Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jonathan Dwyer posted on Twitter Monday that he is ready for training camp to begin and that he is prepared and excited to prove people wrong, especially Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
https://twitter.com/JDwyer27/status/359452351775514625
So what has Dwyer so fired up? Bouchette wrote on Monday that even though Dwyer led the team in rushing last season, he isn\’t a lock to make the 2013 roster.
The last report we had on Dwyer was that he was planning to spend time down in Florida training with running backs Matt Forte and Maurice Jones-Drew at Pete Bommarito Performance System after the Steelers wrapped up their OTA practices last month.
During the 2013 NFL Draft, there was a report that the Steelers were shopping their former sixth-round draft pick, but whether or not that report was actual true we will never know.
While Dwyer might be upset with what Bouchette wrote, it is fair speculation by the long-time Steelers beat writer. Even I have speculated over the course of the offseason that there is a good chance that either Dwyer or fellow running back Isaac Redman might not make the roster ever since the Steelers drafted Le\’Veon Bell and signed Larod Stephens-Howling.
The Steelers will more than likely only carry four running backs and one fullback on their 53 man roster out of training camp, so that leaves Dwyer, Redman and third-year running back Baron Batch all battling for two roster spots if we are to believe that Stephens-Howling is a lock to make the roster as a kick returner and change of pace back.
The Steelers restricted tendered both Dwyer and Redman non guaranteed contracts of $1.323 million during free agency, so it certainly makes sense that one of the two might be gone come the start of the season.
Special teams play will certainly play a role in the Steelers final decision, and that is where Batch has a leg up on both Dwyer and Redman. All three are accomplished pass protectors, but Batch has yet to prove that he can carry the load in the running game should the need ever arise.
It is good that Dwyer is motivated to prove people wrong, and this battle will certainly be entertaining to watch over the course of the next several weeks.
