Many members of the Steelers will have to fight for their jobs during the remainder of the season and some unfavorable names could be back.
Things have not been easy as the Steelers try and navigate waters that they have not traveled through in a couple of decades. The team will never say that they are rebuilding, but they are reloading into a new era of football. That reloading phase could take some time between now and when success starts to happen.
When losing happens and the inevitable firings occur, the roster and staff will be looked over for appropriate change. Omar Khan is now the General Manager of this club, and he will make moves that he believes will benefit the team. The evaluation of the group has been ongoing, and many will be fighting for their professional careers during the remainder of the campaign ahead.
Scapegoats are common in sports and a lot of players and staff will have to fall on swords that might not be entirely their fault. Fans will call for people to be demoted or fired no matter if it seems warranted or not. It looks like there could be some surprising retentions for this group when the 2023 season rolls around.
Robert Spillane could be back as a potential starter next year
Here is a guy that has fans’ blood boiling by even the mention of his name when the Steelers are trying to defend a third and long. It is not his fault that he must try and cover a receiver in a terrible mismatch. The coaches have failed him routinely and play him out of the framework of the kind of football player that he is.
Robert Spillane is a run stuffer that is also able to play meaningful special team snaps. Devin Bush will be gone this offseason and Pittsburgh will want to bring Spillane back on a cheap deal as insurance for one of the starting middle linebacker spots. He is not a good player, but Mike Tomlin loves him, and he will be a cheap starter if they cannot draft or sign someone else this offseason.
Either Ahkello Witherspoon or Levi Wallace will return as a starter
One of the biggest failures of this past offseason for the black and gold was the cornerback position. The team signed two starters at cheap rates, but those unproven guys have not been able to live up to their starting roles. Ahkello Witherspoon and Levi Wallace signed in free agency to be the two starting outside corners on defense on short-term deals.
Things have gone from bad to worse as Witherspoon failed to stay healthy for most of the year. Wallace also battled injuries and that created a bumpy initiation to his new team during the early portions of the schedule. It seemed like a good gamble at the time of these signings, but things have not worked out for these two.
Fans will want the Steelers to find a legit number one cornerback in either free agency or the draft, but those things do not happen overnight. This organization does not have enough money currently to afford a number one corner in free agency, and they have many other needs in the draft. Expect them to be on the search for a potential upgrade when the offseason rolls around.
They might be looking for an upgrade, but that does not mean that one will come. It seems like a decision will need to be made between keeping either Witherspoon or Wallace for their final year under contract. They both have starting experience, but they also have warts that will cause many headaches on defense.
Most of the starting offensive line will likely still be intact next season
It would be nearly impossible to find another group on this roster that has been under more scrutiny than the Steelers offensive line. These trench guys have not been able to do a great job as a unit. They have gotten better as the weeks have gone by, but there are some significant weak points that desperately need to be upgraded.
Kenny Pickett is supposed to be the franchise guy, so you will need to invest in the guys that protect him. You do not want the young signal caller getting hit on a routine basis and taking a toll on his body. He needs protection so finding some upgrades this offseason will need to be at the top of Khan’s to-do list.
Even though this group is not going to wow anyone, they have shown some positive signs in the run blocking department. Despite this positive, Dan Moore Jr. and Kevin Dotson seem like two starters that should be replaced for this group. Neither has developed to their potential and Dotson seems to be in the doghouse with the coaching staff.
Those two could still be the starters come next season no matter what the fans hope and pray for. Moore is still a young guy, but if an upgrade cannot be found then the coaches will be fine with him there. Finding a guard seems like a spot where the Steelers will prioritize over left tackle, especially if the draft and free agency falls a certain way.
Matt Canada could be the Steelers offensive coordinator in 2023
Welcome to the villain of Pittsburgh sports right now as Matt Canada has led one of the worst offenses in franchise history. It all looks to fall on his shoulders with how poorly this group has functioned ever since he took over as offensive coordinator. There seems to be no defense for this coach outside some of those on his staff because some of his players have publicly aired their grievances.
Could Canada really be back as Pittsburgh’s offensive play caller next season? The answer is yes, it is great to win but fans also need to realize that the offense is starting to play better. Canada is not great at his position, but he has shown signs of improvement with the offense since the bye week.
The group is not going to be stellar and get 40 points per game, but they have been winning football games. If the club keeps rolling with a safe run-heavy approach to close out the season, then perhaps Canada will get serious retention consideration when those decisions need to be made.
Another thing that fans need to recognize is that the Steelers want stability for their rookie quarterback, and Canada is under contract for another season after this. They do not want to pay him to sit at home unless they truly need to move on. Pittsburgh likes to do things their way and it should not surprise anyone if Canada comes back if the offense keeps playing better.
The Steelers are in an unusual spot right now, but they still have a lot of football left to be played. It will be interesting to see how some of these members of the team perform the rest of the year and if that will be enough to come back next season.