However you feel about Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s hard to deny that they’re one of the most well-run franchises in the NFL. The Steelers extended their streak of non-losing seasons to 19 after a strong end to the 2022 campaign. The 9-8 record wasn’t enough to secure a Wildcard spot, but the positives were aplenty for the Steelers moving forward.
The season started with Mitchell Trubisky under centre, but his lack of quality play led to the Steelers giving rookie Kenny Pickett the reins to the offense earlier than expected. Pickett started slow and threw three interceptions in his first game against the Jets, but found his footing towards the end of the year. The offense had the sixth-best passing attack in EPA over the last two months of the season, which is a good sign that the Steelers were heading in the right direction.
The front office took steps to improve the team during the offseason as well. Isaac Seumalo was signed to improve the interior offensive line, and Broderick Jones was drafted to be the franchise left tackle. Those two additions can hopefully help solidify a unit that’s struggled to assert its dominance in recent years, leading to an inefficient running game and a lack of stable protection in the pocket.
On top of that, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers just keep finding ways to develop gems on the defensive side of the ball.
Offense
Matt Canada’s offense has been routinely panned over the last few years. A lack of imagination and ingenuity has led fans and analysts to wonder when Canada’s time with the team will soon be coming to an end. But for now, Tomlin has brought him back for another season – and maybe that late-season surge that brought about some hope was the reason why.
Once he found his feet, Pickett did a lot right under centre for the Steelers. Despite throwing 9 interceptions, Pickett rarely put the ball in harm’s way. His turnover-worthy rate was the 8th-lowest among all quarterbacks with at least 380 dropbacks and even his interception rate was in the middle of the pack. Pickett protected the ball, trusted his receivers, and occasionally made a big play with his arm. His arm talent isn’t elite, and it probably never will be, but Pickett has the confidence and swagger that’s needed at the NFL level.
His connection with fellow rookie and highlight-reel machine, George Pickens, was a major part of the passing game. Pickens isn’t an elite separator and relies more on his ability to win in contested catch scenarios, but Pickett knows he can throw the ball up there and his guy will go get it. Alongside Pickens is Diontae Johnson, who happens to be an elite-level separator. He had a down year in 2022 and should be raring to go in 2023.
The improvement of the offensive line should help the performance of Najee Harris as well. The 2021 first-round pick averaged just 3.8 yards per carry in his second season as his production dipped from his rookie campaign. The Steelers offense can climb to another level if they can get Harris rolling.
Player to watch: Calvin Austin III
Defense
The Steelers’ defense has long been one of the rare units to defy the notion that defenses can’t maintain long-term consistency. Since 2018, the Steelers rank sixth in EPA per play on defense and that’s despite a little bit of regression in 2022. But even then, the Steelers were without T.J. Watt for half of the season and had a rotating cast in the secondary. However, they should be much improved in 2023.
The additions of Keeanu Benton and Nate Herbig can help the defensive line now and in the future. Meanwhile the rest of the line still boasts stars like Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Alex Highsmith. The Steelers had the 10th-lowest pressure rate in the NFL last season, but that number should be bolstered by a full season of Watt combined with the rest of the talent along the line.
As good as the defensive line will be, there are question marks about the secondary. Patrick Peterson is one of the smartest corners in the league, that’s why he’s stuck around for so long even after his athleticism has waned. But he might move more into a slot-based role as the season progresses. That opens the door for rookie Joey Porter Jr. to start on the outside with Levi Wallace. Porter Jr. is an aggressive and athletic cornerback, but it’s a position where rookies tend to struggle.
It’s hard to imagine too many growing pains for this Steelers’ defense though. They’re one of the most talented units in the NFL. And they’ll be back to their best form in 2023.
Player to watch: Keeanu Benton
-Thomas Valentine
Twitter: @tvalentinesport
Photo: Erik Drost. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.