The rooks successfully “made the cut” as all seven draft picks made the initial 53-man roster for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
To some surprise, all rookies beat the odds and found themselves a spot heading into the regular season. Not a surprise that the early picks made it, rather it’s the late round picks that really had to grind to get to where they are.
For some, it was the plays they made and the stats put up over the three-game preseason. For others, they haven’t played a snap yet and still made the team. Here, we look at the preseason recap of the rookies and just why they survived the chopping block.
Derrick Harmon, DT
With no surprise at all, Derrick Harmon made the cut. Unfortunately, he looks to start the season on the IR with an MCL sprain. This occurred in the last game of the preseason against the Carolina Panthers.
Injury aside, Harmon looked dominant in the preseason. He contributed instantly in his first preseason game, showing bursts of speed off the line as well as his ability to clog running lanes. Harmon recorded his first sack against Tampa Bay after bull-rushing an offensive lineman to get to the QB. He showed more promise before leaving the final preseason game.
Preseason stat line: Tackles: 4 (Solo: 1 AST: 3), Sacks: 1
Kaleb Johnson, RB
Kaleb Johnson had a solid showing throughout the preseason. He carried the ball several times in the three games, showcasing his potential. From taking snaps behind the second-team O line to rushing behind the starters in the last game.
Johnson showed great vision as he found holes easily and used the speed he has to burst through them. He runs with aggression and is never afraid to throw a stiff arm.
What stood out was his shiftiness and versatility. As a back with his size, Johnson looked very smooth at times in his runs. He also has great blocking ability and shows exceptional route running. All shown throughout the preseason.
Preseason stat line: Carries: 24 / Yards: 94, Receptions: 3 / Yards:17
Jack Sawyer, LB
Jack Sawyer had a good, not great, showing throughout the preseason. His most notable game was the finale against the Panthers. There, he had five total tackles, three pressures, and stuffed the run really well. His name was called several times on third down and in the red zone.
Though Sawyer only had one stellar game, he still showed promise at times through the first two. He needs to stick to his power and use it against his blocks. Using his speed and dips hurt him more than they helped in the preseason.
With the injury to Nick Herbig, we could see Sawyer get some week 1 snaps. If not, Sawyer is a great depth piece.
Preseason stat line: Tackles: 8 (Solo: 4 AST: 4)
Yahya Black, DT, Round 5
Someone who made a case to be the best rookie in this class for the Steelers is Yahya Black. Seemingly from nowhere, Black absolutely went off in the preseason finale, where he recorded two sacks (one leading to a forced fumble).
Apart from a remarkable finale, Black didn’t look all too bad. He played with power and threw offensive linemen around multiple times. He clogs running lanes very well, forcing the back to find other paths. Black’s strength is at the forefront of his game, and it showed throughout the preseason.
Preseason stat line: Tackles: 6 (Solo:4 AST:2), Sacks:2, FF: 1
Carson Bruener, LB
Another rookie making a case to be the best in the Steelers class is Carson Bruener. He fought tooth and nail to secure himself a spot on the roster. Showcasing his ability to finish his tackles very well and being versatile helped his case tremendously.
Versatility was huge for Bruener as his name was called at times on special teams. Showing his aggression from a few snaps on defense to snaps on the special teams unit proves the player Breuner can shape out to be. Some fans may disagree, but the versatility Bruener showed boosts his potential and could be a name we hear a lot.
Preseason Stat line: Tackles: 15 (Solo:11 AST:4)
Will Howard, QB…. Donte Kent, CB
We end on two players who didn’t play a single preseason snap.
Both players faced injury early before the first game of the preseason. They missed playing time against other defenses as well as some practices at St. Vincent. At the time of writing this, both players were placed on the IR. The Steelers called back S Chuck Clark and G Max Scharmping to fill the spots.
Possibly the most surprising is seventh-round pick Donte Kent. With no sign of how he can play in a game and being the last pick of the draft for the Steelers, fans are left a little confused about the decision. Some ideas that come to mind are his ability to be a solid returner, or they are giving the rookie a shot before making their decision. Only time will tell.
