The Steelers have a clear identity that they are trying to build this offseason. They want to be a slow, grinding offense that succeeds with ground control and an effective rushing attack. The defense needs to slow down opposing offenses and match up well with receivers given the size of the cornerbacks.
While I am already a tad skeptical of just how effective this offense will be, I do believe this team can win some games and be a competitive team. That said, if some problems arise early, it could be a big deal for a team whose win margins likely won’t be that big. Here are four catastrophes the Steelers must avoid this season.
Catastrophe #1: Steelers defensive stars need to stay that way
While some blanket statements that could be used for this article are x players staying healthy, I want to specifically circle the defense as a group that needs to get the most out of its star players. The offense isn’t going to be putting up 30 points every week, so having the defense be effective and stout is critical to this team's success.
T.J. Watt needs to continue his streak of dominance. I know that was put on hold last year due to his injury, but there was still a clear difference for this defense once Watt returned, even if he wasn’t playing 100 percent. Cameron Heyward also needs to keep up his strong play, even if he is getting older and will likely be in more of a rotation this year.
Minkah Fitzpatrick will continue to be the lead playmaker in this secondary as well, holding things down on the backend. If any one of those three falter, this defense will crumble. While they won’t become a horrible unit if someone is injured or doesn’t play to expectations, this defense needs to be an elite unit, and that will require their stars to continue being impact players.
Catastrophe #2: Steelers running backs get injured
As I stated before, saying any one particular player getting injured is an easy catastrophe to list, but the Steelers really need their running backs to remain healthy. The team has made it clear that they desire to be a run-heavy offense, even if that means sacrificing a lot of points. They have built a stronger offensive line to help with this.
Behind that line are two capable running backs. Najee Harris is a powerful runner that is set up for his best season as a professional. Despite my disdain for using a first-round pick on Harris, he should be set up for a productive season. Behind him is Jaylen Warren, who was a productive player last season and can serve in multiple roles.
While having two capable starting running backs is a good thing, this offense really needs to have a more capable third option. No, this player doesn’t have to be an established starter, but he needs to be someone with more experience than what is currently on the roster. I wouldn’t trust the current third crop of backs to handle any sort of a heavy workload.
If either Harris or Warren were to miss significant time because of an injury, this offense would be in peril. This team is going t succeed by keeping both running backs healthy with a rotation. A game or two featuring just one of them is fine, but a multi-week stretch without one will hamper this offense.
If this was a traditional top offense built around a good passing attack, keeping the running backs healthy would be less important. Those backs won’t take the punishment that the Steelers will put their backs through. If either player were to miss significant time, this offense can deteriorate quickly.
Catastrophe #3: Steelers expect the slot to fix itself
Despite a strong offseason overall, the Steelers still have some holes on the roster. The biggest one is currently at the slot cornerback. This has honestly been one of the bigger problems on the roster for some time, as Mike Hilton’s departure left the team scrambling there. Cameron Sutton filled the void there when needed, but he is no longer with the team.
The team had the entire offseason to find someone there, but they didn’t. Instead, established slot cornerback Arthur Maulet was released at his own request and the only traditional slot cornerback brought in was Chandon Sullivan. He was one of the worst defenders in the league last year, so I am not hopeful, to say the least.
What seems to be the plan is to have Patrick Peterson serve in the slot this season. The Steelers have added two cornerbacks in the draft and still have Levi Wallace, but all three of them are outside-only players. Peterson is the most versatile of the cornerbacks as well as the most established.
He is coming over from a zone-heavy scheme in Minnesota, so playing in the slot won’t be as difficult for him. That said, it is still a new role, and I’m skeptical that Peterson is an instant hit there. If he is a liability, it could cause havoc for this defense.
Ideally, the team finds another slot-capable player that can serve there. It doesn’t appear as though that is the focus though, and I fully expect Peterson to receive slot snaps early in the season. As a fan, I’m curious to see how this experiment goes, but I am skeptical as to how this moves ultimately pans out.
Catastrophe #4: Steelers force Broderick Jones on the field too early
Count me as one of the most excited people to see the Steelers move up for Broderick Jones in the draft. There was a clear cut-off between the top tackle prospects and the second tier, and the team showed enough conviction to move up a few spots and secure the last potential top tackle in this class.
While I am excited to see what Jones can ultimately become, I can also realize the fact that he is an extremely raw prospect. Jones looked dominant at times while at Georgia, but he wasn’t a regular starter until last year. While he plays with a lot of power and burst, his technique is also raw.
Due to this inexperience and general rawness, the Steelers should be in no rush to get Jones onto the field. Their early season schedule is filled with elite pass rushers, and if Jones is ready to battle with them, great. If he isn’t, he could quickly get demoralized and the fan base, who is never overreactive, could turn on him.
On top of this, the Steelers still have Dan Moore around. While I know many will scoff at the idea of him retaining his starting role, he is a safe player to work with. He won’t ever provide elite play, but he has progressively improved every season and can hold his own. Frankly, I’d love to see him start on the right side, but if Jones is still too hot and cold, Moore can man the right side.
Will this be a long-term plan? No, Jones should get his shot at the left tackle gig sooner than later. That said, the Steelers shouldn’t force Jones onto the field if he isn’t ready. They have other options that can start, so Jones doesn’t need to be forced into a starting gig right away if he isn’t ready.
The Steelers should be in store for a better season than last year. They have a strong defensive unit built as well as an offense that knows its identity. That said, things can unravel quickly if some issues pop up. The team must avoid these four catastrophes if they want to have a shot at being a top team this season.