The Pittsburgh Steelers don't typically start rookies on the defensive side of the football. Dick LeBeau prefers experience over youth, but with Ryan Shazier already deemed a starter on the depth chart by LeBeau, could there be an unprecedented second rookie to start on the defense?
It certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility for defensive tackle Stephon Tuitt to crack the starting lineup in 2014, and that could be a job he never relinquishes.
Tuitt has the job of not only climbing the depth chart over the likes of Cam Thomas, Nick Williams and Brian Arnfelt, but proving that the organization doesn't need to call veteran Brett Keisel for depth.
Tuitt has the speed, quickness and strength to play the NFL game, but his game is far from perfect. Cam Heyward, another high draft pick along the defensive line told Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that Tuitt has the capability to be great.
"He's a raw talent right now, but he has all the talent in the world," "I think he has a lot of explosion. That's the one thing you love about his body frame. He carries it well, and he's able to explode through the line."
Tuitt knows what his job is, even as a rookie, and that is to step on the field and make an impact on the defensive side of the football.
"That's what they brought me here for: to produce and get back this defense (to No. 1)," "That's what I'm here to do, and I'm going to work hard for it. … But like all powerful and well-known defenses, you have to work at it."
If Tuitt has to work on his game, working on his confidence is not something that needs to be altered if he is able to capture the coveted starting role after training camp.
"I believe I can be the best defensive lineman in this league. I can, I do and I believe that," "But everything will come only with hard work and coach (John) Mitchell's training."
The fact that Tuitt could be the starter when the regular season rolls around, making two rookie starters on that side of the football, speaks volumes about this 2014 draft class and the job done by the front office to put players on the roster that are capable of producing early in their career.
There is a chance Tuitt does't crack the starting lineup for week one, but if I were a betting man, I'd put money down that Tuitt occupies a starting role by season's end.