Madden 19: Pittsburgh Steelers Player Ratings, Roster, Depth Chart, & Playbooks

By Toby DurantHead of Content

With 6 Super Bowl victories to their name, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the most successful team in the NFL. Head coach Mike Tomlin is just the 16th head coach the team has had since their inception in 1933, and their third since 1969. He took over the reins from Bill Cowher in 2007 and won AP Coach of the Year in 2008 as the Steelers went 12-4 and beat Arizona to win Super Bowl XLIII. Tomlin took the Steelers to Super Bowl XLV too, but they lost to the Packers. In 2017 they once again claimed the AFC North crown, their sixth division title under Tomlin, before falling in the playoffs to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This season the Steelers once again have Super Bowl aspirations thanks to a talented offense and a young, fierce defense. But how can they fare in Madden 19?

*All stats correct at time of writing

Team Rating

expand image

The Steelers have a strong 85 OVR rating, making them the third-best team in Madden behind the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams. That rating is supported by an excellent 91 overall offense that plays home to the 99 OVR Antonio Brown and 96 OVR Le'Veon Bell. Both are the best at their position in the game and can dominate defenses alone, nevermind together. The 81 overall defense is an ok unit, with a strong defensive line and young pass rushers, but the secondary is weak. 2018 first-round pick Terrell Edmunds (74 OVR) will need to play well immediately if they want to punish offenses.

Antonio Brown, Wide Receiver (OVR 99)

expand image

Age: 30

Development Trait: Superstar

Contract: 4 years/$37.3m

2018 Cap Hit: $8.98m

Best Stats: Speed (92), Catching (99), Catching In Traffic (99), Short Route (98), Medium Route (97), Deep Route (96), Spectacular Catch (98), Release (97)

Antonio Brown is the cover athlete for Madden 19, and with good reason. The Steelers wide receiver is the only man to make the last four First Team All-Pro's, and in that time span he has racked up 472 catches for 6,349 yards and 44 touchdowns. He's been an unstoppable force for a long time now, and in Madden 19 he is amazingly talented. With near-perfect ratings in just about every important stat, Brown is a secondary-destroying monster.

Le'Veon Bell, Running Back (OVR 96)

expand image

Age: 26

Development Trait: Superstar

Contract: 1 year/$14.5m

2018 Cap Hit: $14.5m

Best Stats: Speed (90), Acceleration (93), Break Tackle (92), Carrying (88), Juke Move (96), Stiff Arm (92), Catching (75)

Le'Veon Bell has been every bit the defense-wrecker that Antonio Brown has been. In the last four years he has made 2 First Team All-Pro's and amassed 6,737 yards from scrimmage and 34 total touchdowns despite averaging just 12 games per season in that time. Bell sat out Week 1 after a lengthy contract dispute with Pittsburgh, and looks to be sitting out for a while, however in Madden 19 you don't need to worry about that. He is the best running back in the game and can break any touch to the endzone.

David DeCastro, Right Guard (OVR 95)

expand image

Age: 28

Development Trait: Superstar

Contract: 4 years/$25.4m

2018 Cap Hit: $6m

Best Stats: Strength (94), Run Block (95), Pass Block (93), Lead Block (90), Impact Block (89), Awareness (91)

David DeCastro entered the NFL as the 24th overall pick in the 2012 draft and was touted as one of the best guard prospects in years. An injury-hit rookie season prevented him from exploding onto the scene, but once healthy it didn't take DeCastro too long to prove scouts right as he went about demolishing opposing defenses and out-right dominating at the line of scrimmage. a two-time First Team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, DeCastro is at the peak of his powers right now and is the perfect blocker for a back like Le'Veon Bell to work off.

Cameron Heyward, Defensive End (OVR 89)

expand image

Age: 29

Development Trait: Quick

Contract: 3 years/$19.2m

2018 Cap Hit: $6.18m

Best Stats: Strength (93), Power Moves (89), Block Shedding (84), Tackle (87), Awareness (96)

Cameron Heyward was a late-first round pick for the Steelers in 2011 out of Ohio State. He didn't start a game until 2013 due to impressive veterans in front of him, but he quickly showed his value in the Steelers 3-4 defense against the run. In his first season as a starter Heyward picked up five sacks to go along with 59 tackles. As time went on Heyward developed better and better pass rush instincts, and in 2017 he smashed his career-high with a huge 12 sacks and made his first All-Pro team.

Depth Chart & Full Roster

QB
OVR
Speed
Throw Power
Short Accuracy
Medium Accuracy
Deep Accuracy
Throw Under Pressure
Play Action
Ben Roethlisberger
85
73
95
90
85
80
84
82
Mason Rudolph
72
76
90
83
83
83
79
74
Joshua Dobbs
69
84
91
80
80
72
73
79
HB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Elusiveness
Carrying
Juke Move
Catching
Le'Veon Bell
96
90
95
89
88
96
75
James Conner
79
86
82
73
88
78
69
Stevan Ridley
68
82
81
63
80
83
49
Jaylen Samuels
68
87
83
73
78
78
74
FB
OVR
Speed
Strength
Carrying
Pass Block
Run Block
Lead Block
Impact Block
Roosevelt Nix
71
79
75
71
62
55
78
65
WR
OVR
Speed
Agility
Catching
Short Route
Medium Route
Deep Route
Catching In Traffic
Spectacular Catch
Release
Jumping
Antonio Brown
99
92
98
99
98
97
96
99
98
97
89
JuJu Smith-Schuster
86
90
88
94
83
87
84
89
87
84
83
Eli Rogers
76
88
92
87
81
78
73
79
83
65
84
Ryan Switzer
76
90
93
84
85
78
72
79
82
68
80
James Washington
75
90
86
83
79
80
84
83
89
78
84
Justin Hunter
72
90
91
78
72
74
76
75
83
79
94
TE
OVR
Speed
Agility
Catching
Short Route
Medium Route
Deep Route
Run Block
Vance McDonald
81
82
76
83
70
68
64
75
Jesse James
78
83
72
86
73
70
65
59
Xavier Grimble
71
76
69
76
63
59
54
65
Ryan Malleck
66
79
74
73
64
59
54
65
Jake McGee
66
81
80
80
52
47
43
59
OL
OVR
Speed
Strength
Pass Block
Run Block
Lead Block
Impact Block
David DeCastro
95
60
94
93
95
90
89
Marcus Gilbert
84
56
91
84
84
87
86
Maurkice Pouncey
84
63
91
83
75
88
92
Alejandro Villanueva
81
72
86
81
79
84
86
Ramon Foster
78
50
88
79
75
63
89
BJ Finney
71
64
84
78
73
57
82
Matt Feiler
70
60
94
71
77
82
81
Chukwuma Okorafor
68
62
85
75
75
76
77
Jerald Hawkins
67
65
81
72
78
73
72
Zach Banner
67
53
90
69
77
79
78
Showing 1-10 of 11
Row count:Go to page:
DE
OVR
Speed
Agility
Strength
Block Shedding
Finesse Moves
Power Moves
Cameron Heyward
89
72
72
93
84
69
89
Stephon Tuitt
85
75
68
91
82
67
85
Tyson Alualu
76
73
66
86
79
50
75
LT Walton
71
64
63
85
68
56
76
DT
OVR
Speed
Strength
Power Moves
Finesse Moves
Block Shedding
Impact Block
Javon Hargrave
81
75
88
71
82
77
82
Dan McCullers
71
62
88
78
53
73
84
Justin Zimmer
71
75
90
73
70
74
83
OLB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Tackle
Hit Power
Play Recognition
Pursuit
Power Moves
Finesse Moves
TJ Watt
83
83
84
80
85
80
84
70
80
Bud Dupree
74
87
82
82
88
73
77
76
64
Anthony Chickillo
69
79
72
76
72
69
77
76
69
Olasunkanmi Adeniyi
63
78
80
74
80
52
78
63
72
MLB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Tackle
Hit Power
Play Recognition
Pursuit
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Ryan Shazier
86
86
88
87
87
88
86
73
83
Vince Williams
78
82
75
89
88
84
85
58
69
Jon Bostic
74
85
75
86
82
74
88
50
56
LJ Fort
69
81
76
84
77
68
79
66
70
CB
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Agility
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Press
Joe Haden
86
88
91
90
87
84
85
Mike Hilton
80
87
89
91
80
84
78
Artie Burns
78
91
92
88
77
79
80
Coty Sensabaugh
74
90
91
92
78
77
65
Cameron Sutton
71
88
90
92
77
71
68
Brian Allen
70
91
93
93
78
70
77
FS
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Agility
Play Recognition
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Sean Davis
74
90
91
87
78
68
72
Jordan Dangerfield
71
85
92
89
63
73
71
Marcus Allen
67
85
90
79
57
62
72
SS
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Tackle
Play Recognition
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Morgan Burnett
83
86
88
78
81
79
81
Terrell Edmunds
74
90
90
71
65
76
69
Nat Berhe
65
87
90
67
64
62
61
K
OVR
Kick Power
Kick Accuracy
Chris Boswell
76
92
82
P
OVR
Kick Power
Kick Accuracy
Jordan Berry
78
91
84

The strength of the Steelers roster is in Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell, but they aren't the only players that can be key contributors to your games. JuJu Smith-Schuster (90 speed, 94 catching) can take advantage of coverages focusing on Brown, while Ben Roethlisberger (95 throw power, 90 short accuracy) is still capable of distributing the ball and beating teams with his arm. Up front the Steelers offensive line doesn't have any holes, and they have a solid left tackle in Alejandro Villanueva (81 pass block, 79 run block) to go along with David DeCastro's talents.

Defensively there is less talent, but the Steelers are far from problematic without the ball. Stephon Tuitt (91 strength, 85 power moves) is a very nice defensive end to line up opposite Cameron Heyward, and both TJ Watt (88 acceleration, 80 finesse moves) and Bud Dupree (89 acceleration, 76 power moves) can provide pass rush as the outside linebackers in their 3-4 front. Ryan Shazier (86 speed, 87 tackle) is injured for the first year of Franchise Mode, but will be back with a vengeance, and Joe Haden (87 man coverage, 84 zone coverage) is a nice option at cornerback.

Steelers Playbook - Offense

expand image

I Form - Pro

I Form - Slot

I Form - Tight

I Form - Twin TE

Strong I - Pro

Weak I - Pro

Weak I - Wing

Singleback - Ace

Singleback - Ace Pair

Singleback - Bunch

Singleback - Deuce

Singleback - Deuce Close

Singleback - Dice Slot

Singleback - Wing Pair

Singleback - Wing Slot

Singleback - Wing Stack

Singleback - Wing Tight

Pistol - Strong Slot Open

Pistol - Doubles Y Off

Pistol - Y Off Trips

Shotgun - Bunch

Shotgun - Doubles HB Wk

Shotgun - Empty Bunch

Shotgun - Empty Trey Stack

Shotgun - Empty X-Trip

Shotgun - Spread Y-Slot Wk

Shotgun - Stack Y Off Wk

Shotgun - Stack Y-Flex

Shotgun - Tight Doubles

Shotgun - Trey Open

Shotgun - Trio

Shotgun - Wing Slot Offset

Shotgun - Y Off Trips Wk

Shotgun - Y Trips Wk

The Steelers playbook, like many, is dominated by shotgun and singleback formations. Singleback Deuce Close has been a strong formation for many years in Madden and it continues to be a very good option in Madden 19. Stack formations are always good as well and the Steelers offense has one in singleback and two in shotgun. They also have three empty formations if you really want to spread the field out. Plays like Shotgun Stack Y Off Wk - Levels are really useful to free up a receiver, and that whole formation lends itself to driving defenses mad thanks to the Inside Zone Split play and PA Jailbreak Screen.

Steelers Playbook - Defense

expand image

3-4 Even

3-4 Odd

3-4 Over

3-4 Solid

3-4 Under

4-4 Split

Nickel Normal

Nickel 2-4-5

Nickel 2-4-5 Double A Gap

Nickel 3-3-5 Wide

Big Nickel Over G

Dime 1-4-6

Dime 2-3-6 Will

Quarter Normal

Quarter 1-3-7

Quarter 3 Deep

Goal Line Defense 5-3-3

Goal Line Defense 5-4-2

The Steelers playbook is a classic 3-4 that has a ton of blitzes and, of course, zone blitzes. They require a little nuance to get right, but things like 3-4 Odd Cross 3 Fire can produce exceptional results if timed well. There are also a lot of sub formations, including the new Big Nickel Over G which is a really nice formation against 11 personnel, with Cover 6 and Cover 6 Invert really toying with offenses and creating turnovers.