PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have questions about what will happen at slot cornerback. Yet, the favorite in the room is Beanie Bishop, who returns from last year.
Bishop confirmed to reporters that he started OTAs as the starting slot cornerback after practice on Tuesday. That is hardly a surprise, given the other options on the roster, as Bishop started 8 games for the Steelers in that role a year ago.
Bishop looked a bit different, too. It was a leaner, more explosive version of Bishop. He spent his entire offseason in Pittsburgh working with the Steelers’ strength and conditioning staff to re-work his body. His diet changed, too, so he could drop the fat.
The idea is for Bishop to have better play strength and be more fluid in and out of his breaks. One change is Bishop eats the same breakfast daily: three eggs, three slices of turkey bacon, and two slices of toast with nothing else on it.
It is simple, but Bishop has maintained simplicity throughout this process. He hopes his reworked frame will allow him to keep his starting nickel cornerback spot, which he is not taking for granted.
“It’s my spot right now, but you’ve got to always work and keep that competitive edge to remain with the one team,” Bishop said. “I wasn’t drafted at all. So, who knows. We’re still in the offseason. They still could bring a guy in. But I always have that fire underneath me.”
Seventh-round pick Donte Kent is the player Bishop refers to who will push him. Kent ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at Central Michigan’s pro day. In his five-year career with the Chippewas, Kent was a three-time All-MAC selection, playing as a cornerback, gunner, kick and punt returner, and special teams ace.
As a returner, Kent had 16 punt returns for 217 yards in his final season and added he had been training as a kick returner despite taking just one kick return in his collegiate career.
That versatility gives Kent a high floor as a player. Yet, Bishop play a season ago was encouraging, and he is hoping to stave off competition for the second straight year.