Joe Haden’s eyes lit up and a big smile came across his face when he was asked about Artie Burns.
“He’s looking good, man,” Haden said following the Steelers’ 17-7 preseason win over the Chiefs at Heinz Field on Saturday night. “Like, really good.”
In reality, Haden could’ve been talking about Burns’ training camp, but he also could’ve been talking about the Steelers’ former first-round pick’s game against the Chiefs in which he looked like, well, a former first-round pick.
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The stat sheet showed only one tackle and one pass defended, but Burns’ play against the Chiefs was much more significant than just a meaningless second preseason game would suggest. Burns was seemingly all over the place in playing the entire first half (other than one play because his shoe fell off) and displayed a sense of confidence — something he didn’t have last year.
Terrell Edmunds forced a first-half fumble by Carlos Hyde, but it was Burns who initially made the hit.
Terrell Edmunds definitely forced the fumble. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/O0p9nuZqPt
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) August 18, 2019
“It seemed like he was trying to get some extra yards, but once I hit him, (Edmunds) was able to get his arm in there and knock the ball away,” Burns said.
Burns was thrown at three times and allowed only a 6-yard reception to Tyrek Hill. Burns also knocked down a pass by Chad Henne in the red zone on a corner blitz. What might seem trivial to many was essential to Burns, who wasn’t even ensured a spot on this team in camp until two days after the Steelers reported.
Now, Burns is at a place where he can be a real asset to a team that has struggled at the position for some time now.
“It’s been pretty cool so far,” Burns said. “It’s just getting the feet back wet (he was out for a week with an injury) and getting the rhythm again. It was really all about getting that rhythm and riding the wave.”
Burns was the target of criticism from Mike Tomlin during the offseason for his play in 2018, and rightfully so. Burns started five of the first six games and then was benched in favor of Coty Sensabaugh (who is no longer in the league) after continued blown assignments.
Burns played only on special teams the rest of the way except for a single start late in the season against the Patriots. It lasted all of four snaps.
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Burns was pulled after Chris Hogan’s early touchdown reception for the Patriots even though the blown coverage wasn’t his fault. Burns’ fragile psyche was too much of a concern to keep him in the game.
That wasn’t Burns’ demeanor when the Steelers drafted him 20th overall in 2016, the first time Pittsburgh drafted a cornerback in the first round in nearly 20 years. Burns was confident bordering on cocky.
Tomlin paired him against wide receiver Antonio Brown every chance he got, starting with his rookie spring and training camp, although a thigh injury that summer limited him and kept him out of three preseason games. Burns took the assignment well, even when the All-Pro receiver would get the best of him.
After a solid rookie year, Burns hasn’t been the same, especially when it came to his confidence. That confidence might be back now.
“He has always had confidence, but I think he got his swag back,” Haden said. “He is out there locking up every play and is just focused and taking it one play at a time.”
That fragile psyche isn’t so fragile anymore, at least not with what he’s shown over the past month.
“Artie’s confidence is high,” cornerback Mike Hilton said. “He’s confident, and he knows what he can do, and he’s doing it.”
Tomlin has been piling reps for Burns throughout camp, and for the most part, he’s been good. Still, Burns isn’t looking at it like he’s back to the form that made him a starter at age 21.
But Burns is being cautious.
“I feel like I have a lot to work on,” Burns said. “There were some things that were good but definitely things I need to work on. We are still super early.”
“I am so happy for Artie … it’s good to have competition in the room,” Haden said. “You never know what’s going on with injuries and such, but with me, Steve, Artie, Sutton has been playing amazing.”
Here’s a look at the Steelers’ 53-man roster and depth chart projection after Burns’ solid game against the Chiefs:
Quarterbacks (3)
QB 1: Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger is the unquestioned No. 1 quarterback.
QB 2: Mason Rudolph. Rudolph has a slight edge over Josh Dobbs through two preseason games after Saturday’s 10-of-15 for 77 yards performance. Rudolph has been excellent in two games.
QB 3: Josh Dobbs. Dobbs has been impressive with the strength of his arm to go along with his ability to make plays with his feet, but right now, he’s staring at a year of game-day inactivity if it keeps up this way.
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Running backs (4)
RB 1: James Conner. The real question with Conner is whether he will get spelled from time to time by Jaylen Samuels. It’s not going to be as much as you might think, if at all.
RB 2: Jaylen Samuels. Samuels has solidified his spot as the No. 2 running back but will be highly involved in the offense even if it’s not going to be by taking touches from Conner.
RB 3: Benny Snell Jr. Snell had a nice third-and-2 conversion against the Chiefs. If he can be the short-yardage guy, it would limit some unnecessary banging by Conner.
RB 4: Trey Edmunds. Edmunds is my sleeper. He can play special teams and be called on in a pinch in the running game. Plus, it would allow Snell to develop for another season.
Fullback (1)
FB 1: Roosevelt Nix. How much the Steelers are going to use Nix on offense doesn’t necessitate a roster spot, but the times they do need him, as well as his leadership and special-teams play, makes him a lock.
Wide receivers (6)
WR 1: JuJu Smith-Schuster. He has yet to make a catch in the preseason, but who cares?
WR 2: Donte Moncrief. Even though James Washington has outplayed Moncrief significantly through two preseason games, Tomlin is enamored with what a veteran such as Moncrief can bring. Eventually, Moncrief will shine in the preseason.
WR: 3: James Washington. Even though Washington is the No. 3 right now, it doesn’t mean he isn’t going to work his way to No. 2. If not, he’s going to be a big part of this team. He’s been outstanding in camp and the preseason.
SLOT 1: Ryan Switzer. Switzer hasn’t played very much this preseason, but don’t assume that’s because the Steelers have soured on him. They haven’t. He will likely see more time next week when Roethlisberger plays.
WR 4: Diontae Johnson. Johnson being a third-round pick solidifies his roster spot, but he’s not going to play early in the season even though he had a touchdown on Saturday and another one called back. He might not even dress early on but could be a factor later in the season if he continues to progress.
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WR: 5: Eli Rogers. Most believe it’s either going to be Switzer or Rogers who makes the roster. That might not be the case. Rogers is too valuable when it comes to experience to let him go.
Tight ends (3)
TE 1: Vance McDonald. Wrap him in bubble wrap until the start of the season.
TE 2: Xavier Grimble. Grimble gets it by default. If they use him mostly as an end-of-the-line blocker, it will work, but he’s too inconsistent for anything else. They have to consider the waiver wire when the cuts come in, right?
TE: 3: Zach Gentry (R). I guess by default at this point, when the other options are Kevin Rader, Mickey Crum and Trevor Wood.
Offensive line (8)
LT 1: Alejandro Villanueva. He’s one of the best tackles in the AFC.
LG 1: Ramon Foster. He might be a little older and a little slower, but Foster is as solid as they come.
C 1: Maurkice Pouncey. The best center in the game.
RG 1: David DeCastro. The best guard in the game.
RT 1: Matt Feiler. Even though it was supposed to be a battle for the right tackle spot, Feiler solidified himself as a starter during the first two weeks of camp. Since then, he’s moved all over the line and hasn’t been nearly as dominant.
SWING T: Chuks Okorafor. At this point, pencil in Okorafor at that spot, but it is far from set. Okorafor hasn’t had the best of camps/preseason so far, including a poor game against the Chiefs.
SWING G/C: B.J. Finney. Finney would be a starter on most teams but is the unquestioned swing guard/center. He will be the first in the game if Foster, Pouncey or DeCastro gets hurt.
RT 2: Zach Banner. Banner could end up being the swing tackle and Okorafor being a game-day inactive.
Defensive linemen (6)
RDE 1: Cam Heyward. Heyward is a Pro Bowl player and the heart and soul of this defense.
RDE 2: Isaiah Buggs. Buggs was a late-round pick but has shown not only enough to make the team but also to get some snaps during games.
NT 1: Javon Hargrave. Hargrave is having a relatively quiet preseason. It’s not like anybody is pushing him, though. Hargrave will get more sub-package pass-rushing opportunities this year.
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NT 2: Daniel McCullers. The best thing that ever happened to McCullers was the hiring of Karl Dunbar as the defensive line coach.
LDE 1: Stephon Tuitt. Tuitt needs to have a monster season after two non-Tuitt-like ones.
LDE 2: Tyson Alualu. Alualu will be the first in if either Heyward or Tuitt goes down. He will also get some opportunities in the sub-package rush.
Inside linebackers (5)
BUCK 1: Vince Williams. Williams will be listed at the No. 1 inside linebacker position, but it wouldn’t surprise anybody if Bush finishes the season with more snaps.
BUCK 2: Devin Bush. Bush likely won’t start, but you aren’t going to have to worry about his playing time. All three — Williams, Bush and Barron — will see significant playing time.
MACK 1: Mark Barron. Barron covered Travis Kelce on Saturday night. That’s going to be a huge part of what he does this year.
MACK 2: Tyler Matakevich. Matakevich looked like he was going to get pushed by Robert Spillane, but that fizzled. Matakevich started and played a more significant number of snaps against the Chiefs. Still, I can’t see him being much help on defense but a huge help on special teams.
MACK 3: Ulysess Gilbert. Gilbert could end up on the practice squad, but as of now, he makes the team because he has tremendous upside. Look out for Tuzar Skipper as the main reason they keep either five inside or five outside guys.
Outside linebacker (4)
ROLB 1: Bud Dupree. Dupree’s two sacks were very encouraging against the Chiefs.
ROLB 2: Ola Adeniyi. Adeniyi underwent surgery on his right knee Friday. It has been reported that it’s a two- to four-week injury. If that’s the case, he is no doubt the No. 2 outside linebacker. Tomlin said after the game that he would update Adeniyi’s status next week.
LOLB 1: T.J. Watt. Watt was dominant against the Chiefs and might not ever come off the field. There are not many other superlatives you can say about Watt.
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LOLB 2: Anthony Chickillo. Chickillo will be the swing linebacker as of now depending on the extent of Adeniyi’s injury. If Adeniyi’s back by the opener, I can see the two sticking to their side.
Cornerbacks (6)
LCB 1: Joe Haden. Even though Haden has been out with a foot injury, he’s their hands-down No. 1 shutdown corner even at age 30. He doesn’t need a snap in the preseason to assure that.
LCB 2: Justin Layne. Layne will make the team because his upside is huge, but just because he’s listed as the LCB 2 doesn’t mean he will be the next man up at the position. Cam Sutton or Artie Burns would have that role.
RCB 1: Steven Nelson. You don’t pay a guy the largest free-agent contract in the history of your organization and not start him. Nelson has shown to be a steady cornerback this preseason.
RCB 2: Artie Burns. Burns has been the surprise of camp, as he’s taken a bad situation and put himself in position to be a legitimate option for this defense as the No. 3 cornerback.
SLOT 1: Mike Hilton. Hilton played safety for the first time in his career Saturday, but his bread is buttered in the slot. He has a knack for the position even though he can get picked on by big tight ends at times.
SLOT 2: Cam Sutton. Sutton has been tremendous this preseason and could either take the No. 1 slot position from Hilton or be the No. 3 corner. At worst, he will be the dime backer in the six-defensive-back set.
Safeties (4)
SS 1: Terrell Edmunds. Edmunds forced a fumble against the Chiefs. I think we are going to see many more plays like that out of him.
SS 2: Jordan Dangerfield. Dangerfield or Marcus Allen? Flip a coin. It will come down to who plays better on special teams, and right now that’s Dangerfield.
FS 1: Sean Davis. Davis played some big nickel linebacker against the Chiefs, but his best spot is center field.
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FS 2: Kameron Kelly. Kelly wasn’t on too many people’s radar, but now there’s a real chance he can carve out a role on this defense. Coming from the AAF, he’s a lead-pipe lock to make this team.
Specialists (3)
PK: Chris Boswell. Boswell has been exceptional and has solidified his spot on the roster.
P: Jordan Berry. Berry is still in a battle with Ian Berryman, but Berry’s ability to kick it inside the 20 is unique.
LS: Kameron Canaday. He might have had one bad snap in three years.
(Photo of Artie Burns: Don Wright / Associated Press)
