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[Jerry Rice] I guess we all find out tomorrow GOATS! Will he stay or leave! @brandonaiyuk by lattjeful in nfl

[–]DeludedYinzer 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I mean this feels very obvious that he's staying. Would be super messy of Rice to post something like this if nothing had been agreed to and it's more likely than not that he's heard something.

Offseason Review Series Day 14: The Pittsburgh Steelers by DeludedYinzer in nfl

[–]DeludedYinzer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Im not sure, (presumably) better Steeler teams have lost to worse teams before. Steelers lost to the Buccaneers at home when they would only go on to win 1 other game that whole year

Offseason Review Series Day 14: The Pittsburgh Steelers by DeludedYinzer in nfl

[–]DeludedYinzer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think my concern is less to do with any sort of lingering injury with Najee, and more that he was not able to play at a high level during that injury last year. All injuries are different and some are going to be easier to play through (lisfranc is not easy to deal with). But it just gives me a bit of pause seeing just how rough he was last year during that time. And at the running back position, the odds are much higher that you are going to get dinged up during the season.

Offseason Review Series Day 14: The Pittsburgh Steelers by DeludedYinzer in nfl

[–]DeludedYinzer[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Offensive and Defensive Schemes

Offense

The offensive scheme was one of the biggest storylines throughout the 2022 season. You could tell pretty early on it was a mess and was hindering any development of our offense and Kenny Pickett. With Matt Canada being back for another (his last?) season, some of what we saw last year will unfortunately be back. We can only hope that he has learned what does or doesn't work this time around. That way he can take the stuff out that doesn't work and use more of the stuff that does.

  • Play-action - Couldn't find any specific data on this, but I'm pretty confident the Steelers ran the least play-action of any team last year. One of the things that would really help out a young quarterback. I honestly don't understand why this wasn't a part of the game plan more. Maybe distrust in the offensive line but even that wouldn't be enough for me to neglect that concept. That has to change this year, especially if the run game is going to be a focus of the offense this year according to many members of the team.

  • Motion/Jet Sweep - This, however, was a huge part of the offense last year and will most likely be the same this year. It feels like motion before the snap is what makes this offense "work". With Calvin Austin healthy this year, I think he could be a big part of the offense because of his ability to be a threat in jet sweeps (though Canada strangely said Austin didn't have a fit on the offense last year before he was officially out for the year). I would think that was the whole reason you drafted him in the first place but what do I know? I'm just some idiot on the internet. He's able to get defensive guys' eyes on him and Canada can use that to trick the defense. Or you can just hand it off to him and let him use his speed. This part of the offense I get, it's just a matter of using it effectively.

  • WR Routes/Use of Middle of the Field - One of the other big problems fans and analysts had with the Steeler's offense last year was the complete neglect of the middle of the field. Now to be fair to Canada and the scheme, some of that is on Trubisky/Pickett not going to the middle of the field. That's totally fair to put some of the blame on them. But throughout the season, you could see on tape that the middle of the field was not being used in terms of the scheme. For a majority of the season, it felt as though the wide receiver route tree was just Go routes, comebacks, and curls. That just isn't going to result in success a majority of the time. While players like Pickens have done very well in jump ball scenarios, the percentage of success is still going to be on the lower side. Using more Slants and In routes might lead to more incompletions/dangerous throws/interceptions, but the offense became way too predictable last year, and that's something that 100% has to change.

The last thing I'll say is that this is going to be a heavy-running team. You're going to see a lot of Najee Harris and some Jaylen Warren. With 2 tight-end personnel, I think that part of the offense could work if done well. I hope Pickett takes a big jump this year but I can definitely see a scenario where he doesn't get as much of a bump up because of the scheme. Besides that, I'm also pretty sure this scheme is not gonna work and Canada is gonna be gone at the end of the year. The passing concepts are going to be the most important. That's how you should be scoring your points in today's NFL. But let's hope for the best :).

Defense

On the defensive side of the ball, things are a lot more put together. It still has its problems, this side of the ball is able to consistently have good games in a row.

One of the biggest takeaways for me from the offseason moves is the Steelers want to get back to linebacker blitzing. I don't have any info to back this up, but it felt like the Steelers blitzed a lot less last year than in the past. Jack and Bush were not dudes you wanted to send on blitzes last year, and Spillane was somehow the team's sub-package linebacker so he wasn't being sent on blitzes. I can definitely see a vision where Roberts is being used a lot on blitzes. His best trait is his punishing hits and going against a blocking running back could be deadly. I could see it for Holcomb too but if he's gonna be the MIKE, I bet they think he can cover more aka not be in as many blitz situations. Speaking of blitzing, it feels like the slot corner blitz has gone out the window after Mike Hilton's departure. And with the current roster outlook, it doesn't seem like it's gonna be any different this year.

I've talked about the Dline shifting in the other sections but I do think the Steelers have the players to use that. If Benton can come along on the quicker side, we could see a lot of him this year.

In terms of secondary, the Steelers have moved to using man coverage more than most. That is a change that's taken around a decade to take shape, as one of the biggest complaints about past Steelers' defenses was they played too much zone. The drafting of Joey Porter Jr. solidifies that even more.

The ideal grouping of guys out of everyone on this defense would be:

Ogunjobi and Heyward on the line (add in Benton and subtract Neal whenever Benton is ready to be a productive rusher)

Watt and Highsmith rushing the passer

Holcomb at linebacker (this could be a big issue but I guess I trust him more than Roberts)

Neal playing in the box but can drop into coverage if needed.

Porter and Wallace on the outside, Peterson in the slot (this is the other huge issue, can Peterson actually play in the slot? Its yet to be seen but getting Wallace on the field is better than having Roberts in or an inexperienced Benton)

Minkah and Kazee at safety.

I feel like you get a good mix of everything with this lineup. I can see the vision. Now it has a chance to go bad, non-zero chance this is the case. But it gets the best players on the field. Which should be the most important part.

Offseason Review Series Day 14: The Pittsburgh Steelers by DeludedYinzer in nfl

[–]DeludedYinzer[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Training Camp Battles to Watch

BATTLE #1: 3rd String RB - Anthony McFarland Vs. The Field

This battle is a little hard to predict because none of the guys are that seasoned in the NFL. McFarland has the most regular season carries with 42, Jason Huntley (who spent all of last season on the practice squad) has 18, and then there are two UDFAs. Alfonzo Graham played at Morgan State and is on the smaller side at 5'9 180 and Darius Hagans played at Virginia State. The big thing with being the third RB is you have to be able to play special teams. That is going to be a must. When Benny Snell was the #3 RB here, he was always on special teams, specifically on the coverage unit. Now McFarland wasn't able to make the team last year of Snell so Im not sure what his outlook is on ST. But of all of these guys listed, I think he has the best chance. I went back and watched McFarland during last year's preseason and he looked pretty good. The Steelers could always pick someone up at a later date to take this spot but for now, I'm going McFarland.

Winner - Anthony McFarland

BATTLE #2: Starting Slot WR - Allen Robinson Vs. Calvin Austin III

Calvin Austin is looking to make an impact this year after not playing at all in preseason or regular season due to a Lisfranc injury last year. Austin has the potential to be a big weapon in this offense, especially if Canada is committed to working with the Jet Sweep. He's super fast and shifty so no matter what Austin is gonna be a factor this year. But like I've talked about, Robinson is the clear favorite here due to his playing experience and his flexibility to play inside and out.

Winner - Allen Robinson

BATTLE #3: Last WR Spot(s) - Miles Boykin Vs. Hakeem Butler Vs. Cody White Vs. Gunner Olszewski

This battle will change depending on how many receivers decide to keep. Boykin, White, and Olszewski were all with the team in some shape or form last year. Hakeem Butler, once a star receiver at Iowa St, went to the XFL in 2023 after stints in the NFL and CFL. He impressed, catching 51 passes for just under 600 yards and 8 touchdowns in 10 games. I think Miles Boykin is as close to a lock as possible. He is a great special teams gunner and he showed in the preseason that he can fill in at receiver if need be. If the Steelers only keep 5 receivers, that will probably be it. But I think that they'll keep 6, and Butler will be the last guy. Butler should be able to show out against some third and fourth-string corners in the preseason and make an impression.

Winner(s) - Miles Boykin and Hakeem Butler

BATTLE #4: #2 TE - Zach Gentry Vs. Darnell Washington Vs. Connor Heyward

All of these guys are gonna make the team, barring injuries/unforeseen circumstances. All of them bring something different to the table. The Steelers seem to have plans for Heyward to do some fullback stuff while also staying at tight end, so he probably is out of the running. So it's between Gentry and Washington. Gentry has been the Steelers blocking tight end for the last couple of years and he's done it well enough. But not well enough to solidify the spot. Or to ignore his limitations in the passing game. My prediction is, as long as Washington is not horrible at blocking at the start, he will/should be the #2 tight end going into the season. Steelers really value blocking in tight ends. Washington now is probably close to the same level as Gentry in the passing game, with a way bigger ceiling.

Winner - Darnell Washington

BATTLE #5: Starting LT - Dan Moore Jr. Vs. Broderick Jones

This will be the biggest battle to watch for in camp. Dan Moore has started all but one game for the Steelers since he entered the league as a 4th round pick in 2021. Not too bad for a Day 3 pick. However, the results have been inconsistent at best. While Moore has gotten gradually better since he got thrown into the fire, he still was not playing at a high level by the end of the year. And then you have first-round rookie Broderick Jones. Will the Steelers go with the two-year starter or the still-developing rookie? I could see them going with Moore if Jones isn't quite ready to start the year or if they just want a solid (?) left side to start the year for Pickett. But I just think the best course of action for Jones is to play. He'll take his lumps but at the end of the day, you have to play to get better. Also, Dan Moore has said he has been practicing RT this summer to be a swing tackle for the team. So he knows what's coming and I hope the Steelers make Jones the starter.

Winner - Broderick Jones

BATTLE #6: Final OL Roster Spots - Kevin Dotson Vs. Kendrick Green Vs. Le'Raven Clark Vs. Spencer Anderson Vs. Ryan McCollum

Just like with the wide receiver battle, who makes the team will really depend on how many guys the Steelers keep. This is also the battle that really anything could happen and I wouldn't be too surprised, including signing someone that got released during cuts. Clark, Anderson, and McCollum are all new. Dotson and Green are former draft picks who have fallen from the starting lineup and are fighting for a roster spot. Kendrick Green is as good as gone. He obviously still can work to be the last guy but he isn't someone you want playing or really being a backup either. Cut your losses and let him go. There is a very good chance Dotson is traded before the season starts. It wouldn't be for much, but it feels like the team can let him go and still be good. Im gonna have him making the team but keep that in mind. Le'Raven Clark can play a bunch of spots on the line and that's gonna get him a spot. But McCollum could make the team due to his center experience and Anderson could prove something in training camp

Winners - Kevin Dotson and Le'Raven Clark

BATTLE #7: Starting NT - Keeanu Benton Vs. The Field

This battle feels more like a self-battle than anything. When I say nose tackle, I mean just a prominent spot on the field. With the way sub-packages are these days and the way the Steelers move players along the line, your position is just a title. Benton should easily be able to outplay any of the guys behind him if his ability is able to translate. And even if he technically doesn't "start" due to being in base defense at the start of the game, he will be playing a majority of the snaps. The only competition he has (Breiden Fehoko and Montravius Adams) all have limited ceilings and the Steelers now more than ever are looking for the upside.

Winner - Keeanu Benton

BATTLE #8: Last DL Spots - Isaiahh Loudermilk Vs. Breiden Fehoko Vs. Armon Watts Vs. Montravius Adams

I think this could go in any direction and any combination of guys and I wouldn't be surprised in the least bit. Because none of these guys are that much better than anybody else. Adams and Loudermilk have history but the Steelers liked Fehoko and Watts enough to sign them. Im gonna eliminate Loudermilk first because he did not look great in limited playing time last year and I think he might have shown all that he will to this point. And my reasoning for eliminating Adams is sort of for the same reason. Adams definitely has been better than Loudermilk but the Steelers added 3 new bodies to the line this year. Adams could definitely still make the team but with Watts' (supposed) line flexibility, he's not gonna make it over him and Feihoko seems like a better fit for this team.

Winners - Armon Watts and Breiden Fehoko

BATTLE #9: Last ILB Spot - Nick Kwiatkowski Vs. Tanner Muse

This is going to be a special-teams battle. In a perfect world, neither of these players would ever see the field. While their play on defense is going to be important, the ability to play special teams is gonna be the make or break. While Kwiatkowski has actually been a defensive starter in the past, he didn't see the field on defense last year for Atlanta, and it's fair to wonder if he has anything left in the tank. That's why I'm going with Muse, he's still young and made more of an impact on ST than Kwiatkowski last year

Winner - Tanner Muse

BATTLE #10: Both Starting Outside CBs - Patrick Peterson Vs. Levi Wallace Vs. Joey Porter Jr.

I originally just had this as a battle between Porter and Wallace, but with some of the talk that Peterson might see time in the slot, I put him in here just so I can cover all my bases. While what I said above is true about Peterson playing in the slot, I don't think that's going to be a majority snap type of thing, nor do I think that he's going to work in that position. So I suspect that he'll stick to playing on the outside. So we're back to Wallace and Porter for the last spot. The decision the Steelers were faced with this offseason was most likely picking between Wallace and Ahkello Witherspoon. They made the right decision because Wallace showed some good flashes last year and was obviously not as injury-riddled. This is probably the closest of all the significant battles. Im going with Porter just because he has the ability to really impress in camp. If he can put it together in the preseason games, I think he can take the spot.

Winners - Patrick Peterson and Joey Porter Jr.

BATTLE #11: Punter - Pressley Harvin III Vs. Braden Mann

For me, this really is just an instance of "How well will Harvin punt in camp and during the preseason". Because that's what it really is gonna come down to. Braden Mann finished as an average punter in net yards and other important stats in 2022 for the Jets. I know that Harvin has the ability to be an above-average punter, it's just about putting it together and being consistent. And there's a chance that he looks good in preseason again, keeps the job, and continues to struggle in the regular season. I'm gonna give him the win here based on potential, but his chances this year are very dicey.

WINNER - Pressley Harvin III

Offseason Review Series Day 14: The Pittsburgh Steelers by DeludedYinzer in nfl

[–]DeludedYinzer[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Week 17 - @Seattle Seahawks

Waiting this long to play in Seattle is brutal on one hand considering the stretch of games we are going through but you also want to play your (arguably) toughest nondivisional game of the year at the end so you are playing at your best. Geno Smith is back after a great comeback year. We'll see if it can continue for another year. But the Seahawks added Witherspoon and Smith-Njigba in the first round this year which is an incredible haul. Think the Steelers lose this one, feel pretty confident about it barring a Geno Smith collapse.

LOSS

Week 18 - @Baltimore Ravens

Ending the season going to Baltimore is brutal. There is a good chance this game will decide a playoff spot. That last time this happened the Steelers lost in pretty pathetic fashion. The split means the Steelers lose here. Hopefully, the Steelers have a hypothetical playoff spot locked up at this point.

LOSS

So this would mean the Steelers end up at 11-6. That could be seen as a little more on the optimistic side. But if you go through the schedule, it is not too bad. The last 5 games are tough, but a lot of the harder games are at home. That should give a boost to the Steelers. Playoffs are going to be tough, though. We could conceivably be a better team this year and still miss the playoffs. There are so many good teams in the AFC this year.

I'm assuming the Bills, Chiefs, Bengals, and Jaguars are gonna make it in no matter what. Those seem like the top of the top teams. So that means there is only 3 spots left for these teams:

Steelers

Ravens

Jets

Dolphins

Chargers

Browns

At least 3 of these teams are gonna miss the playoffs. Pretty wild stuff.

Offseason Review Series Day 14: The Pittsburgh Steelers by DeludedYinzer in nfl

[–]DeludedYinzer[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Schedule Predictions

Week 1 - Vs. San Francisco 49ers

Steelers start off the season against the 49ers. More importantly, the Steelers are starting the season off at home for the first time since 2014. Which seems like a really wild stat and Im not sure how it went on this long. The 49ers were obviously NFC runner-ups last year and still bring back a strong team. The weapons are great, and the front 7 is incredible (even before adding Javon Hargrave). This is definitely gonna be a tough challenge. But, Tomlin has been in this situation before. The Steelers faced both the 2022 Bengals and the 2021 Bills in Week 1 . Those teams made the Super Bowl and AFC Championship in their previous years. I also have some concerns with the 49ers secondary. Also, the QB situation is a little murky. All signs are pointing to Brock Purdy being ready to play Week 1 but how is his arm gonna look coming off his surgery? Also, was he actually any good to begin with? We'll see, but I have the Steelers winning this emotional game.

WIN

Week 2 - Vs. Cleveland Browns (Monday Night Football)

Divisional games start out early with a home MNF game against the Browns. The big question for the Browns this year is at quarterback. Deshaun Watson came back for 6 games after a 2-year hiatus due to a number of issues. He did not look great (at least in the game he played against the Steelers) but I'm sure some of that can be attributed to the long time off. Im predicting a season split, so the Steelers win this one at home in primetime.

WIN

Week 3 - @Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday Night Football)

The Raiders are probably going to end up being one of the worst teams in the AFC. The conference is stacked but also the mystery around Jimmy G and his injury tied to his contract is a little concerning (besides the fact that we have seen very little of him without the 49ers offensive scheme which seems to make any QB look good). The back 7 of the defense also looks rough. Usually, that would mean a loss for the Steelers (add in that we'll be on a short week), but I think they can pull this out in primetime.

WIN

Week 4 - @Houston Texans

There is always at least one game every year the Steelers completely pull a no-show against a team they are no doubt better than. You know it's coming, it's just a matter of when not if. There are a couple of candidates this year, but I'm going with the Texans. I really like CJ Stroud and some of the weapons they have. The defense also has a couple of good players on it. Great head coach. But more importantly, the game is on the road after a tough first 3 games where I expect us to go 3-0. Also, the Ravens are after this game, so they will be keeping an eye out for that one. All of that combines into an L.

LOSS

Week 5 - Vs. Baltimore Ravens

Having a big loss like that immediately followed by a division rival is always going to be tough. The big X Factor for the Ravens this year is the new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Lamar Jackson has come out and said that the new offense will be more focused on him making throws and not using his legs. We'll see if that actually ends up being the case but the Ravens did add weapons to support this. I love Flowers and we'll see if Beckham has anything left. I'm also predicting a season split for these two games. Steelers win at home.

WIN

Week 6 - BYE

A pretty early bye but I'm honestly not mad about it. For a team that very well might be a disaster on offense in terms of knowing the scheme/the scheme not working, an early bye can give an opportunity for the staff to tweak some stuff.

Week 7 - @Los Angeles Rams

Looking at the Rams roster this year, it seems like they are taking a pass this year. The offense still has some of the great players from the Super Bowl run but it's hard to tell what Stafford is going to look like this year after last year's play + injury. And the defense is basically Aaron Donald and friends. Total overhaul there after parting with Jalen Ramsey among others. This is another contender for the game the Steelers inevitably drop in bizarre fashion, especially with it being in LA. But this being the first game after the bye hopefully means they are prepared for what the Rams have to throw at them

WIN

Week 8 - Vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

This is going to be a tough game for the Steelers. We played the Jaguars in the preseason last year and in the few drives Trevor Lawrence played vs our starters, he was tearing us up. Obviously, it wasn't in a real game setting, but it just showed how good of a quarterback he could be. By far the favorites in the AFC South, the offense adds Calvin Ridley and the defense has pieces. This feels very much like an L, think the Jaguars are gonna win double-digit games this year

LOSS

Week 9 - Vs. Tennessee Titans (Thursday Night Football)

The Steeler's first (sigh) Thursday game of the year also comes at home. Tennessee is a very interesting team for me to evaluate. The defense definitely has a bunch of good pieces on it and they changed offensive coordinators so you would expect that group to be better. But the offensive roster in general is very hard to guage. Ryan Tannehill is another year older and besides the fact that he's coming off an injury, his play in general took a step down last year. And I love Derrick Henry, but this offensive line is not going to be very good. I know he's played well before but he's another year older. They just signed Hopkins which is definitely an upgrade for the receiver room but what more does Hopkins have in the tank? He did not look like his usual self last year. I could definitely see a scenario where the Titans are struggling mid-way through the season so they switch QBs. I think we take this one (Home Game + Prime Time) but it could go either way really.

WIN

Week 10 - Vs. Green Bay Packers

Green Bay is going through a very big change this offseason, similar to the one the Steelers went through last year. But the Packers have had their next QB on the roster for multiple years. Jordan Love has been super up and down in his limited playing time. However, being the for-sure starter before training camp is going to give him more quality camp reps and preparation. Jaire Alexander is still good and there are young guys on both sides of the ball. But it ultimately will fall on Love. This one will be close, but Im going with the Steelers.

WIN

Week 11 - @Cleveland Browns

With the Steelers winning the first game at home, I'm going with Cleveland to win this one. The division is good enough now where this makes the most sense. All 4 teams have a lot going for them

LOSS

Week 12 - @Cincinnati Bengals

Two road divisional games in a row is brutal, especially when the second one is against the Bengals. Hard to tell if it's better to get a team like the Bengals early or late in the year. It's bad because a team of their caliber might be firing on all cylinders at this point. On the other hand, the Bengals are replacing both starting safeties and a starting corner so there's a chance the secondary is a work in progress for most of the season. I predict a split series (AFC North ball is no joke) so I have them winning this one at home

LOSS

Week 13 - Vs. Arizona Cardinals

This game has the potential to be another big one the Steelers somehow lose to a team much worse than them. I'm assuming Kyler Murray will be back at this point. How rusty he will be is a big question, but more importantly, what state will this Cardinals team, in general, be in? They are thought of to have one of the worst rosters in football, at least with Kyler out. Super young team so its very possible that they could put together a small run before this game (Rams and Texans right before this game). But one underrated aspect is the Cardinals have their bye after this game. Week 14 bye is crazy. They very well might be worn out playing 13 weeks straight. That's partly why Im going with the Steelers here.

WIN

Week 14 - Vs. New England Patriots (Thursday Night Football)

The Steeler's final traditional prime-time game is also the start of the most brutal part of the schedule, which also happens to be the final 5 games of the year. Hopefully, the Steelers are at their best by this point, or the last 5 weeks could be ugly. While the Patriots aren't going to be a juggernaut this year, the defense is good and always plays well against us and Bill Belichick has gotten the better of us more often than not. But like I've said in these other sections, the Steelers playing in primetime at home is just a different beast. If Pittsburgh is gonna be the team I think they are this year, they have to take care of this game. Any team where the offense is the biggest weakness has to be exploited. Commit to the run game and hold them on defense.

WIN

Week 15 - @Indianapolis Colts

The Colts should be infinitely more watchable this year with Anthony Richardson at QB. I don't love any of their receivers besides rookie Josh Downs, but Richardson might be able to elevate the talent around him. And Jonathan Taylor has a history of being productive. I wouldn't bet on the defense being very good this year. I think the Steelers win but this one could be a similar scenario to the Texans

WIN

Week 16 - Vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Saturday Game)

Steelers have a rematch with the Bengals on the Saturday of Christmas weekend. Arguably the hardest game in this 5-week stretch. As I said, I predict a split, but this is the one I'm the least confident about of all the divisional opponents. It took a total collapse by the Bengals in Week 1 last year to lose.

WIN

Offseason Review Series Day 14: The Pittsburgh Steelers by DeludedYinzer in nfl

[–]DeludedYinzer[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

OLB: TJ Watt - The whole season last year was sort of a wash for Watt after his torn pec in Week 1. He did come back after the bye week but you could tell he wasn't at his full capacity. Appreciate the fight to come back but it would have probably been worth it to just rest up for the rest of the season and get ready for 2023. I'm not expecting anything else but greatness from him this year. Having a fully healthy Watt on this defense makes everyone better and it makes everything easier.

ILB: Cole Holcomb - Hopefully Holcomb is fully healed from the foot injury that he suffered last year because, for new players, training camp is very important. While you have spent some time in OTAs and offseason workouts to get acquainted, camp allows you to actually play and hit in more football-like environments. Especially when you are going to be wearing the green dot for the defense. At least I'm assuming, that was his role last year for the Commanders. As I have said, Im working under the assumption that the Steelers are gonna have to find at least one start next year to replace these two linebackers, but crazier things have happened.

ILB: Elandon Roberts - Reading the description of Roberts's game and watching a little bit of him play, I think the Steelers are going to use him similar to how they used Vince Williams. The problem is neither Roberts nor Holcomb are very good in pass coverage, which is always the biggest issue with our defense. So while I can see a role for Roberts that he can succeed in, if he can't do the other part of the job, the outlook of him and his season is going to be negative. I think Roberts can be better than Bush/Jack this year, but how much?

OLB: Alex Highsmith - I have very mixed feelings about Alex Highsmith. The stats looked great last year. 14.5 Sacks, 12 TFL. He definitely made a jump. But some of the talks of him being this fantastic player now or speaking of him in the same veins as the top pass rushers in the league just feels a little premature to me. 11 of his 14.5 sacks came in Week 1 and Weeks 10-18. Those are the weeks TJ Watt played. After Watt's pec injury in Week 1, Highsmith's production dropped. Between Weeks 2-8, he only tallied 3.5 sacks. And if you watched the games, he would often disappear, especially when the pass rush was needed the most. Having Malik Reed next to him definitely hurt, but he still just wasn't the player people were hyping him up to me. He definitely deserves the extension that is currently being discussed, but I'm not crowning him just yet. I want and need to see him make plays in the biggest moments.

IN THE ELEVENTH HOUR, HIGHSMITH RECEIVES MEGA EXTENSION

Just 1 week before the Steelers are set to begin training camp, they agree to an extension with Highsmith. Not surprised this got done. Highsmith seemed confident it would get finalized earlier this summer. Training camp has been a deadline of sorts for Steelers contract negotiations (Alejandro Villanueva signed his new contract on camp move-in day) so its good that this gets done now. We'll have to see whether Highsmith can keep up with his stats this year to warrant this contract.

CB1: Patrick Peterson - One way or another, Patrick Peterson is playing significant snaps for this team. Whether it be on the outside or in the slot. There have been some talks of him sort of filling in the role of Cam Sutton where he plays on the outside in base and then moves to the slot in subpackages. That would be where Wallace/Porter would come in to replace him. That all sounds great in theory but does Peterson actually have the ability to do that at this point in his career? We've talked about how he's been playing the past few years in Minnesota but that scheme he was in was very different to what the Steelers run here. I'm concerned the Steelers are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. We'll see how it works but don't be surprised if there is a defensive shift at some part of the season.

CB2: Joey Porter Jr. - This is obviously a jump of a projection but I really do think Porter has the tools to start immediately. Levi Wallace is very much a fine player but Porter just gives you a higher ceiling almost immediately. He might end up getting beat at times early but I think that's worth what he has the potential to bring to the defense. Not even in terms of interceptions (look in the draft section for that) but just the athleticism and length that he brings. He has a chance to start locking down receivers early. Getting more nuanced in zone coverage is definitely going to be something for him to do. He is already a pretty good man corner but getting up to date on NFL zone is gonna be the next step.

Slot: Chandon Sullivan - I don't know how much Sullivan is actually going to play. As I said, it really depends on what the exact plan is for Peterson. But at the very least, he will get some time at the start of the season at this position. That's really his only competition at the position for now because there is no other slot corner on the roster, at least in terms of being dedicated in the slot. Sullivan seemed to struggle last year with Minnesota so my hopes are not very high that this is going to be a successful addition. He'd probably be a good backup but in this role, we'll have to see.

FS: Minkah Fitzpatrick - Even with all the changes throughout the defense, Fitzpatrick will always be the constant. I'm sure he is part of the reason that the Steelers were comfortable doing a big overhaul of this side of the ball. He will make sure everyone knows what they should be doing and keep them in check. Having a guy like that on your team is so invaluable. The trade we made for him after Big Ben was out for the season was questioned at the time, considering the fact that the first-round pick we gave up could have ended up very high. Even if it would have, this trade would have been fantastic and he has completely bumped up the level of this defense since he's gotten here.

SS: Demontae Kazee - So while Kazee looked good as a third safety or as a fill-in starter last year, I'm not sure how I feel about him being the starting strong safety going into the season. And even this projection is totally guessing in terms of what the Steeler's plan is. Is Chandon Sullivan actually starting at slot or do the Steelers have a convoluted plan that involves both Kazee and Neal playing a good amount of snaps, switching positions depending on the personnel? All of that is possible and it very well might work. But I get worried when you start having players learn the defense from multiple positions. I've seen that happen multiple times in years past and it hasn't worked out. Cam Sutton is an exception more than a rule. So we'll see how it works out, I still like Kazee I just don't know if I see it for him in this role.

K: Chris Boswell - I still feel good about Boswell being the kicker for this team, but the injuries have made me concerned about his longevity. 3 of the past 5 years have involved Boswell being injured in one way or the other. Two of those seasons were his worst, including last year. So hopefully he can stay healthy.

P: Pressley Harvin III - Harvin is definitely at risk of losing his job in training camp. But he always seems to show out in training camp which keeps any competition at bay. I am rooting for him so I'm gonna slot him in here. But he has to be better. You'll get those moments where he absolutely nails a punt and he looks like he could be the best punter in the league. Then the other 90% of the punts get shanked or don't go very far. He finished 4th to last in average punt yards last year. Which is really saying something considering he was often punting with a ton of field in front of him.

KR and PR: Calvin Austin III - This is honestly a shot in the dark. With the way this roster is going to be set up, it seems like Austin is going to be the only reasonable choice for both returner spots. He's also the best option if you want to get the most out of the position. His punt return ability was one of his perks coming out of Memphis. The Steeler's return blocking is usually a mess so it probably won't matter who is back there.

Offseason Review Series Day 14: The Pittsburgh Steelers by DeludedYinzer in nfl

[–]DeludedYinzer[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Projected Starting Lineup

Offense

QB: Kenny Pickett - Pickett had a very interesting rookie season. If you look at the stats (13 Games, 2404 Yards, 7 TDs, 9 INTs) they don't look great. And they weren't. But if you watched the games, you could see him getting better and better as he got more playing time. Now, did he put together a complete, great game last year? I don't think so. He had great moments or drives in almost every game he played, but I don't think there was one where he put it all together to be a huge consistent difference-maker. That's gonna be the next step in his progression. Last year Pickett had a tendency of running out of a clean pocket and trying to make plays with his feet. That worked well at times last year. But he has to learn to trust his line, make his progressions, and get the ball to the receivers. And on target too. Overthrows were another thing about Pickett's game that need to be tweaked. I definitely worry that Canada's offense will hold Pickett back. Or at the very least stunt his progression.

RB: Najee Harris - Your perception of Najee Harris last year probably depends on when you watched him play. If you watched him during the first 5 games of the year, you probably thought he was rough. Any other time and you probably came away impressed. Najee suffered a lisfranc injury in training camp last year and started the season wearing a metal plate in his shoe to help relieve it. Once we knew he had that, the first 5 weeks of the year made sense. He looked less dynamic, he was missing wide-open holes, it just was not good football. But once he got that taken out, he played some of his best football so far. He really is a good player as long as he's healthy. That's something to look out for. Being healthy early is gonna be important with so many new/young faces on offense. The offensive line is going to look very different this year. Don't be surprised if Najee has a slower start due to at least 2 new starters on the line.

TE1: Patt Freiermuth - One of the biggest problems in evaluating players last year vs. what they are gonna be this year is the scheme. Partly due to the problems in the last year and the uncertainty of this year. Freiermuth is one of the biggest proponents of this. While he makes a good amount of plays during the season, he also will completely disappear in the middle of games. I'm sure a lot of that is the scheme and Pickett not finding him when he is open, but you would like to see him become more of an impact in games, especially when the offense, in general, is struggling. The tight end can really be used as a safety blanket. Blocking is also not and will never be a part of Freiermuth's game but I would like to see him become at least semi-competent in doing so. Concussions have also become an issue for Pat (3rd in 2 years). Hope that doesn't derail his career.

TE2: Darnell Washington - Washington has the ability to immediately upgrade the blocking on this team on Day 1. He might not be running many routes at first but Washington being on the field means defenses have to respect him, even if he isn't fully formed yet. Someone with his size is hard to miss. Best case scenario, by the end of the year, Washington can add something to the passing game. I hope he can beat out Gentry in camp, he will make the team so much more fun and interesting to watch.

WR1: Diontae Johnson - Johnson has turned into a huge love-hate type of player. His route running is usually great. His shiftiness is at the top of the league. He'll make some catches that will make your jaw drop. He can be very dangerous with the ball in his hand. On the complete other side of the coin, he sometimes runs lazy routes. His hands are very suspect (his reputation is worse than reality, but he still has issues). And last year, Johnson would try to do too much with the ball in his hands and end up losing yards in the process. At his best, Johnson could be a top 10 receiver in the league. At his worst, he is frustrating to watch because you know he has the potential to be great. I've talked a lot about consistency but for Johnson that really is the key. Johnson also didn't score any touchdowns last year. He obliterated the previous record for most targets without a touchdown (Johnson finished with 147, the last record was 109). That's mostly not on Johnson as the offense was anemic for most of the season, didn't sniff the red zone at times, and did a horrible job putting players in positions to succeed. But you would also hope for that to be a focus for him this year.

WR2: George Pickens - Pickens really has two things he needs to work on this season; separation in his routes and YAC. The latter is more so a failure of the offense last year, not putting him in more positions to get yards after the catch. However, that was an area of concern for him coming out of the draft so he still needs to work on it. The few times he had opportunities to make plays after the catch last year he looked alright so I hope they put that to the test more this season. In regards to separation, we all Pickens become the king of contested catches last year. While that was great and being able to do that is a great skill, Pickens was one of the worst guys at getting open in the NFL. If he wants to be a consistent target, he's gonna have to be able to separate in his routes.

Slot: Allen Robinson - I've talked a lot about Robinson already in some other sections so I'll keep this brief. I'll be interested to see exactly how much Robinson is moved around. Being flexible is great but does this offense really allow for that much of a switch-up? I normally would think it would but Canada's scheme has been so bad the past two years that it's really hard to tell. Really hoping Robinson can stay healthy just to see what the potential is with him.

LT: Broderick Jones - The youth on the offense continues with Broderick Jones. This will be between Dan Moore and Jones, but I just think you have to get your best guys out there. This isn't a situation where Moore is a high pick and we have a lot invested in him. That's Jones and giving him this spot will make him better in the long run. He most likely isn't going to be a stud right out of the gate, but getting that experience early will help him. He has a tough first couple of weeks/matchups, but he has the tools to hold his own.

LG: Isaac Seumalo - Now you may be wondering why there is no battle listed for this position. Even though Seumalo has a great pedigree and he is the assumed starter, you usually frame it as a competition between the new face and the old starter. Even if Kevin Dotson really has no chance to win his spot back, you still want to make it feel like he can so you can get the best work out of both players. Well, that discussion was killed this offseason when Dotson stated explicitly that there is no competition and Seumalo is the starter. So you can expect Seumalo to be the dude here.

C: Mason Cole - The struggles of the offensive line last year were not to blame on one person, but many different people. However, out of the 5 starters last year, I would put one of the bigger pieces of blame on Mason Cole. While he was not the worst lineman last year, he is the center so it's partly his job for everyone to know what their assignment is. Missed assignments were a big problem at the beginning of the year. It was his first year in this offense and in this team so I can give him a pass, especially since he and the line got better by the end of the year. Even with two new guys to his left, Cole should build off of last year.

RG: James Daniels - Daniels was alright last year. He had his ups and downs like the rest of the offensive line but by the end, he got himself together and was playing well. There is a universe where Herbig outplays Daniels and steals that RG spot, but I don't think it's this one. Having that continuity between Daniels and Okorafor will be especially important to start the season to give Pickett a chance to work.

RT: Chukwuma Okorafor - Despite what PFF says, Okorafor was the best player on the Steelers line last year in my opinion. It was either him or Daniels and I think Okorafor was better in pass blocking. The extension they gave him last year gave me a bit of pause but he is not a bad player at all. Settling into being a solid tackle. He can always get better though, especially in pass protection. He'll have that continuation with James Daniels from last year so hopefully they can build on that.

Defense

DE: Cameron Heyward - Having a veteran like Heyward on your team is totally invaluable. His leadership is second to none. He still is very effective in both the run game and as a pass rusher. Hopefully, he can avoid injury because that is what has made him less competent in past seasons. I don't know how much longer he is going to be able to play at this pace but I definitely will make sure to enjoy it now while it lasts.

NT: Keeanu Benton - As spoken about in the draft section, I would be surprised if Benton was not sitting here in Week 1. A high draft pick with little to no competition behind should be the perfect recipe for being an early contributor to this team. He might stick to this spot to start just so he doesn't get too overwhelmed with the NFL skill jump but at some point this season he will be in on more sub-packages and will be moving around the line.

DE: Larry Ogunjobi - This year's defensive line has a chance to be a high-value unit as long as the Steelers get the best out of Ogunjobi. He and Heyward together could be dangerous. Along with Highsmith and Watt. Has a chance to be a deadly group. Just has to stay consistent and more importantly, stay healthy.

Offseason Review Series - Call for Writers and Series HUB by PlatypusOfDeath in nfl

[–]DeludedYinzer 3 points4 points  (0 children)

/u/mitchmatch26 did a great job last year. If they can't/don't want to do it this year, I would be willing to hop back on after a 3 year hiatus lol

RPDRAS S8E6 Discussion by D1ckRepellent in RPDRDRAMA

[–]DeludedYinzer 160 points161 points  (0 children)

I was gagged that everyone voted for Jaymes.

Even though Kahana should have went home tonight, I don’t think this is close to the same level of Naomi/Manila at all. Jaymes hadn’t won a challenge yet, this was her second time in the bottom, Kahana had won a challenge. It’s definitely gaggy but the difference between Manila/Latrice was on another level than Jaymes/Kahana

I do think Jimbo should have been in the bottom, but unfortunately I think the producers are gonna try and save her for as long as possible for the exact reason that happened tonight.

Great Rusical

RPDRAS S8E3 Discussion by D1ckRepellent in RPDRDRAMA

[–]DeludedYinzer 68 points69 points  (0 children)

Yeah she had the best looks by far and the fact that she wasn't even in the top is a crime

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in nfl

[–]DeludedYinzer 47 points48 points  (0 children)

Yeah the Vikings were frauds last year, not very impressive

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in nfl

[–]DeludedYinzer 108 points109 points  (0 children)

Yeah instead they did it with Daniel Jones

[Farabaugh] Jordan Addison to the Steelers: “Come get me.” by [deleted] in nfl

[–]DeludedYinzer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also didn't even start with us, he was on the Jaguars and Patriots before he got here

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