With the Steelers training camp just around the corner, here are five key storylines that you need to be following this year.
Training camp is almost here which means a return to professional football is imminent. The Steelers should have one of the more exciting training camps around given the number of new faces who will be participating. This will lead to a litany of big stories that will have to be followed along with during camp.
Here are the five hottest Steelers training camp stories to watch for this year.
Steelers storyline #5
The Steelers had a slew of issues on the roster last season on both sides of the ball. That said, most would acknowledge that a lackluster offense was the primary culprit of a lot of this team’s issues. Low-scoring affairs were common, and if the defense didn’t play at an elite level, this team more often than not struggled.
As of this writing, the Steelers have financially addressed the defense far more than they have the offense. While a new deal for Minkah Fitzpatrick was seemingly a lock, significant resources were also handed out to a couple of free agents. Add in T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward’s massive deals and you have a very expensive, albeit talented, defense.
This isn’t to say that the heavy-handed spending on defense is a bad thing. Considering the majority of the Steelers offense is still playing on rookie deals, this is logical. That said, with an offense that struggled so much last year and the fact that there are still some major questions here this season, the defense will have to step up.
On paper, this unit should be close to elite. There is talent at all three levels and there are some returning faces from last season who already know the system. This team is set to rely heavily on the defense though. It will be key for this unit to gel early on during training camp.
Steelers storyline #4
The Steelers saw an offseason filled with change, and one of the impacted rooms was the receiver core. The team lost three of their top receivers, and while they were prudent with replacing them, this group needs to catch on quickly if they want to set up the offense for success.
The biggest surface question is what the Steelers slot will look like. While Chase Claypool can kick inside, the team was hesitant to do so with him last season. Calvin Austin should figure in there long term but counting on the fourth-round rookie out of the gate seems unwise. The most natural name is Anthony Miller, but he is fighting for a roster spot after a quiet season here last year, let alone a starting gig.
While George Pickens seems like a great draft pick, he will need to produce sooner rather than later given the need for a third receiver on this team. While I am optimistic that he will pan out, he hasn’t played much football in recent years. Counting on him to contribute early is risky. That means this receiver group will need some other options to step up.
Finally, there are still questions with the Steelers starters heading into this season. Will Diontae Johnson play up to the contract he wants? Can Claypool rebound after a miserable second season? There are questions all over this unit. Sure, be excited about the potential, but don’t be surprised to see this group look slow out of the gate this year.
Steelers storyline #3
Much has been said about the impending quarterback battle, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be mentioned on this list. Ben Roethlisberger retired after a hall of fame-worthy career, and now the team has big shoes to fill. They were aggressive in filling the position though, and the battle in camp will surely be a fun one to watch.
The favorite to start out of the gate seems to be Mitchell Trubisky. While he has had his fair share of struggles in the league, he possesses the physical traits you want in a quarterback. Perhaps a season of learning behind Josh Allen has helped him. That said, one can’t expect Trubisky to suddenly be a top quarterback out of nowhere.
Even after signing him the team went out and drafted Kenny Pickett in the first round of the draft. Seen as a safe and pro-ready prospect, odds are Pickett is pushing Trubisky during most of camp. While I like the odds of Trubisky starting week one, Pickett can and should be pushing for starting reps at some point this season.
Even the back of the depth chart has some intriguing battles to watch. Everyone’s favorite quarterback Mason Rudolph has long odds of starting, but that doesn’t mean he has nothing to play for in camp. The team double-dipped and added a second quarterback in the seventh round in Chris Oladokun. He and Rudolph should be fighting for that final roster spot. All-in-all, the quarterback battle will be a hot one during camp.
Steelers storyline #2
The Steelers suffered through some of the worst line play on both sides of the ball in recent history. While some of it was due to injury, other aspects of the line play came down to the team simply not adding to the roster much in the previous offseason. There has been a different strategy this offseason, and training camp will be a telling time if any of it worked.
Starting with the defensive line, this unit, on paper, should be top-notch. It is never easy to overcome losing two starters like the team did last season, but the reserves flashed in limited play. Chris Wormley stepped up in a major way while Isaiahh Loudermilk looked stout as a rookie. With Tyson Alualu back and DeMarvin Leal and Larry Ogunjobi added, this group should be in better shape than a year ago.
The offensive line is a different story. After famously not addressing it much the year before, the Steelers paid for their mistake. The offensive line was a poor unit all around. While the play can’t be any worse than last year, this unit has to find a way to play at least average. Mason Cole and James Daniels should help that, but will it be enough?
While the defensive line is far more secure than the offensive one, both are still big question marks heading into the season. Camp will be a telling time for the units as there are starting roles up for grabs and the depth chart is far from set. Each group should be better than last year’s squad, but each group will also have to answer how much better they are.
Steelers storyline #1
One of the biggest disappointments of the Steelers season last year was the mediocre showing from their then sophomore draft class. Despite a lot of positives from players like Claypool and Kevin Dotson, their second season wasn’t anything notable. It made the team that much weaker in 2021.
Claypool had a dynamic rookie season where he was featured as a weapon in this offense. He was a big play threat from all over the field and was a top scorer. Dotson, meanwhile, played sparingly as a rookie but looked stout as a blocker. Injuries and inconsistencies held him back though. Both are still starters, but their play was a disappointment last year.
Will the Steelers 2021 draft class hold up? They already got a lot of production out of this group, and the best may still be to come with this group. Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth both figure to be key players in this offense. Dan Moore is still slated to start at left tackle. Even Tre Norwood and Loudermilk should be key players on defense.
This class has to hold up in its second year. From the top down, this group will be key in determining just how successful this season is. This draft class can’t fall prey to what caused the 2020 group to falter in their second season. Ideally, the early signs from camp are positive for this group.
The Steelers open training camp soon, and there is a ton of things to be watching for. In particular, these five storylines will be the hottest ones to follow once camp begins. Keep an eye on these storylines as each will be critical for the Steelers success in 2022.