Now that the 2021 season is over, bringing one more yr of disappointment, a fifth consecutive season with no postseason victories, it’s time to take inventory of the place the Pittsburgh Steelers stand. Particularly, the place Steelers gamers stand individually based mostly on what we’ve seen and are seeing over the course of the season and into the offseason because it performs out. We will even be reviewing gamers based mostly on their earlier season and their prospects for the longer term. A inventory analysis can take a few completely different approaches and I’ll attempt to clarify my reasoning. In some instances, it will likely be based mostly on extra long-term developments. In different cases, it will likely be a direct response to one thing that simply occurred. Due to this, we are able to and can see a participant greater than as soon as over the course of the season as we transfer ahead.
Participant: CB Justin Layne
Inventory Worth: Even
Reasoning: The previous third-round draft choose has but to make significant strides as regards to his defensive capabilities and participation, though he continues to issue prominently on particular groups.
There was some debate firstly of the offseason about who can be the Steelers’ prime reserve outdoors cornerback, between Justin Layne and James Pierre. It by no means proved to be a lot of a contest, with Pierre clearly profitable, although he would ultimately get benched from protection solely for the ultimate month and a half of the season because of his struggles.
As for Layne, he completed the 2021 season—his third within the league since being drafted within the third spherical out of Michigan State—logging simply 28 snaps, seeing a while as an emergency dime again in video games wherein the secondary had damage points and wanted depth.
The vast majority of his defensive snaps got here in weeks 13 and 14 in video games towards the Baltimore Ravens and the Minnesota Vikings, enjoying 9 snaps in every. These had been the video games after Pierre’s benching and earlier than Joe Haden returned from damage.
Whereas he solely performed a pair dozens snaps on protection, he performed 245 snaps on particular groups, the place he recorded 12 tackles. He performed on each the kick and punt protection models, and took part on the punt return unit as nicely.
The 2022 season would be the closing yr of his rookie contract. It’s honest to say that if he fails to make vital headway as a defensive participant this yr, he might not have a future in Pittsburgh past his authentic deal.
Groups at all times want particular groups gamers, and Layne is an honest one, although not an excellent one, however that is an space of the group wherein the teaching employees and entrance workplace is aware of that they need assistance. They could not have sufficient depth this yr to actually problem his roster spot, however in two years, that’s one other story.
