Steelers Compared to rest AFC North Post Draft

This was the original:

How do we stack up by Position Group against the rest of the AFC North Pre Draft?

QB’s (It’s close between us and Cle right now)
1. Cin
2. Bal
3. Pit
4. Cle

RB’s (We have the best one two punch)
1. Pit
2. Cle
3. Bal
4. Cin

WR’s (Could drastically change after FA and Draft, right now were a one man show)
1. Cin
2. Cle
3. Bal
4. Pit

TE’s (This is taking into consideration the blocking as a unit)
1. Bal
2. Pit
3. Cle
4. Cin

OL (I see us moving up after the draft, Bal has more holes but more promising depth pieces)
1. Cle
2. Bal
3. Pit
4. Cin

DL (If Heyward regains his form we are #2)
1. Bal
2. Cle
3. Pit
4. Cin

Edge (No explanation)
1. Pit
2. Cle
3. Cin
4. Bal

LB (Cin and Cle are kind of interchangeable)
1. Bal
2. Pit
3. Cin
4. Cle

CB (This was tough. Bal and Cin have more depth than we do)
1. Cle
2. Bal
3. Cin
4. Pit

S (Could fall back one ... depends on how Elliot compliments Minkah)
1. Pit
2. Bal
3. Cle
4. Cin



How do we stack up by Position Group against the rest of the AFC North Post Draft?

QB’s (It’s close between us and Cle right now)
1. Cin
2. Bal
3. Pit
4. Cle

RB’s (We have the best one two punch)
1. Pit
2. Cle
3. Bal
4. Cin

WR’s
1. Cin
2. Cle
3. Bal
4. Pit

TE’s (This is taking into consideration the blocking as a unit)
1. Bal
2. Pit
3. Cle
4. Cin

OL
1. Cle
2. Pit
3. Bal
4. Cin

DL (If Heyward regains his form we are #2)
1. Bal
2. Cle
3. Pit
4. Cin

Edge (No explanation)
1. Pit
2. Cle
3. Cin
4. Bal

LB (Steelers could be number 1 year end)
1. Bal
2. Pit
3. Cin
4. Cle

CB (This was tough. Bal and Cin have more depth than we do)
1. Cle
2. Bal
3. Cin
4. Pit

S (Could fall back one ... depends on how Elliot compliments Minkah)
1. Pit
2. Bal
3. Cle
4. Cin

SO only real change is Oline and possibly we move up at ILB by year end. Depending on what we do at WR Post Draft FA at WR we could move up. Other area where we could move up is DL if Heyward regains his form. I do not see us making any ground at CB this year.

 

Compare it to where the Steelers were at the end of last season.
QB - maybe better, maybe not. Better than the first 14 games, but maybe not the last 4 games.
RB - same
WR - Worse
TE - same
OL - Hopefully better (younger, may take time)
DL - same
Edge - same
ILB - better
CB - better (Jackson better than Wallace/Peterson)
Slot CB - incomplete
S - better

Punter - better
Offensive coaching - better

 

On the surface thats about right but when you factor in getting better by subtraction like getting rid of DJ and replacing him with Wilson I am not so sure we aren’t better at WR. Maybe not right away. I still think we need a veteran outside WR. Keep in mind with TE and with DL both Friermuth and Heyward were hurt a big part of the season so its possible you could say if they return to full health those positions could be better. I would mark them as incomplete right now. Plus we added that vet DL I forget his name. I think you definitely have to assume the OL is better simply by the high pedigree additional and a new offensive scheme. I would say QB is definitely better and Rb simply based on scheme and better Oline should be better as well.

 

The QB should be much better in 2024 since they had only 13 TD pass in 2023 and 12 in 2022...It was just brutal....The o-line should be better too same for the OC who is not hard to do!....The steelers were one of the worst offense in the league for most of the last season,so no reason to not see major improvement in it

My concern for this team overall,they were 9-2 in one possession game last year and they have been great in this area in the last 3-4 years but I don't know if it can continue for long again....Maybe they will not need to continue to win almost every close game to have a respectable record,so I hope they will able to win more game by 2 scores or more....I mean they have only 4 wins by 2 scores or more since 2021 and of course our offense was the biggest reason why

 

i think our defense will be top in the division if they stay healthy. i like our defensive backfield right now with jackson, jpj, minkah, elliott and kazee. big upgrade. with our inside linebackers being upgraded as well it just helps the DB's too. we should get some decent pass coverage from them as well. herbig in year 2 will also make the pass rush better.

 

I agree with what your saying but isn’t that indicative of parity around the league? I feel like most games around the league are one score games with the exception of some of the top teams. With that being said I think the other issues outside of our poor offense that nobody talks about is the fact we relied heavily on turnovers from our defense. We gave up alot of splash plays on defense and alot of long drives. We can’t rely on the turnovers that is not sustainable. Would love to get back to more three and outs for the defense.

 

I think what will make the pass rush better is having a healthy Heyward back. We got no push up the middle last year. Ogunjobi should not be starting. He was supposed to offer some gap penetration and sacks and qb pressures but he really doesn’t. He is a liability against the run game. I am hopeful they start Benton next to Heyward this year. The other thing that will provide more pressure is actual blitzes from the ILB and safeties. We were in such flux last year at ILB and Safety with all the injuries and moving parts we never were really able to get in a groove and we played very basic defense as a result. With Queen and Wilson and hopefully Cole comes back we have a fast athletic ILB core that we should really be able to utilize in coverage and blitzes.

I am not sold on Jackson he was basically a consolation in the DJ trade. He was going to be cut anyway by them. He may be a slight upgrade over Wallace and Peterson ... we shall see. I think we still need two additional CB’s one on the outside and a slot. I know thats not going to happen but hopefully we can fill the slot with better CB play than we had last year. I think you will also see more three safety looks and perhaps even three ILB looks with Wilson acting as a hybrid box safety covering the slot. He is faster than most of our DB’s anyway. We definitely should be better on defense this year than last year. Not to mention if the offense can sustain drives more and keep the defense fresh that will make a huge difference. Also imagine our defense playing with a lead. Thats actually what we are built for. The fact Watt put up 19 sacks last year in that defense when we were mostly playing from behind or close games is amazing. You look at somebody like Garrett who was on a better defense and they were often playing with a lead which meant the opposing offense was in a predictable situation (meaning they had to pass) and he still was behind Watt says alot about Watts superiority. You will never here PFF talk about that stuff though.

 

Agreed with the list.


Coaching is gonna matter big time. Arthur Smith needs to step up big time.

 

Good read

 

So does Mike Tomlin

 

Left him out deliberately for one reason; I believe his next contract will be his last. For that matter, the fact Tomlin still does not have an extension is quite telling. In short?!


Put up or shut up time. No excuses.