It’s been a busy offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers featuring a number of player acquisitions via trade and free agency under GM Omar Khan.
The additions of wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., cornerback Jamel Dean, running back Rico Dowdle, defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day and more have improved the roster, though the losses of Isaac Seumalo, Calvin Austin III and James Pierre sting just a bit.
From a 30,000-foot view though, the Steelers seem to be improved. At least, that seemed to be the general consensus shortly after the flurry of moves this offseason.
But now, as the dust has settled, some anonymous executives in talking with The Athletic’s Mike Sando, are questioning the vision and the path forward for the Steelers, especially as they continue to wait around for a decision from 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“What is the plan? What is the vision?” one exec asked, according to Sando.
With a new head coach in place in Mike McCarthy, the Steelers are going to play a certain style of football offensively that fits what McCarthy has done throughout his career. They’ll lean into a West Coast-style offense, run the football and avoid the mistakes.
They have the pieces in place around the quarterback position to do that right now, especially with adding Pittman to the receive room with DK Metcalf, and bringing in Dowdle to pair with Jaylen Warren to feature violent running backs room. Defensively, McCarthy is sticking with the 3-4 defense, and the belief is with new coordinator Patrick Graham running things from an Xs and Os perspective, the Steelers will make improvements on that side of the football and play up to the standard.
The Steelers are an older team though, and one executive thinks they went backwards elsewhere, too.
“They got slower,” one exec said of the Pittman addition, according to Sando. “Rico Dowdle is a comfort signing for Mike McCarthy, who had him in Dallas. Mike knows what he’s getting.
“Pittsburgh, until they figure out who is going to pull the trigger, is a B-minus team.”
It’s fair to say the Steelers did get slower with the Pittman addition. He’s not a burner, and won’t threaten down the field much, but he’s a physical receiver that can be that possession receiver the Steelers need opposite Metcalf. As for Dowdle, he’s not Kenneth Gainwell, but he fits the style McCarthy wants to play, and it helps that he has had success. with McCarthy in the past.
The pieces just fit.
“Nothing flashy,” another exec said of the Steelers’ free agency, according to Sando. “The thing that people may or may not realize, and you’ll see, is that the head coach really kept that thing afloat. [Mike] Tomlin was able to cover up some deficiencies and get them going. They have some receivers that should be an upgrade. Defensively, when those guys stay healthy, they can play well.
“Are they a Super Bowl-talented team? They can battle for the playoffs, but I do not think they are a Super Bowl team.”
The Steelers aren’t a Super Bowl team. That’s perfectly fine to say. Nobody expects them to be right now, though the Steelers have the mindset of competing for the playoffs and believing anything can happen once they’re in the dance.
With a veteran team, maybe they could make a run. That seems highly unlikely though. Still, the Steelers improved this offseason, that much is clear.
They addressed major areas of need, even if quarterback remains in a state of flux.
Recommended for you