PITTSBURGH (93.7 the Fan) How do the Steelers position groups stack up against one another going into the seson? Not against other NFL teams but how they rank within the team itself.
Here is how I see it:
Outside Linebacker TJ Watt finally practiced but may get off to a slow start; nonetheless he is TJ Watt. The addition of Melvin Ingram will help, not only as Watt rounds into football shape, but also when Watt takes himself off the field because he expends so much energy on every play. Alex Highsmith was a pleasant surprise a year ago and he was the team’s most improved player in the pre-season. First-year player Jamir Jones looks like he could contribute in a pinch And may receive meaningful snaps sooner than anticipated.
Wide Receiver You can debate who is number one, two or three but if James Washington is the number four receiver with Ray Ray McCloud as a number five/gadget guy, that is a deep group. Obviously, Diontae Johnson needs to hang onto the ball but with teams paying more attention to him and Chase Claypool that will make JuJu Smith-Schuster more dangerous.
Special Teams After that horrendous 2018 season, Chris Boswell is once again among the league’s most consistent kickers. He also showed a penchant for leaving kickoffs just short of the goal line in the pre-season which led to opponents starting inside the 20-yard line. The coverage units were a part of that and they were also effective on punts. Punter Pressley Harvin III will be good enough to make this a very good group. Ray Ray McCloud is a decent returner.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is nearing the end – we think – and he had a very good pre-season. He has what should be an excellent supporting cast at the skill positions. The question is will he have to time he needs to sue them. Mason Rudolph is a proven back-up, although what he has proved so far may highly differ depending on the beholder. Dwayne Haskins remains a wild card for the future.
Tight End Like the aforementioned Johnson, Eric Ebron needs to hang onto the football but he is a veteran who can produce when he does. Either way, Pat Freiermuth is already poised to become the top tight end target and that may happen as soon as Sunday. Plus, he will actually block, or at least try to. Zach Gentry is huge, so there’s that.
Defensive Line This unit would be ranked 3rd but for the Stephon Tuitt uncertainty. He will miss at least the first three games and maybe more. Chris Wormley appears improved but is a major drop-off. Tyson Alualu, however is not, and when the Steelers go to sub packages – i.e. most of the time – an inside tandem of Alualu and Cam Heyward is formidable. They certainly have plenty of back-ups at those positions,
Running Back Najee Harris is a stud, pure and simple. The Lev Bell comparisons are not premature and are not out of line. He can be that good. Of course, he has to have room to run and that could be a major problem. Not sold on Kalen Ballage or Benny Snell as back-ups although both do well in kick coverage so that’s something. Outlandish prediction – there will be a game (when we least expect it) in which Derek Watt catches a handful of passes..
Defensive Back This is a tough group to rank since there are still some moving parts. I do think Cam Sutton will be the slot corner; if nothing else because he is the only one they have. Joe Haden is one outside corner with – in order, at least for now – James Pierre, Justin Layne and Ahkello Witherspoon behind him. How well Witherspoon plays is key. Minkah Fitzpatrick is clearly the best part of the secondary and Terrell Edmunds is playing for a contract which could elevate his play. Not a ton of depth at safety but coaches seem to like rookie Tre Norwood.
Inside Linebacker Uncertainty is the issue here, starting with Devin Bush’s knee. Joe Schobert has some pedigree but Jacksonville didn’t need much to trade him so there’s no guarantee he’s an answer, despite his experience. Robert Spillane is a magnet for other team’s tight ends and even wide receivers when he is on the field, Ulysses Gilbert can’t stay healthy, Marcus Allen is still mostly a converted safety.
Offensive Line This is only one of ten position groups – and some of the others are among the best in the NFL - but this is the one unit that can determine whether the Steelers go 11-6 or 6-11. Tackle is the primary problem. Zach Banner was supposed to start at RT but he’s still hurt. Chuks Okorafor was supposed to start at LT but he can’t handle it and is back at RT. At least he played there in 2020 and actually did okay. Rookie Dan Moore, Jr. improved incredibly during the pre-season and he did play in the SEC but doing so in the NF L is an incredible leap. Kendrick Green resembles Maurkice Pouncey but is not ready to play like him and Trai Turner, while decorated in the past, is coming off injury. LG Kevin Dotson is the one sure thing – and he’s started all of 4 NFL games. JC Hassenauer, Rashaad Coward and Joe Haeg are behind them and each is one snap away from seeing the field.
Summary
Not to pile on the O-line, but I am going to. I also said I wasn’t going to compare the Steelers position groups to others around the league but the overall skill on offense and the front 7 (with Tuitt healthy) compare with just about any around the league. Yet, if the offensive line cannot hold up, those skilled players will not be able to play to their potential and the offense won’t be able to hold the ball long enough for the defense to rest. That would mean the defense would be more easily exposed.
The Steelers are actually in good-to-very good-to-great shape all over the field. It’s up to the offensive line to allow them to take advantage of it.