Pittsburgh Steelers’ 5 Most Irreplaceable Players Heading Into 2015 NFL Training Camp

Pittsburgh Steelers’ 5 Most Irreplaceable Players Heading Into 2015 NFL Training Camp

Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports

How you view the Pittsburgh Steelers going into the 2015 season is totally a matter of opinion. Some may say that this is a team that has a core in place that has been around and knows how to win. On the flip side, others may argue that the team is aging and their time being atop the NFL is coming to an end. Regardless, of how you view them, the Steelers have five dynamic weapons on their team that they need in order to be a contender this year.

5. Maurkice Pouncey

Maurkice Pouncey Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports

5. Maurkice Pouncey

Maurkice Pouncey Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports

Maurkice Pouncey is a quarterback's best friend and an absolute stud on the offensive line. That could be one reason why he has made the Pro Bowl four times and has been a first-team or second-team NFL All-Pro in all but one season. When he missed most of 2013 with ACL and MCL injuries, the team went 8-8. Last year, when Pouncey started all 16 games, the Steelers went 11-5 and won the AFC North. He's the third highest paid Center for good reason.

4. James Harrison

James Harrison Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports

4. James Harrison

James Harrison Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports

Anyone doubt that James Harrison was going to return to Pittsburgh at some point in his career after leaving in 2013 to go the division-rival Bengals? Harrison is a true Steeler whether that be for his historic game-changing touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII or just being the team's most dominant linebacker since Jack Lambert. With Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor gone, Harrison is now the vocal leader on defense.

3. Antonio Brown

Antonio Brown Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports

3. Antonio Brown

Antonio Brown Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports

The 2014 stats for Antonio Brown are 129 receptions, 1,698 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. If you think this guy is replaceable, you're wrong. The next guy on this list relies on him heavily, having targeted Brown over 100 times in each of the last four seasons -- more than 150 times in the past two seasons. The passing game of the Steelers goes through Brown, and even with defenses knowing that, he still torches them.

2. Ben Roethlisberger

Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports

2. Ben Roethlisberger

Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports

I feel as though sometimes Big Ben gets tossed to the wayside in the quarterback conversation. People seem to lean towards Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson, etc. But Roethlisberger has been phenomenal for Pittsburgh in his tenure. He's won two Super Bowls in his career and holds nearly every career passing record for the team. Big Ben also is only three wins away from being Pittsburgh's all-time leader.

1. Le'Veon Bell

Le'Veon Bell Pittsburgh Steelers
Jason Getz - USA TODAY Sports

1. Le'Veon Bell

Le'Veon Bell Pittsburgh Steelers
Jason Getz - USA TODAY Sports

It's hard putting this list together and having a player who's only been with this team for two seasons at the No. 1 spot on this list, but he's deserving. I said before that the Steelers pass attack goes through Antonio Brown. The whole Steelers offense goes through Bell. His ability to dominate a game in both rushing and receiving is remarkable, and since entering the league he has over 3,600 total yards.

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