Pittsburgh Steelers' Stephon Tuitt says defense will dominate

LATROBE, Pa. -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have some moving parts on offense as training camp opens. They are patiently awaiting the arrival of running back Le'Veon Bell, who has yet to sign his one-year contract. They're also waiting for the NFL to fully reinstate receiver Martavis Bryant.

Both players are key cogs in the Steelers' offensive machine. As long as they return to the lineup, and barring any major injuries during camp, the offense will enter the regular season as one of the best in the NFL talent-wise.

The offense should not have any problem scoring points. The biggest question for the Steelers as camp gets underway is whether the defense is ready to become a fearsome unit again.

At least one prominent player along the defensive line thinks it is.

"We're going to be a nasty defense," fourth-year defensive end Stephon Tuitt said. "That's what's awesome about it. We're going to be a very dominating, physical defense."

The Steelers were not a dominating defense last season. They were average in most statistical categories, but did a good job of limiting points. They allowed 20.4 points per game, which ranked 10th in the NFL.

Ten of the 11 starters return. Only veteran linebacker Lawrence Timmons won't be there. He signed a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins in March. Veteran Vince Williams will take over for Timmons.

But while the Steelers are experienced, they're not old. Nine of the 11 starters are 28 or younger. Tuitt is a part of an even younger core of starters drafted in 2014 or after. Tuitt and Ryan Shazier came in the first and second round in 2014. Bud Dupree came in 2015 and Artie Burns, Sean Davis and Javon Hargrave came in 2016.

All six were starters last season.

"That's the best thing about it," Tuitt said. "We're young and experienced. That's freaking scary."

Outside linebacker T.J. Watt and cornerback Cameron Sutton came in the first and third rounds this year and they could push for starting jobs at some point this season.

The Steelers haven't been the NFL's top defense since 2011. Tuitt said the Steelers have the personnel to reclaim the top spot this season.

"Every year we got better," Tuitt said. "We got a taste of some things. We made the playoffs and got to the wild-card game, then we made it to the divisional round and then the AFC championship. We know how it feels. Our bodies know what it takes to get back there again. We're going to play a dominating style. We're not going to give a flying crap about whoever is out there. We're going to play physical defense and reach our goal of getting to a Super Bowl."

ROOKIE TO WATCH

--OLB T.J. Watt. The No. 1 pick had an impressive spring when he easily picked up the playbook. Now it's time to earn playing time when the pads come on Sunday. Watt has a chance to earn a starting position at right outside linebacker or split time with veteran James Harrison. But he has to perform well in training camp and preseason games to make that happen. As was the case this spring, Harrison did not practice, which gave Watt a chance to work with the first-team defense.

--Alejandro Villanueva signed his four-year, $24 million contract Thursday, which is well below market value for a starting left tackle. There are 14 left tackles in the league that make $10 million or more. He will make $6 million per season, a compromise because the Steelers controlled him through 2018 if he didn't sign.

"I just want the fairness thing out of it," Villanueva said Friday. "I understand people are going to have their opinions about the contract. I can't really convince everybody. I can't even make those decisions myself. It's got to be my agent, so I'm very happy to be here with the Steelers and I'm really looking forward to the start of the season."

--Wide receiver Martavis Bryant has yet to be cleared by the NFL and remains on a conditional reinstatement after missing all of last season under a drug suspension. Bryant cannot practice with the team, but he is allowed to work out under the supervision of Steelers staff at training camp.

The news came as a bit of a surprise because Bryant was allowed to practice this spring during OTAs and minicamp.

"I knew the possibility of it because there were some conditions based on his reinstatement and they've been really consistent in that regard," head coach Mike Tomlin said. "And Martavis and we all have been working extremely hard to adhere to it."

--Wide receiver Sammie Coates started training camp on the PUP list after undergoing minor knee surgery earlier this month. It's his second knee surgery since the end of last season. He also had surgery to repair a sports hernia injury after the season.

Coates is expected to miss the first few weeks of camp.

"It's part of the game," Coates said. "You're going to have ups and downs. It's how you come back. My goal is to come back strong like I started off last year and keep my injuries to a minimum."