5 reasons to be excited about the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers
- A flood of young talent could lead to a bright future
- Second-year leaps mean more than you know
By Tommy Jaggi
4. The Steelers running game should be much improved
Over the past several years, it's been tough sledding for the Pittsburgh Steelers on the ground. Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin naively believed that this would change if they invested a top draft pick at the running back position following the 2020 season, but Najee couldn't find much wiggle room in his first two years and lacked explosive plays when he did see a crease.
Now the outlook is looking much more encouraging. After essentially ignoring the offensive line and trying to get by with a patchwork job since the departure of players like David DeCastro, Maurkice Pouncey, and Alejandro Villanueva, the Steelers are finally getting serious about improving the offensive line.
Since last offseason, they have added James Daniels, Mason Cole, Isaac Seumalo, and Nate Herbig. This is in addition to trading up to the 14th overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft to select Georgia OT Broderick Jones. This was the first time the Steelers have taken an offensive tackle in the first round of the draft since picking Jamain Stephens all the way back in 1996.
With an improved group of five up front to go with more depth than the Steelers have had in years, we can assume that this will result in more success on the ground. It doesn't hurt to have a two-headed rushing attack with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. I think Warren could carve out a bigger role in year two and help the running game become more efficient.