Editor’s note: Leading up to a unique Pittsburgh Steelers training camp staged at Heinz Field this year, the Tribune-Review will be running through the team’s 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2020 season. The breakdown will go through the roster, in mostly alphabetical order, two per day, between June 9 and July 23, a day that was originally planned to be reporting day for players to camp. (Contract data courtesy spotrac.com)
S JOHN BATTLE
Experience: Spent rookie 2019 season on Tampa Bay practice squad
Contract status: $610,000 cap hit in 2020, under team control for at least four seasons
2020 outlook: Battle started parts of three seasons for LSU but went undrafted and was cut before his rookie training camp with the New York Jets started. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers must have seen something in him, though, and signed him during training camp. He showed enough to stick around all season on their practice squad. The Steelers signed him to a reserve/future deal days after the season ended.
Bottom line: Battle is 6-0, 201 pounds. Published scouting reports from last year’s predraft process laud his intelligence, intangibles, size and versatility. He did not test well at the combine, though. The Steelers lack experienced depth beyond their starters at safety, so roster spots are there for the taking. Battle is a longshot, but don’t count him out.
Jordan Berry has appeared in 64 games with the @Steelers and he ranks third in team history (minimum 100 attempts) in punting average. He also has the third-most punts downed inside the 20-yard line. https://t.co/bpnfmYzTxF
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) March 13, 2019
P JORDAN BERRY
Experience: 6th season
Contract status: $2.175 million cap hit in 2020, free agent after season
2020 outlook: Berry has provided stability after years of the Steelers cycling through punters under Mike Tomlin. He largely has been reliable and durable but also not spectacular. Last season, for example, Berry was 15th among the 30 punters who had the most attempts in the NFL. Berry was 21st in net average and 17th in percentage of punts returned. His 21-to-4 ratio of punts inside the 20 vs. touchbacks was good but not better than many of his best NFL peers.
Bottom line: Berry has been a good-but-not-great punter for the Steelers since he won their top job, beating out fellow Aussie Brad Wing during the 2015 preseason. Tomlin and special teams coach Danny Smith seem to have a comfort level with him, but remember Tomlin publicly called Berry out less than two years ago, auditioning potential replacements.
Berry will have to fend off rookie Corliss Waitman during this camp. Although the Steelers might again lean toward keeping a trusted veteran, the saving of more than $1.1 million of salary cap space by cutting Berry could be appealing if Waitman impresses.
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