Shamarko Thomas, Martavis Bryant are Steelers' biggest offseason surprises

Jeremy Fowler, ESPN Senior NFL Writer
Slow week on the #steelersmail front, so here's a question from yours truly:

@JFowlerESPN: Which players qualify as the biggest surprises of Steelers OTAs/mimicamp?


Martavis Bryant looks to build on an eye-opening rookie season in which he caught eight touchdowns. Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Fowler: Well, @JFowlerESPN, let's go with safety Shamarko Thomas and receiver Martavis Bryant. Defensive end Cam Heyward says he's "loving" what he sees from Thomas, who has been active to the ball and is showing range. Thomas isn't necessarily a surprise since the Steelers drafted him in the fourth round two years ago with the intention to play him. But considering Thomas, after limited action through two seasons, faces the proverbial make-or-break year, he looks ready to try to fulfill his place in the Steelers' lineup. He should be in the mix with Mike Mitchell and Will Allen to start camp.

Bryant's ability is obvious after averaging 21 yards per catch as a rookie, but seeing it up close elicits a level of surprise. Yes, players are in shorts with no hitting. There's only so much to glean. But Bryant looks the part of a solidified No. 2 receiver in every way, adding 10 pounds of muscle to an already stout frame, showcasing a combination of speed and agility. Bryant said he noticed coach Mike Tomlin was calling him a "big man with little-man skills" during a recent practice, and he has worked hard to get that sort of attention, incorporating sand-pit footwork drills into his offseason routine. Let's see if either player turns it on when the hitting goes live in late July, but they showed positive signs in May and June. Covering the Steelers for the first time, I didn't exactly know what to expect when watching live. These two surpassed my expectations.

http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/14242/shamarko-thomas-martavis-bryant-the-steelers-biggest-offseason-surprises

Steelers fans should be excited about Shamarko Thomas

By Neal Coolong July 13, 2015

There was a time when the Steelers’ roster was stocked with more depth than the Kenai River is stocked with salmon. General manager Kevin Colbert as well as head coaches Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher needed only to cast a line, wait a bit and pull out the next prized player.

Then there was the Drought of 2008-09. Whereas James Harrison once replaced Joey Porter who replaced Jason Gildon, now only Bruce Davis and Chris Carter were cast from the river.

The Steelers used to retain cornerbacks, but eventually, they had to orchestrate a trade to bring back Bryant McFadden after Joe Burnett failed, and they had to sign William Gay to replace Keenan Lewis, who left via free agency.

Fans used to love the replacement more than the departer. Fans love the cheaper option, who automatically gains the reputation of a hard-working, passionate guy who loves the game more than the player leaving for a bigger payday. We were fine with James Farrior coming in, because Earl Holmes wanted too much money. So long, Chris Hope, Anthony Davis and Ryan Clark are both more than capable of replacing you at less cost.

Perhaps the bitterness of the Steelers losing that mojo, or the fact it seems to have transferred over to AFC North division rival Baltimore, or to the hated New England Patriots*, or the powerhouse Green Bay Packers.

Fans have other reasons to doubt third-year safety Shamarko Thomas as he prepares to handle the Hurculean task of replacing Troy Polamalu. He’ll be the first Week 1 starting strong safety not wearing No. 43 since 2004 when the Steelers bang helmets with the Patriots* Sept. 10.

Lost in a few injuries, as well as the curious decision by the Steelers to not play him on defense at all in 2014, is the potential for a game-changing player on defense. A throwback to the days where replacements came off assembly lines and a great defense remained great because of the reloading, not rebuilding, capabilities of the Steelers.

Thomas was among the best safeties in terms of athleticism in the 2013 Draft, in which the Steelers traded a 2014 third-round pick with the Cleveland Browns to acquire him. That athleticism is what made Polamalu special, but the lack of it is what contributed to a sagging defense last season. A shot of pure speed and re-direction ability will only help the Steelers’ defense this season.

to read rest of article:

http://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2015/07/13/steelers-safety-shamarko-thomas-starting-strong-safety-troy-polamalu-2015/