NFL
By: Melo Williams
The Pittsburgh Steelers will enter the 2022 season with a new quarterback under center for the first time since 2004 when the Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger from Miami (OH) with the 11th overall pick in the NFL Draft. For 18 seasons the Steelers had the luxury of knowing as long as Big Ben was healthy, the quarterback position was never a worry, and that the Steelers were being led by one of the best quarterbacks of his generation and all time. A future two-time Super Bowl Champion Hall of Famer.
Now those days are behind us. Ben is gone, but head coach Mike Tomlin still remains in Pittsburgh and is the most important person to it all to keep the Steelers tradition and culture steady going forward with a new era of football in the Steel City. We know with Mike Tomlin “The Standard is the Standard” and throughout his 15 seasons as coach of the Steelers it’s been exactly that and only Bill Belichick has had a better coaching career than Mike Tomlin when we speaking all time. So Pittsburgh fans shouldn’t expect anything else besides the standard, and that’s winning games and Super Bowls.
Offense
This will be offensive coordinator Matt Canada first year calling plays without Big Ben. Though last season Ben wasn’t the Ben of old, knowing he was Big Ben still gave Canada some comfort. So this season will be new for the offense as a whole. The Steelers signed free agent QB Mitchell Trubisky to a two-year deal who spent the 2021 season backing up Josh Allen in Buffalo. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Steelers drafted the hometown hero, Pittsburgh Panthers QB Kenny Pickett 20th overall who led the Panthers to its first ACC time with a remarkable and unforgettable senior season. Then we can’t forget about Mason Rudolph who is still on the depth chart as well. So as of right now, it’s a three-man quarterback competition for who will start 2022 under center for the Steelers. However, Kenny Pickett is Roethlisberger replacement long-term.
A huge positive and advantage OC Matt Canada has is a running back by the name of Najee Harris who enters his second season with the Steelers after rushing for 1,200 yards on 307 carries and seven touchdowns despite running behind a young inexperienced offensive line. The advantage Steelers, they have one of the most promising young running backs in the NFL.
So yeah about that young inexperienced offensive line last season, they showed a lot of heart, grit, and fight overall. A major key for the O-line is that the Steelers re-signed right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor to a three-year extension and signed veterans Guard James Daniels and Center Mason Cole. So this season there are reasons to believe the O-line will be better and show promise.
That brings us to the wide receivers and tight ends. The wide receiver position took a big hit in free agency. The Steelers lost three wide receivers. JuJu Smith-Shuster signed a one-year, $10.75 million deal with Kansas City. James Washington signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys and receiver and return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud as he signed a two-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers. Even with the loss of those three wide receivers, the Steelers are still sitting pretty good with Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool on the roster. Add in the Steelers second-round 52nd pick, WR George Pickens, from Georgia and you still have a nice trio with the wide receivers. With Pat Freiermuth one of the best tight ends holding down the tight end position, the Steelers passing game will still cause headaches for defenses. Signing free agent Miles Boykin from the Ravens can turn into a good signing as well.
Defense
Even though the Steelers had the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt who was causing havoc all season, the Steelers finished dead last in rushing yards allowed per game (146.1) and average yards per carry (5.0) and that’s not typical for a Pittsburgh defense whose usually stout against the run. Pittsburgh’s defense dealt with a lot of injuries overall in 2021. The front seven was banged up and missed Stephon Tuitt who was out all of the 2021 season with a knee injury. This season though, Tuitt was expected to be back but he unexpectedly announced his retirement in late May. Pittsburgh then signed Larry Ogunjobi to a one-year contract to replace Tuitt. Ogunjobi will be up front with All-Pro Cameron Heyward and Tyson Alualu, who missed all but two games last season with an ankle injury. Then there’s Devin Bush, the former first-round pick, he’ll be returning after coming off a knee injury in 2021 as well. The Steelers however did sign linebacker Myles Jack after the Jacksonville Jaguars released him. With the signing of Jack, Devin Bush, and the front seven healthy, while having the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt who no one sees slowing down anytime soon, the Steelers simply have to defend better against the run.
The Steelers secondary never could seem to get it right in 2021, and it’s uncertain if the secondary will be any better this season. Veteran cornerback Joe Haden is gone, and he’s been replaced with Levi Wallace, a solid cornerback who spent his previous seasons with the Bills. That’s a positive. The Steelers re-signed Minkah Fitzpatrick to a four-year deal making him the highest paid safety in NFL history making over $18.4 million per year with $36 million guaranteed at signing. In the 2021 season, Fitzpatrick recorded a career-high 124 tackles. Besides Wallace and Fitzpatrick the Steelers secondary is still a weak spot.
Outlook
Even though the Steelers have some strengths on both sides of the ball, it’s still a lot of uncertainty on both sides of the ball. From this being OC Matt Canada’s second year calling plays, Teryl Austin first year as the DC, a new QB will be under center, Stephon Tuitt retiring, the loss of Joe Haden, and just the presence and leadership of Ben Roethlisberger no longer in the locker room, the Steelers is going through an adjustment period. With the AFC North being as strong and competitive as it is with the reigning AFC North Champs Cincinnati Bengals back and better, the Baltimore Ravens are much better this year after an injury-riddled 2021 season, and the Browns looking good on paper, it’s looking like a tough road ahead for the Steelers. With the addition of coach Brian Flores and the leadership of head coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers will be competitive and will finish third in the AFC North with a 9-8 record.
