Plenty of things could go wrong for the Steelers between now and the start of the regular season. Injuries are a part of the game and those season ending issues come around this type of year to cut players short of reaching the schedule. That is one way to view things, but this time of year can also be seen in a more positive light as well.
When the air is warm around most of the country, this is when opportunity is at its highest for players across the NFL. Rookies and unproven players jump into the league with hopes of making an NFL roster. They want to make an impact and the Steelers have plenty of vital players on their upcoming club that will affect the outcomes of games directly based off their performance.
Cole Holcomb will have to play above his expectations with the Steelers
One of the remaining question marks on defense for the Steelers is at middle linebacker. This position has been the ugly duckling for this unit over the past four years. It has not been easy finding a steady contributor that can take over the brunt of starting responsibilities. The team decided to sign a couple free agents over the offseason.
Cole Holcomb is likely going to be an every down backer as he has shown promise in all phases of the position. Elandon Roberts is more of a run stopper and Mark Robinson still has a lot to prove before he is relied upon more. Holcomb was signed to a new contract during free agency, and he will need to prove himself before Pittsburgh looks at outside options to upgrade.
Joey Porter Jr. will be relied on early and often in his rookie campaign
It was a great benefit for the black and gold to have pick 32 nearly gifted to them from the Chicago Bears in the Chase Claypool trade. That might be one of the only times that we see the Steelers hold two picks in the top 32 selections in the draft for some time. It led to the choice of Joey Porter Jr. to join this team.
There was plenty of trade speculation on the second day of the draft if the organization would keep the pick or trade it away. They decided to sit still and take Porter and keep his family in the Pittsburgh colors. He is a long and physical cornerback that should be able to adapt his game to the NFL level without too many growing pains.
Most reports out of organized team activities (OTA's) have been positive overall for most of the rookie class, but especially the cornerbacks. Cory Trice has been making plays on the ball and has been getting rave reviews, and Porter has not been far behind him. Football in shorts is not when the best excel, but it is a positive start to their careers.
Porter will likely be relied on early to start on the outside for this defense as Patrick Peterson looks to potentially start in the slot. Either way, it seems like Porter will either start there with Levi Wallace on the opposite side or Peterson, depending on his slot experiment. Porter's success could mean the difference between a good secondary and a terrible one.
Broderick Jones has to prove to be worth the draft trade in year one
Most know about the news surrounding Broderick Jones recently, and its not his fault that his name is hitting the newswire. Unfortunately, one of his teammates spoke about him and that has snowballed into a giant storyline in recent days. Kevin Dotson claimed that Jones will likely not play this season, which implies he needs a lot of work to do before he starts.
This is the NFL and Jones is not a finished product heading into the professional ranks. He will get a shot at challenging Dan Moore Jr. for the starting job on the left side. It seems like you almost have to play him day one since you traded up to get the chance to take him in the first round. His first handful of starts would be against some of the top pass rushers in the NFL.
That could be a reason why the coaches hold him back from immediately starting, but he could play his way into that role. Moore has also been working on the right side, which should cause some concern if you are Chuks Okorafor. Pittsburgh is not afraid to shake up the offensive line and that could mean Jones on the left and Moore on the right.
Dotson should be concerned about his own play as it seems like his starting days for the offensive line are over. Jones still has a lot to prove between now and the regular season before he can be deemed a starter in the trenches. The rookie is a hard worker and has all the physical tools to work with to become a terrific talent to block Kenny Pickett's blindside.
The development of Kenny Pickett will be the biggest impact on offense
There is no bigger X-factor for the Steelers offense this upcoming season then Kenny Pickett. He had a rookie year that saw some growing pains come a long with it, but it concluded on a positive note. The offense remained stale overall, but Pickett showed some strong moments in the final seconds of games down the stretch.
One would have to imagine that Pickett will take a step forward in year two with the type of work ethic that he possesses. That could always come crumbling down if he cannot take that next step, but most around the league believe he can move forward in his development. Pittsburgh's offense will go based off the performance of their top quarterback.
He is a fun player to watch, and hopefully a newly formed offensive line will help him stay on the field. He has been in the league's concussion protocol twice already, and that was just his rookie year. That is concerning, but that could be seen as the main reason for the Steelers investing so heavily into the offensive trenches this past offseason.
Pickett will likely be one of the biggest reasons for this offense succeeding or receding in the 2023 season. He can make plays, but he must continue to show the ability to refrain from turnovers as well. If Pickett cannot take that next step in year two, then the future of this franchise could be in question again.
T.J. Watt will be the most impactful player on the field when healthy
Perhaps the most impactful player not only in the 2023 season, but in the past and in the future is T.J. Watt. Not too many other players across the NFL have seen a direct correlation of their team's overall success when they are on the field and are not on the field that him. It is a staggering set of numbers to witness as the club barely wins without him in the lineup.
Watt is a force when he plays and that causes for offenses to game plan around him and force extra blockers towards him. When he is playing and contributing on the field, the Steelers hold a winning record of 59-26-2. On the other hand, when he is out of the game, Pittsburgh crumbles and has a significant losing record.
Many have forgotten about Watt's dominance because of his injuries recently, but they will be reminded soon enough. The defense goes by the heartbeat of T.J. and that will not change anytime soon. hey are a totally different team when he plays versus when he is not able to suit up and play on gamedays.
There will not be a more impactful player for the Steelers this season than Watt. Maybe Pickett could give him a run for his money this season if he develops into a franchise caliber quarterback, or something close to that. No one on this club means more to this team than Watt and he will need to find a way to stay healthy so this club can rely on him every week to help them get to victory.