3 Steelers on the roster bubble playing for their jobs vs. Lions

2. ILB Marcus Allen

Keith Butler’s defensive unit allowed the third-fewest total yards in the league in 2020. For the fourth straight year, the Steelers led or were tied for the NFL lead in sacks. Only the Miami Dolphins (29) managed more takeaways than Mike Tomlin’s team (27) this past season.

But all was not totally well with this group. Inside linebacker Devin Bush missed the vast majority of the year and fill-in Robert Spillane was also eventually bitten by the injury bug. As the season wore on, this unit struggled mightily to stop the run. Both of these players are now healthy and GM Kevin Colbert used a fourth-round pick this year on sturdy Texas A&M linebacker Buddy Johnson.

The team also recently traded for veteran Joe Schobert. So it will be interesting to see where three-year pro Marcus Allen, a one-time safety turned linebacker, fits this season. He played in a career-best 14 games in 2020.

1. RB Benny Snell Jr.

When your running game finishes 31st, 29th and dead last in the league the past three seasons, respectively, it’s time to address the situation. That’s one reason the Steelers in April used a first-round pick on a running back for the first time since 2008.

Former University of Alabama standout Najee Harris has been one of the club’s main topics of discussion this summer. He hopes to jump-start new coordinator Matt Canada’s offense and offer some help to veteran Ben Roethlisberger. A revamped offensive line should help as well.

Pittsburgh’s running back corps no longer includes James Conner, who led the team in rushing the last three years. Second in both seasons was Benny Snell Jr. But he could face an uphill battle with the likes of Anthony McFarland, Jaylen Samuels and 2021 free-agent addition Kalen Ballage all offering a bit more big-play ability.