that would be fair. My thinking is that while both Davis and Burns could be big contributors, I think in year one, Hargrave carries more importance and greater significance. I feel this way because I think his chances of being on the field sooner and more often are better than his draft counterparts from the secondary.

For starters, Hargrave enters a defensive line that he should be able to crack in terms of playing time. That might be anticipating too much and I might be putting too much stock into the kid but my gut tells me otherwise.

Ahead of him on the depth chart at defensive tackle is Dan McCullers in terms of experience with Steelers and that’s it. Because the Steelers are continuing to use multiple fronts that include four down linemen and two down linemen to their base three, Hargrave could end up just about anywhere. He could also find himself just about anywhere in terms of the depth chart.

Because of his third round draft status, much will be expected of Hargrave and I think that’s fair. Often times there are exceptions or excuses made for guys who come from lower levels of college football but in my opinion we’ve seen enough of these guys become successful for that to no longer matter.

I would expect to see Hargrave in a lot of third down or pass rushing situations early in the season. As a pretty typical one-gap guy, his explosiveness and frame make him an ideal interior lineman from where quarterback pressures can come. He doesn’t possess a lot of different pass rush moves but he’ll need to acquire those as his NFL career begins in order to keep offensive lineman on their heels.

If Hargrave’s game can translate early to the NFL then that gives Steelers’ Defensive Line Coach John Mitchell much more leeway in terms of his rotation. Depending on how Keith Butler is running the defense on any given Sunday, Hargrave’s rise could also give Heyward and Tuitt the rests they so desperately need over the course of a game.

Are my expectations high for Hargrave? Absolutely and they’re admittedly filled with optimism too, but I think his development is going to be a real key to the overall success of the Steelers’ defense and the team in particular.

Photo courtesy post-gazette.com