2022 NFL Team Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers

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For the first time since 2003, Ben Roethlisberger is no longer part of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise. Big Ben’s retirement opened the door for a possible quarterback battle. For the most part, that appears to be won already. More on that later. That is not the only position that saw plenty of change for Pittsburgh this offseason. Overall, the Steelers high-powered defense seems highly suspect in the back seven. The trenches and pass catching group is also filled with some youth and new faces as well. Pittsburgh has not finished worse than second in the AFC North since 2012. Can the Steelers make the playoffs for the third consecutive season?

Key Additions/Re-Signings

Let’s now look into the transactions made by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here are some of their key additions or re-signings for 2022.

Additions

• QB Mitchell Trubisky
• G James Daniels
• C Mason Cole
• DL Larry Ogunjobi
• LB Myles Jack
• CB Levi Wallace
• SAF Damontae Kazee

Re-Signings

• WR Diontae Johnson (2-year/$36.71 million contract extension)
• SAF Minkah Fitzpatrick (4-year/$73.61 million contract extension)
• K Chris Boswell (4-year/$20 million contract extension)
• OT Chukwuma Okorafor (3 years/$29.25 million)
• CB Ahkello Witherspoon (2 years/$8 million)
• DT Montravius Adams (2 years/$5 million)
• DB Miles Killebrew (2 years/$4 million)
• CB Arthur Maulet (2 years/$3.825 million)
• LB Marcus Allen (1 year/$2.54 million)
• SAF Terrell Edmunds (1 year/$2.537 million)
• LB Robert Spillane (1 year/$2.433 million)

Key Losses

Let’s quickly look into some key names that the Steelers lost from their roster this offseason.

• QB Ben Roethlisberger (retirement)
• WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
• G Trai Turner
• TE Eric Ebron
• CB Joe Haden
• LB Joe Schobert
• WR Ray-Ray McCloud
• WR James Washington

Top Headlines That Will Define Steelers’ 2022 Season

Arguably, no franchise has enjoyed the longevity and sustained success that the Pittsburgh Steelers have had, no matter what major sport. For the better part of the last half-century, the black and gold has been able to constantly stick near the top of the NFL food chain. It may not always be filled with roses at the end of each season. However, Pittsburgh has created a stable foundation that has carried them to staying ahead of the curve.

Now in 2022, the Steelers enter a campaign after undergoing their greatest transition in a long while. At least that is the case under head coach Mike Tomlin‘s watch. For a head coach that carries himself with openness and class, Tomlin can sometimes become underappreciated. This season could prove to be his greatest challenge yet, both for he and the Steelers as a franchise. Here are the top headlines to monitor that will define Pittsburgh’s 2022 season.

How Protected Will Quarterback(s) Be?

Entering training camp, the Steelers quarterback job was wide open via a competition. The team signed Trubisky. After a disappointing finish in Chicago, the former first-round pick played the role of backup quarterback in Buffalo last season. Meanwhile, Mason Rudolph has been a career backup, with occasional appearances. He is a holdover from previous years. The Steelers were then the only team to select a quarterback in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Kenny Pickett did not have to travel far, as the former Pitt Panther will continue to play his home games with the Steelers where he played the home games at during his college career.

Based on the signs from training camp and preseason games, Trubisky appears to have won the job. He signed a two-year deal with Pittsburgh after all. Why not give him the first crack to show what he has to offer? He joins an offense that provides excitement at wide receiver and can force-feed the running back. Nonetheless, one of the biggest questions for the Steelers is, how will they be able to protect the quarterback(s)?

This offensive line has undergone plenty of reshuffling in the last two offseasons. On the other hand, will Pittsburgh allow their quarterbacks freedom to make plays outside of structure? This team was downgraded to a pop-gun offense in the last days of Roethlisberger’s career. Will Trubisky be given the proper script and offensive looks to succeed? Finally, how do the Steelers go about their offensive balance via play calling?

Can Offensive Skill Group Overcome Questionable Offensive Line?

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This offensive skill group may not be among the NFL’s elite, as things currently stand. But, Pittsburgh has always been able to find, develop and groom wide receivers into some of the league’s best. Rookie second-round pick George Pickens is already proving to be a top player throughout training camp and the preseason. Diontae Johnson continues to climb up the wide receiver ranks. And even after a step back last season, Chase Claypool exudes a tremendous mix of size, quickness and physicality at the catch point. Najee Harris was also highly productive as a rookie last year.

This group’s excitement can only go so far, however. When looking at the offensive line, there was a lack of cohesion, consistency and execution for the Steelers blocking unit last year. Pittsburgh has failed to invest high draft capital in the front five recently. Furthermore, this ever-changing group does not add what the Steelers were known for in the blocking department for so long.

The Steelers were generally able to punish and overpower defensive lines for so long. Now this year, they are looking to take massive steps just to hold their ground. That is going to be something to consider each and every week for this Pittsburgh team. Given the changes at quarterback, and this fun skill group, there are many different directions in which the Steelers offense can go. The production will hinge solely on if the offensive line can improve.

TJ Watt’s Sack Total

TJ Watt is likely the best edge defender in the NFL right now. He is the reigning AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Last season, the Wisconsin product accumulated 22.5 sacks. That tied Michael Strahan‘s all-time record (during 2001 season) for most single-season sacks in NFL history. In fact, it was actually the second consecutive season in which Watt led the NFL in sacks. He had 15 in 2020. Overall, he has registered at least 13 sacks in each of the last four seasons. The Steelers drafted him in the first round in 2017. Since then, Watt leads the NFL in sacks during that span with 72, narrowly edging Aaron Donald‘s 70 sacks in that time.

The record books and accolades are all nice. However, Watt’s sack total may be much more crucial for the Steelers this season than ever before. This is a Pittsburgh defense that faces questions at linebacker. To boot, this team was up and down in the secondary all of last season. You cannot honestly say that the Steelers got better in the back seven, from a personnel standpoint. If Watt unloads to lead the NFL in sacks for a third consecutive season, Pittsburgh may be able to stick in the playoff race.

Is Secondary Too Leaky In High-Paced AFC?

Piggybacking off of that last personnel discussion, the secondary may hold the greatest boom or bust potential of any position on this team. Pittsburgh has been known to create turnovers in numerous ways. Fitzpatrick at safety has helped bring a great instinctual presence to the group. With his ability to read, react and trigger, throwing lanes become marginalized.

Outside of him, the Steelers are occupied with players with clear ceilings and inexperience in the secondary. Some names will be thrust further into the fold in 2022. When looking at the AFC, cases could be made for most teams to make the playoffs. This is largely due to the efficiency and dynamic nature of the young quarterbacks and deep pass catching groups in the conference. With the Steelers facing more questions, compared to having answers in the secondary, Pittsburgh will need to play smart against the pass in 2022.

Will Mike Tomlin Stave Off First Losing Season?

Winning in the NFL is not easy. From a head coaching perspective, you have to wear multiple hats. This includes making split-second decisions, being a leader of a group of men, answering questions in a certain tone during media sessions and being able to build a culture. Coach Tomlin is known for many inspiring moments and notable accomplishments. Yet, he may possess the best feather in his cap that any head coach could have at the NFL level.

Tomlin has never had a losing season in his tenure as Steelers head coach. That 15-year run is the longest ever streak for a head coach in NFL history. To think how young he was when he took this specific head coaching job speaks volumes as well. Pittsburgh finished right at .500 three times under Tomlin (2012, 2013, 2019). In the end, the Steelers have won double digit games in nine of his 15 seasons. They have made the playoffs ten times and have won two AFC Championships and one Super Bowl title.

The Steelers may have lost some talent on paper. This may be the greatest amount of transformation that Pittsburgh has endured under this regime. Nonetheless, Coach Tomlin will once again work to stay ahead of things. You can always count on the Steelers being a tough out under his tutelage.

Be on the lookout for more 2022 NFL team previews here at Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.