Pittsburgh Steelers Preseason Observations

The NFL preseason ended for the Pittsburgh Steelers last Friday evening with a loss to the Carolina Panthers.  The Steelers finished the preseason with a record of 3-1 which is, of course, meaningless.  More important was how the team played during those games, especially in light of the changes the Steelers made over the last offseason.  Last year’s promising 11-0 start ended with a first-round playoff loss to the rival Cleveland Browns.  The retooled Steelers enter the 2021 regular season with many questions still lingering, but their four preseason games did provide some insight into the adjustments the team made.

         The focus is on the new Steelers offensive this year.  They have a new Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada, a new feature back in first-round draft pick Najee Harris, and a completely rebuilt offensive line that no longer features perennial Pro Bowlers Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro.  The Steelers did show some signs of a new approach on offense.  The commitment to the running game was evident in the number of carries per game.  Harris looked especially good in his appearances and looks like he will be used not just to carry the ball, but also as a receiver in the passing game. 

         Behind Harris, the Steelers got a good look at several backs competing for jobs.  Anthony McFarland and Benny Snell returned to action, and it seems that the team is higher on McFarland.  He is likely to make the team and possibly be the first option to spell Harris.  Also putting in a strong showing in the preseason was Kalen Ballage, a free-agent acquisition.  His performance featured a 4.1 yards per carry average was impressive and he caught two passes for 17 yards, showing his versatility.  Ballage has a very good chance to make the team and even see some playing time during the regular season.

         The offensive line looks quite different than last season's version.  So far in the preseason, the new line has been more physical, especially in the running game, than last season.  For the most part, no one lineman has stood out as either particularly good or bad, which may be a positive.  Last year the line was unable to open holes for runners and was too often dominated physically in the run game.  Realistically, the best the Steelers can hope for in this year's O-line is no big mistakes in the passing game that could lead to an injury to Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and a strong performance in the running game.  So far, the line has achieved this.  Short yardage situations are not the disaster they were last season when the team was unable to gain critical first downs on third- and fourth- and short.

         Speaking of the quarterbacks, 39-year-old veteran Ben Roethlisberger looked sharp in his very limited action.  He successfully threw downfield, something he struggled with at times last year.  He also flashed some of the incredible escapability he has shown in the past.  The backup QB position most likely will once again go to Mason Rudolph, the 4th year pro.  He was inconsistent this preseason, which has been the story his entire career, but new acquisition Dwayne Haskins failed to show much of anything positive during his start against the Panthers.  Still, Haskins will most likely be the 3rd QB.  Josh Dobbs possesses great intelligence and could be an excellent coach down the line if goes that route.  Unfortunately, Dobbs doesn’t have the physical ability to excel in the NFL at quarterback.  He lacks the arm strength to make the throws he needs to at this level.

         The offense is the major question mark for the Steelers this year, but the defense promises to be among the league’s best again.  Despite losing a couple of key performers from last year's strong squad the defense remains strong all around.  Gone are Bud Dupree, Mike Hilton, and Steven Nelson, three solid performers last year.  Back from injury, this year is Devin Bush, who barely played last season.  Assuming he regains the excellence he showed in previous years, Bush will be a major upgrade in the middle of the linebacking corps.  Joining him at linebacker are a couple of recent additions, free-agent signee Melvin Ingram and arriving via a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Joe Schobert.  Ingram was hurt much of last season, but if he is healthy this year he can provide additional depth.  Second-year OLB Alex Highsmith filled in for the injured Dupree last season, and his strong performance in the preseason is very promising.  He will get a chance this year to become the next in a long line of great Steelers linebackers. 

         The defensive backfield will be anchored by Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds, and the long-time veteran Joe Haden.  James Pierre showed real ability in the preseason and may become part of the regular rotation in the secondary.  Depth could be an issue at defensive back, but if the starters remain relatively healthy the pass coverage should be solid. 

         The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a season that began with tremendous promise but ended on a bad note with an early playoff exit.  This season the team has more questions, especially on the offensive side of the ball.  Health will be an issue, especially for a 39-year-old quarterback operating behind a rebuilt offensive line, working under a new coordinator.  The Steelers showed a lot of promise in the 2021 preseason, but big questions remain for the team as they prepare to open the regular season on September 12 at the Buffalo Bills.

Writer

-By: Damian Mastrangelo