Pittsburgh Steelers preseason recap and random thoughts
There’s a lot to cover so for the Pittsburgh Steelers, please, forgive the skipping around. It looks like, even though he made the initial 53, Dwayne Haskins’ performance against the Carolina Panthers has derailed the Dwayne Haskins Hype Express. Rookie Tight End, Pat Freiermuth, looks like he has the makings to be Ben’s new security blanket.
RB, Anthony McFarland, needs to stop skittering around and run with more purpose. His quickness seems to be working against him rather than for him. He should keep it in low gear, see his move, and then turn the jets on. 1st Rd pick RB, Najee Harris, is looking as advertised. Congratulations to free agent OLB, Jamir Jones, for making the final cut.
After mostly being filled with dread every time Jordan Berry took the field, Pressley Harvin’s punting is fun to watch. Very glad he made the team. The Steelers seem to have spent the offseason cornering the market on DBs who can’t break a 4.60/40. This group includes James Pierre, Miles Killebrew, Tre Norwood, and Arthur Maulet. Late additions, Ahkello Witherspoon and Karl Joseph, both run sub 4.50/40s so that’s a step in the right direction, pun intended.
If the Steelers don’t bring in an outside offensive tackle they are courting disaster. Projected starter, Chuks Okorafor has been playing badly and had a horrible 44.8 Pro Football Focus blocking grade in the preseason. The other projected starter, Zach Banner, is starting the season on Injured Reserve. That means the Steelers may be starting the rookie, Dan Moore Jr., and veteran sub, Joe Haeg, before too long. This is not good. Maybe Bitcoin billionaire, Russell Okung, is tired of sitting on the couch.
Kevin Colbert Good Move: Signing SS, Karl Joseph. I’m sure the Steelers did this so they can have a season to kick the tires and see if the former 1st Round pick can take over when Terrell Edmunds leaves for free agency, next year. If nothing else Joseph should be a good sub at Strong Safety and be active in Nickel and Dime packages.
Kevin Colbert Not So Good Move: Releasing CB, Steven Nelson, and then spending what will be two 5th Rd picks to get CB, Ahkello Witherspoon from Seattle. Nelson said he wanted an extension but was never even approached about taking a pay cut.
After his release, he signed a 2.5 M contract with the Eagles. That’s damned cheap for a starting NFL CB. Nothing against the player but according to Nick Korte at Over the Cap, Ahkello Witherspoon will cost the Steelers the 2022 5th Rd Compensatory pick they were projected to get for OG, Matt Feiler. They also traded away the 2023 5th Rd pick to Seattle for Witherspoon. It would’ve been better to keep Nelson.
Layne Rising, Sutton Falling
After an offseason mishap, Justin Layne appears to have turned a corner. (See what I did, there?) Dallas targeted him and hit a couple of passes in his direction but then Layne stripped the ball and they backed off. In the next couple of games, he added an interception and a pass deflection. He’s keeping his man in front of him and he’s getting more vocal calling out coverages. More importantly, for the first time in his pro career, he is looking confident and unconfused.
Against the Panthers, Layne lined up most of the game across from their best WR, D.J. Moore. He surrendered a 12-yard reception for a first down and another first down on what appeared to be busted coverage. Other than that he acquitted himself, well.
Layne finished the preseason with 12 tackles, 2 pass deflections, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and a 62.8 Pro Football Focus grade. That’s a big improvement over his 2020 season grade of 48.3. Layne is also becoming a core member of special teams.
Cam Sutton has failed to make his case for outside CB. He hasn’t made his case for Nickel, either. He posted a lousy 55.8 PFF grade in the preseason. That’s down from his 68.6 grade of 2020. I don’t know what’s wrong with him but he doesn’t look comfortable, out there.