By: Jeremy Trottier

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been widely underrated by many fanbases in terms of their upcoming season.  This even can be seen in betting odds, where the Steelers are ranked with the 10th worst odds to win the Super Bowl in 2022 (+6500), and their projected win total is 7.5 (tied for 11th worst pending the Browns updated odds with Deshaun Watson).  Many analysts have discredited the Steelers for 2022, and already see them as the middle of the road to the bottom tier.  While this could be the case, there is also a case to be made for why the Steelers could surpass odds and be a potential playoff team.  Here are 3 such reasons, and why they play into 2022 for Pittsburgh”¦

Defense”¦defense”¦defense

As much as the Steelers offense has been discounted over the last few months, primarily due to the QB situation, the defense is still as good as ever.  T.J. Watt was brought back on an absolutely enormous extension worth $112 million over the course of four seasons.  Minkah Fitzpatrick is still in town, alongside Terrell Edmunds who was re-signed this past week. 

On top of that, they still have Cameron Heyward, Devin Bush, and Myles Jack to round out the defensive rotation, who are all decent to quality starters in the league.  Their CB1 Joe Haden is still a free agent as of the moment, however, if they re-sign him that would be a good start to re-building their cornerback room.  The corner is their biggest defensive weakness undoubtedly.

Draft capital

As of right now, the Steelers still have their first 4 rounds worth of picks, as well as an extra 7^th from the New York Jets, and a new 6^th from the Kansas City Chiefs.  In relation to the last topic, cornerback would be a potential option for their first-round pick at #20 overall, as players like Andrew Booth Jr, Trent McDuffie, and Kaiir Elam could be seen at this range, all of whom are quality at their position.  Their overall pick list is as follows:

• Round 1 Pick 20
• Round 2 Pick 52
• Round 3 Pick 84
• Round 4 Pick 138
• Round 6 Pick 208 (KC)
• Round 7 Pick 225 (NYJ)
• Round 7 Pick 241

While by no means is this a draft haul, it is a considerable number of picks and means they can fill out some of their primary positions of need. As of right now, their main needs would be OT, QB, and CB, dependent upon how they feel about Mitchell Trubisky, that could be narrowed down to just corner and tackle. It would also be worth looking into DT or LB as they could improve upon each of those for the long-term future without a doubt. Regardless, they have enough picks to where they could fill needs and bolster the team with some young talent from a relatively deep talent pool.

Improving Offensive Line

Despite popular belief, the Steelers did improve their offensive line this offseason and could continue to do so via the draft.  So far this offseason, the Steelers have made 2 additions to their IOL group and re-signed their starting tackle.  The two new interior OL members are guard James Daniels and center Mason Cole, both of whom have been quality starters the last few years and have their best years in front of them.  As of right now, Daniels is 24 years of age, and Cole is 26 years of age, so they are either in or entering their prime.

On top of that, they brought back their starting right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, who has been decent for the Steelers and will be a decent enough tackle to last them a few years on the right side.  At only 24 years of age as well, his best years are still to come just like the aforementioned Daniels and Cole, so we could see Okorafor mold into an even better tackle with more time in the league.  Learning from Mike Tomlin, who has been one of the longer-tenured coaches in the NFL for a reason, will continue to be beneficial for him and his career. So, regardless of who the QB may be, they will be protected by a much-improved offensive line compared to 2021. 

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By: Jeremy Trottier

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a relatively interesting position after the 2020-2021 season.  Odds are Ben Roethlisberger will retire after this season, based on his previous injuries as well as his age and contract.  After a first round exit in last season’s playoffs, they likely will be trying to go all in on this season to make a push to give big Ben a proper sendoff.  In this article, I will be going over three reasons as to why the Pittsburgh Steelers are still contending for a Super Bowl in the 2021-2022 season.

Top Defense in the League

One of the biggest selling points for the Steelers as of the last few seasons is how phenomenal their defense has continually been.  In 2020 they finished with the best DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average), at a total of -20.2% (DVOA has a lowest = best standard).  This was 1.2% ahead of second place which was New Orleans at -19.0%.  Another stat that is impressive towards this notion is they only gave up the third least amount of yards over the course of the regular season, at 4,893 yards (20 behind 2^nd place).  

They also ended up tied for first in most interceptions taken away from opponents at 18 (tied with New Orleans, Miami, and New England).  Overall, this defense is one of the if not the best currently in the NFL, which hugely helps the Steelers chances at making a run for the deep playoffs.  As we saw this season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to succeed so much due to an extremely potent defense, alongside a quality offense.  

Skill Position Talent

The Steelers have really improved their skill positions in the last few seasons, with additions like Najee Harris, Chase Claypool, Pat Freiermuth, Eric Ebron, and more in the past few offseasons.  Adding these players on top of others like Juju Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, and James Washington allow them to really give Ben Roethlisberger a chance to just get the ball to playmakers and let them do the work. 

The addition of Najee Harris cannot be overlooked, despite the Steelers need for IOL.  Najee is an extremely talented back based on what we all saw at the college level from him, and if he can continue this at the NFL level, the Steelers should have their new elite playmaker.  Pat Freiermuth is also a very solid pickup, ranked by most as the number two tight end in the class his receiving abilities add to an already stout passing attack.

The Offensive Line Additions

One of the biggest gaps people have been pointing to on this Steelers roster is the offensive line, as they lost a lot of their starters this offseason.  With that said, they have the players along this line to hold up when needed.  Going from left to right, they have at LT presumably Zach Banner, who despite only playing 59 snaps in 2020, allowed zero sacks and had no penalties.  He played in 14 games only a season ago as well for the Cleveland Browns, so he has some experience.

At left guard they have Trai Turner, probably the most solidified and high quality member of the line, has started 89 of 93 games he has played in, and has been a very solid member of the teams he has played for so far.  At C, presumably the sophomore from Alabama will get the start in J.C. Hassenauer, who despite being an UDFA, got four starts in his 2020 rookie debut and gave up no sacks in all his snaps.  He does need to work on penalties, as he had five in his four starts, but that is able to be worked on.  Another sophomore at LG is Kevin Dotson, the 6’4” 321 pound monster out of University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  A 4^th round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, he also got 4 starts in 13 games, allowing 0 sacks and only having three penalties, as well as a 66.2 PFF grade, which despite not being the be all end all of how good a player is, it has a lot of good factors going into it.  Finally, at RT, Chukwuma Okorafor, one of my personal favorites to really show up in 2021.  At 6’6” 320 pounds, his frame is absolutely perfect to be a tackle, and he has an innate ability to anchor down and stop rushers in their tracks.  This will be huge for Najee Harris as a gap rusher, because Okorafor will be able to create those gaps for him. 

The post Why the Pittsburgh Steelers are still Super Bowl contenders for 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Reese Nasser

Ben Roethlisberger has been doing this football thing for a long time now, and at a very high level. He has achieved nearly every accolade possible and in his now 18th season, Roethlisberger will look to prove that he is still capable of playing and making an impact. He has played in 233 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers and has led them to two super bowl victories. 

But as time has progressed, a new wave of quarterbacks have arrived in the AFC West. Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns, and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals are all fighting for the top spot in the division. But is it Roethlisberger’s to lose? Where does he rank among the four quarterbacks within his division? Let’s take a look?

4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

The second-year pro will have a lot to prove this season. But, after coming off of a torn ACL in his rookie season and only appearing just 10 games, he hasn’t proven to be better than any other quarterback within his division just yet. 

Burrow did show real promise in his rookie season and can’t be discounted due to injury. The pace that he was on during his rookie season would have been the greatest in Bengals history for a first-year quarterback. 

He has also proven to be a true leader for this Bengals team. He was a captain by week one and had the entire team supporting him all throughout his rookie season. 

With a strong second-year, Burrow should and will rise to a higher spot than fourth best in the division. 

3. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

The 39-year old quarterback threw for 26 touchdowns but also had 15 turnovers. The season also started out very well for the team as a whole as Big Ben led them 11 straight wins. 

But as the season reached the end, the Steelers team began to look much different. Over the last four games, Roethlisberger threw for eight touchdowns but also added four interceptions. 

In the Steelers only postseason game, Big Ben was outdueled by the younger Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. Big Ben threw four touchdowns but also four interceptions. While it may not have been an age issue, Big Ben did look different at points this season. 

The Steelers constructed the offense to be both faster and shorter. While it worked, it somewhat eliminated the options on offense. This puts Big Ben as the third best quarterback in this division.

2. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns

Baker Mayfield proved to be a strong leader for this Cleveland Browns team. He played consistently throughout much of the season and was responsible for 27 total touchdowns. His biggest issue was turnovers but over the last nine regular season games, he threw only one interception.

The turn around that he made after week nine is worth noting. He looked like a completely different quarterback when he was on the field and his control of the team was clear. 

In the wild card round of the playoffs, Mayfield threw three touchdowns in a strong showing against the Steelers. He also played a valiant game against the Kansas City Chiefs that ended in a 22-17 loss. 

Baker will look to have a big 2021 season and a super bowl will be on the mind of everyone in the Browns organization. He has proven to not only be a top quarterback in the AFC West but also within the entire NFL. 

1. Lamar Jackson. Baltimore Ravens 

The 2019 MVP comes in as the #1 quarterback in the AFC West. Jackson has proved to be a top quarterback in the NFL and has consistently led the Baltimore Ravens to success. 

In 2020, Jackson and the Ravens had an 11-5 regular season. Their season came to an end in the divisional round to the Buffalo Bills. This was one of the few games where Jackson appeared average and he and the rest of the Ravens struggled with a strong Bills team.

Throughout the 2020 season, Jackson showed that 2019 was no fluke. He threw for 26 touchdowns and 2,757 yards. He also added another seven touchdowns on the ground and ran for over 1,000 yards. 

He led the division in touchdowns and achieved this success while having a receiving core that ranked near the bottom of the league. 

Now that the Ravens added two strong receivers in the draft, Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace, you can expect to see an even bigger season out of Lamar in 2021. His potential, along with the rest of the Ravens, could be unmatched. 

Big Ben has had a long and successful career but younger quarterbacks are slowly starting to catch up and surpass. While 2021 could be a resurgence, one last push, he is still the third best quarterback in this division, at least for now. 

The post Where does Big Ben rank among QBs in the division? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Dave Stewart

As it always does, the NFL Draft left us with many surprises. The 49ers answered the first question of the draft, selecting Trey Lance third overall. Cincinnati selected Ja’marr Chase, catching some by surprise. Names like Kadarius Toney and Travis Etienne were not considered locks to be called on the first night, and players like Teven Jenkins and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah were expected to be chosen in the opening round, but were not.

One player who was linked by many to his eventual landing spot was Alabama running back, Najee Harris. He now finds himself atop the depth chart at running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

There are conflicting assessments of the pick among football pundits. Improving the league’s worst rushing attack was a key component of Pittsburgh’s draft plan. A staple of the Steelers offense over the last half-century has been their efficiency running the football.

While times have changed, both in Pittsburgh and the NFL, leading to a more pass-heavy approach, the Steelers remain a team who very much wishes to be able to run the ball effectively. Doing so will take pressure off their aging quarterback and keep their talented defense off the field for longer periods of time.

The AFC North is a division where running the ball and playing stout defense is still a recipe for success. Teams like the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns have been able to demoralize opponents with their brutal ground and pound approach.

The 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers brought up the rear in both rushing yardage and yards per attempt in the NFL. The team’s leading rusher, James Conner, tallied less than 500 yards on the ground, yet actually led the team with 4.0 yards per carry. As a team, Pittsburgh averaged just 3.6 per rush.

The absence of a premier talent in the backfield, along with below-average offensive line play contributed to the struggles in the run game. Enter Najee Harris. There is no doubt that he elevates the level of talent among Steeler ball carriers.

Contributing to an impressive National Championship season at Alabama, Harris totaled nearly 1,900 scrimmage yards in 2020. He combines size, strength, and speed in a way that has brought up comparisons to previously successful backs in Pittsburgh, like Franco Harris and Le’Veon Bell.

Whether or not Najee Harris becomes the missing piece in the puzzle is a question yet to be answered. Though it is true that the players in the Steelers’ running back room are modestly talented and underperformed last season, the difficulties faced by Pittsburgh’s once intimidating offensive line were highlighted in the team’s inefficiency.

So, were the woes in the rushing game caused by less talented running backs or underperforming offensive linemen? The truth is likely both led to the dismal performance. In addition to ranking 31st in the league, as a run backing unit, Pittsburgh lost three of the big men upfront during this offseason. Alejandro Villanueva and Matt Feiler departed via free agency, while long-time center, Maurkice Pouncey, retired following the season.

Choosing Harris over an offensive lineman, like Jenkins, in the first was really more of a strategical decision. Yet, passing agin on the line in the second round mystified many. Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey was available and would have made for a nice replacement for Pouncey. Instead, the Steelers punted the offensive line into the third round, where they selected Kendrick Green, a converted guard, to take over at center. They grabbed a tackle in the fourth, in Dan Moore Jr. Last year’s week one starter at right tackle, Zach Banner, returns from an ACL tear and is expected to replace Villanueva at left tackle.

They will be bringing an inexperienced group of blockers to the table, as Banner rates as the second most tenured player on the line with 23 career games played. Harris has a path to the Offensive Rookie of the Year, but it is a narrow one. All the pieces have to fall just right. The youthful line will need to find a way to come together and improve greatly over last year’s 31st place finish in run blocking.

In addition, the young guys up front need to uphold the pass blocking, which was the strength of 2020’s group. Keeping Roethlisberger protected is critical to prevent teams from stacking the box to stop Harris. Then, most importantly, it comes down to Harris, himself. He will need to show that he can handle the heavy lifting in the NFL, in the same manner, he did in college. He will, most certainly, need to be deeply involved in the passing game, perhaps matching or exceeding the 43 receptions he had during his senior season at Alabama.

In the last 6 seasons, only three running backs have taken home the hardware. Of the three, only Todd Gurley did it with fewer than 1,500 scrimmage yards, 15 touchdowns, and 80 receptions. While both 80 receptions and 15 touchdowns seem like a tall order, should he reach 1,500 total yards, Harris is likely to be in the conversation.

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