Coaches are done, but change isn’t for the Pittsburgh Steelers
The coaching changes are done for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but their offseason needs to see much more modification before August.
Antonio Brown’s story is still being told, the NFL playoffs is heating up and the offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers is just getting started. By the time this team takes the field for camp, there needs to be significant movement within this roster.
On defense, safety, corner and inside linebacker were not addressed correctly last season. Artie Burns’ career in Pittsburgh has one year left before it comes to an end. If they decide it’s time to move on this year so be it.
2019 should feature a new cornerback on the outside for the Steelers. Joe Haden covers the opposite end of the field with confidence. But Coty Sensabaugh isn’t the answer, and whether it’s a rookie or a free agent signing, someone needs to fill the role next season.
Then, there’s inside linebacker. Jon Bostic played well in 2018, for Jon Bostic. Pittsburgh has yet to find the replacement of Ryan Shazier and if they’re content with keeping the rotation they have now they’re going to struggle, again, in 2019.
They don’t need to remove Bostic but they certainly need to find a more athletic option to play alongside Vince Williams. Two run-stuffers do not help in today’s NFL. Tight ends and slot receivers will burn up the inside all season if something doesn’t change.
On the outside, Bud Dupree is not an NFL starter. He’s fine to come off the bench, but with each season that passes this team is putting more faith into a player who will never meet his potential.
Sometimes you need to chalk up a bust as a bust. Dupree isn’t going to force the pressure he needs to and it’s going to hurt this entire defense, but especially T.J. Watt. The second-year edge rusher has turned into a start in two season, but without any real pressure on the other side team’s are going to begin game planning against one side of the pass rush.
There are edge rushers for days in this year’s draft. Pittsburgh needs to find one. Even if they don’t want to hand anyone the job over Dupree, they should have options. Because when they do realize he’s not going to get better, they need to have some capable to replace him.
At safety, change needs to happen, but only if they don’t feel as if Terrell Edmunds is ready to start. Morgan Burnett was barely a contributor to this defense in 2018. Between injuries and being beat by tight ends time and time again, the veteran signing proved to not be worth the money.
He has one more season on his contract, so splitting times with Edmunds remains an option. If Edmunds isn’t starting, though, there needs to be a new Morgan Burnett in Pittsburgh.
Finally, there’s Antonio Brown. There are plenty of speculations surrounding the Steelers trading their All-Pro receiver. It’s going to happen. Art Rooney II doesn’t say much, but when he does it’s meaningful. He knows Brown isn’t going to be here next season, so it depends on what team’s are willing to give up what for the wide out.
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At the end of the day, the Steelers are no where near finished with change. The coaches may be in place, but the roster is going to be significantly different next season. It’s something that needs to happen, and with the pressure alluding this team, it will.