Our current young talent

Am I foolish in thinking the Steelers have some pretty good talent that this new regime can help develop? I don't think the MT era was known for developing young guys. I'm not speaking of our current starting young guys necessarily. Guys like Cook, K. Johnson , Black, Benton, R. Wilson, B. Jones, L.Lee etc. I think there is some good talent there. With 12 picks ( which I hope we package a couple and move up a little) and all these 1 and 2 year guys that are under used or under developed, I think that's a good number to work with. Am I naive, wrong, or just wishful thinking?

 

I don't think the cupboard is as empty as some people around here like to act. We'll see if I'm wrong, but I strongly believe the majority of issues has been scheme more than players. The defense had a ton of talent on it this year, but it just isn't used correctly. Drafting and/or signing some WR weapons to go opposite of DK should be a huge priority. Muth isn't young, but Washington is and getting them both involved is also a huge must. Obviously, QB is will be the biggest issue. There is so much love for Howard, and I hope he's good, but I think there is a reason he was drafted in the 6th. I REALLY want this team to make a push for Mac Jones.

 

I think you're probably being pretty optimistic...especially on the offensive side. Sadly, we had a failed rebuild on that side (Najee, Pickett, PF is OK but maybe an average TE, Jones is disappointing but maybe can get an extension - not the option).

• Cook: Did look to be at least serviceable. Hopefully, at least Moore level where he either sticks or leaves and we get a decent comp pick because he plays a premium position.
• K. Johnson: Couldn't get a helmet. But at least part of this was that Gainwell ended up being much better than expected. Hopefully he's at least a time share guy. But no evidence that he's an NFL player yet.
• R. Wilson: Couldn't get a helmet on a team without any NFL WRs (when DK was suspended). This is really, really bad. Hopefully a change of scheme and coaches helps him a lot. But pretty much a complete miss so far.
• B. Jones: First round pick who might not beat out Cook in a straight up competition. Couldn't beat out Moore on the left side. But at minimum is a swing tackle who would get a comp pick if he leaves. Hard no on the 5th year option this year.
• L. Lee: 11% of snaps this year. Pretty far down on the depth chart. Probably just a guy.

I do think we have "too many" picks this year. Hoping that we flip some for next year in rd+1 (e.g. a 3rd this year for a 2nd next year and a 4th this year for a 3rd next year). Then we'll have ammo in a draft that's supposed to be better for QBs (although every year seems to be "it will be better next year" when talking QBs).

 

There is a lot of young talent there and they have draft picks and cap space to fill the holes. WR2 and right across the secondary are obvious weaknesses in the roster.

The QB situation is the big one of course. If they can solve that relatively soon this team will be in a good spot.

 

Yeah, I usually think with a positive mindset in life. It would be great if the new coaches could flip a switch on a couple of these guys and turn them into an impact player. Every year I hear of players just needing a new coach or team and they flourish. I'm with you, I don't want 12 picks this year either, move up this year or trade a couple for a higher pic next year like you said.

 

I hope you're right.

Seems like there was some tape of Wilson getting open...but maybe he wasn't following the plays / rules that Rodgers wanted him to? I was pretty disappointed that he couldn't get a helmet this year.

I'm hoping that Johnson can be a break out player next year. Personally, I don't think I'd resign Gainwell. I think he'll cost a bunch because of his career year here. And I don't think he'll have the same kind of receiving impact on a team that has WRs and a passing game that involved passing to WRs. So I don't want to pay him based on what he did this year. I really wanted to see Johnson earn the 60 in a 60/40 split with Warren this year. But he'll basically be starting from zero next season.

Arrow was pointing up on Jones before he got hurt. He was raw when drafted (why he was available later in the 1st). Hopefully, the light goes on and he becomes the long term LT we want / need him to be.

 

I’m interested in seeing if Kaleb Johnson can be developed. Seems like he has the tools but had 2 good backs ahead of him.

 

Only time will tell.

 

From what I heard of Roman Wilson, he wasn’t up to speed when they audibled at the line and didn’t know the routes at times. Rodgers didn’t want him out there. Then there was that ridiculous fumble against the Colts.

He is going into year three now so if he is going to stick in the league he needs to use the offseason well.

 

I would not be do sure that Kaleb Johnson is even on the roster this upcoming season. He was drafted by a deposed OC to run a specific scheme. One that McCarthy does not typically embrace.

Plus, not certain that Johnson is an NFL caliber athlete.

 

WELL OMAR SUCKS
so it's just wishful thinking. a dozen rotten eggs coming April.
THANKS ROONEY!

 

I agree that there is young, raw talent and it's now up to the new staff to elevate their game. You have some with potential star power, and those who can step into depth pieces. A championship team needs players all over the roster who contribute.

Just looking at the DL, you plan on long-term starters being Harmon (22) and Benton (24). There is also Black (23) and Lee (25) you want to contribute depth. If you get that then it helps settle the roster with fewer holes to fill for a couple of years.

 

Here is the thing about all the talent on defense that you folks have identified...most of it was drafted based on "types" the Steelers have developed over 20+ years of running the same system. They developed really specific profiles for body types and play styles along the DL in particular. Often, a given draft class would have one maybe two guys that fit their profile....so they drafted them.

We have no idea if the new staff wants to run the same play style. Sure, they are going to run a 3-4 or 4-2 which is something the Steelers did a lot before....but will they want their DEs to penetrate or hold the point of attack? Will they want a Hampton or Hargrave style DT?

Too much we do not know. Many of these guys may not be fits.

 

Kaleb apparently is too slow.

Wilson is a complete bust.

Broderick likely a bust.

not great.

 

I think Cook played like a top 16 left tackle in the NFL. Okay -- I think he played like a top 10 left tackle in the NFL! Since he played few games as a starter the odds are he will improve next season.

On R Wilson, I hold the view that he was held back by Tomlin. Some of that was on him, but he produced when called upon. That is a key point. With a better offensive minded coach he can still pan out.

 

I think you like new toys and are over-rating Cook. But I really hope that you're right. I wouldn't be surprised if he's the starter next year and Jones is the swing tackle (then we let him walk for a comp pick).

I'm not sure how you could argue that Wilson has been anything other than a huge disappointment so far. Again, I hope you're right that he's actually awesome but was held back by something. I know you really didn't like Tomlin, but if he was "held back" this year, I think it would be much more likely to say that it was because of Rodgers. He's notorious for not liking playing with young WRs who don't understand the nuances of route running because he's all about throwing to where the WR is supposed to be...so you can't run sloppy routes / freelance what you're doing with Rodgers.

I think the thing I heard most about Wilson (other than just he wasn't getting any playing time) was that wasn't all that good at learning / understanding the playbook. I think that would make sense for why Rodgers might not have wanted to play with him.

IIRC, the breakdown of all his targets in college (a series of posts from Steelers Depot) kind of showed that most of his bigger plays were when he was in the slot with off coverage. And that he wasn't good at getting open against press coverage. I think Azani said the same thing about him in his 1st camp (before he got hurt).

We'll see what happens next year. Hopefully both of these guys look awesome under a new system.

 

The one thing we have seen from Tomlin over the years is that if you get in his doghouse, it's very difficult to get out. When Wilson was on the field, he was creating some separation and getting open. I was surprised he didn't insist on getting him in the game, and then having Rodgers tell him what he wanted him to run on every play. Particularly when Metcalf was suspended. Any time a defense was playing man, the wide receivers simply couldn't get open very often. Of course, Wilson didn't help himself with that boneheaded fumble late in a game when they were trying to seal the game up. I am assuming he has mental errors as part of this equation as well.

I look forward to seeing if there is any difference to his game with a new position coach and head coach. If they can get him to the point of being a real contributor while either adding a wide receiver in free agency or drafting a player that can give some good production right out of the gate, it could completely change the dynamics of the offense.

 

I still expect Broderick to be the starting LT and to play well

(small print disclaimer I said something similar a year ago about Roman)

 

I felt like he was playing better before he got hurt but now with the injury I’m not sure. Hopefully he is the starter.

 

He couldn’t even keep a job on special teams

I’m thinking his learning curve is more of a flat line

 

I am interested in our young players now that they will have different positional coaches. This may be a big benefit to Johnson, Jones, Wilson and a few others.

 

This 100.
People can think all they want that it's not true, but all the NFL teams have talent, but does it fit what the current coaches want to do.
This is the problem that teams that change HCs every four years have a problem with.

 

Coaches can have an idea of what they want to run but a good/great coach will adapt the play calling to the skill level/talent he/they have on the roster. There is no excuse for trying to place a square peg into a round hole. If you have speed, you use it, if you have muscle, you use it! If you have a great coverage team, dont play zone all the time. Dont have small undersized ILB that cant cover or defend the run. Dont play 2 DL inside your own 5 yd line....oooops, you catch my drift...right?

 

I still have hopes for Kaleb and thought he was a good value pick in the 3rd round last year.

I know people hate this.... I still blame ST Coach Danny Smith for not teaching Kaleb Johnson the new rules on Kickoffs. Mike Tomlin should have been up Danny Smith's ass on Monday after the game for his players not knowing the new rules.

 

I was more worried about his 2.5 YPC than his gaffe on ST's. That isn't a position he will be in long term... and it was one rookie mistake.

The issue with him is that he doesn't have as much burst as I thought he would. He's a bit Najee-ish off the ball, which isn't a compliment. Maybe its just some hesitancy or whatever, but it needs to change. Gainwell and Warren were both slippery because they hit the hole hard and have great jump cut ability. They forced a good amount of missed tackles. Johnson just struggled to move the ball forward.

Part of me wants to chalk it up to a rookie thing, but RB is probably the easiest transition from college to NFL (at least in running the ball). I expected him to be a quality runner that needed to learn blitz pickups and receiving responsibilities... he looks awful running the ball. Like really awful. If I am the Steelers, I'm drafting another day 3 back to compete just in case he doesn't get better. If Johnson looks the same in 2026 as he did in 2025, he shouldn't make the 53.