Steelers Have Reasons To Worry After Preseason Finale

After two 2024 preseason games giving reasons for worry, the Pittsburgh Steelers knew that the results during the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions had to be better. While the coaching staff saw a much better performance early in the game, the remainder looked like depth players vying for roster spots. With the regular season right around the corner, can the Steelers have genuine confidence in the offense?

Both Quarterbacks Show Improvement

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Whether Pittsburgh’s new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, held back in the preseason and implemented a vanilla game plan in the first two outings, the first two drives in the game against the Lions looked better than anything put together against the Houston Texans or Buffalo Bills. Russell Wilson led the first drive down the field to score the first touchdown of the game and the number one offense’s first of the preseason.

Wilson connected with George Pickens on a crucial third-and-11 with a picture-perfect throw and a great route by the Steelers starting receiver. Cordarrelle Patterson showed why he is firmly in the third running back spot with a 30-yard run for the score, showing excellent vision through the offensive line and a shift move on the safety. That was enough for Mike Tomlin, who sat Wilson for the remainder of the game, satisfied with what he and Smith saw from the Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

Justin Fields took over and moved the Steelers down the field with more fluidity than anything seen in the preseason before the finale. Granted, another incredible play by Nick Herbig resulted in the Steelers having excellent field position, but Fields still did what was expected and put the Steelers up 14-0 after two drives. Some more of the same stalled the offense when Fields came out next, including a poorly timed snap by rookie center Zach Frazier.

Tomlin said he would wait to announce a starting quarterback for Pittsburgh’s 2024 opener on the road against the Atlanta Falcons. Still, all signs point to what was assumed when he signed: Wilson should be the starting quarterback to open the Steelers’ 2024 campaign.

Offensive Line Still A Worry

When the coaching staff and former NFL offensive linemen watched the film of Broderick Jones’s blocking debacle against the Buffalo Bills, the general opinion was to breathe and avoid jumping to conclusions. Jones was drafted in the first round for a reason, and despite the experts and pedigree staying positive and pointing to Jones having another excellent year, there is reason to be at least a little concerned.

The 2023 first-round pick knew that he would be under a microscope against the Lions, and while he didn’t look like a lost revolving door like in the Bills game, he didn’t seem to be the same dominant blocker that impressed in his rookie season.

One eyebrow-raising issue many will have with Pittsburgh’s coaching staff is that Jones was on the right side at tackle, and Dan Moore Jr. was starting at left tackle. This has frustrated more than a few pundits during the Steelers’ training camp and preseason. Jones has been tapped as the starting left tackle of the future, yet with 2024 first-round pick Troy Fautanu injured, the combination of linemen continues to perplex.

During Wilson’s drive, the protection looked solid, allowing the veteran passer to complete two passes before Patterson’s scoring run. However, when Fields entered the game and depth players started taking the field, the left side of the offensive line became a liability. Jones wasn’t perfect on those drives, but it’s hard to blame the one blocker holding his own when one-half of the line collapses. Jones and Fautanu will eventually be the bookends in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. Still, for now, it’s a waiting game that is taking its toll on the patience of the Steelers’ media.

The Defense Is Hungry In Finale

Considering that the Steelers have invested more money in defense than any other team in the NFL, the expectation is that that side of the ball will be the foundation for the season’s success. After three preseason games where the offense raised questions, the defense looked fully prepared to hit the ground running. It would be different if stars like TJ Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Minkah Fitzpatrick had been on the field consistently, but Watt and Heyward didn’t dress during the preseason, and Fitzpatrick hardly played. Without the standout pieces of the defense, the Steelers watched as opponents got shut down by a solid defensive line and the speedy linebacker Herbig’s continued, exciting growth.

Herbig, who saw his brother, offensive lineman Nate Herbig, go on Injured Reserve (IR) with a torn rotator cuff, has made the most of every single opportunity the Steelers have given him since becoming a fourth-round pick during the 2023 NFL Draft. The passionate defender doesn’t seem to have any other gear besides headfirst into the fray, and while many young players will over-pursue and end up taking themselves out of the play, Herbig has a focused speed and crafty vision. He was only on the field for 17% of the defensive snaps in 2023 (191 snaps), which isn’t much at all, considering Watt has played 83% of the defensive snaps during his career (804 snaps/season on average).

With minimal changes, Herbig tallied three sacks and two forced fumbles in his rookie season, and he put together another brilliant preseason with 3.5 sacks, two against the Lions. With a dangerous trio of pass rushers in Watt, Herbig, and Alex Highsmith, the Steelers are aiming for the stratosphere regarding sack numbers in 2024. Not only is Herbig a roster lock, but he’s sure to make a much more significant impact than he did as a rookie, which was still remarkable.

The Running Back Room Seems To Be Full

In the 2024 preseason finale, the pressure was on the depth running backs to show why they deserve a roster spot. The trouble is that with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren forming the two-headed attack and Patterson being the third back for unique packages and looks, there isn’t much room left. Patterson danced and juked his way to an electric touchdown against Detroit, but even if he hadn’t done so, his value on special teams has his spot written in stone. The question was whether any other running back could emerge from the pack and force the coaches to give him another look.

La’Mical Perine, while hardly a sure thing by any means, showed that he wouldn’t be a liability if he were needed to spell one of the top three runners. His stat line wasn’t jumping off the page (six carries for 16 yards, a 2.7 average), but the rushing touchdown he scored could cause someone on Pittsburgh’s staff to notice. Perine will have to prove his worth on special teams, but if anyone has separated from the depth group, the former Kansas City Chiefs running back might have done enough.

Plenty Of Questions Unanswered By Steelers

Cory Trice Jr. locked down the third cornerback position behind Donte Jackson and Joey Porter Jr., but nothing is certain about the nickel corner spot. Beanie Bishop Jr., an undrafted rookie free agent out of West Virginia, seemed to have that in hand. Still, a poor performance against Houston and a lingering injury kept him from playing any first-half snaps in Detroit. Rookie Ryan Watts and Thomas Graham Jr. were utilized in that role, but the Steelers are no closer to knowing who will play nickel corner for them in 2024. Cam Sutton won’t be available due to suspension until late October following Week 8, leaving a gap to be filled, but no one is claiming it.

Along with the nickel spot, the Steelers still have a chasm between their superstar receiver, Pickens, and the rest of the receivers on the roster. Van Jefferson has done better than expected, but Calvin Austin III hasn’t made the kind of third-year leap the coaches hoped for. Scotty Miller is more of a supporting player, and while his presence will be welcomed due to experience, he isn’t expected to play a leading role. The Brandon Aiyuk saga has dragged on and exhausted everyone involved. Still, the fact remains that the Steelers don’t have anyone behind Pickens who can legitimately carry an NFL passing attack.

With the NFL’s deadline for teams to cut their roster down to 53 players getting closer (August 27, 4 PM EST), the picture is becoming clearer, but if the Steelers want to compete among the elite in the league again, they need to find an answer at nickel and the second wide receiver spot. Otherwise, it will be an uphill battle from the start, and with one of the hardest 2024 schedules in the NFL, that isn’t something Pittsburgh can afford.

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Article originally written by Zachary Franciscus