More Than Average Hype Videos About Our Chances?

Seems to me there are many videos hyping our chances this preseason on YouTube, more than average, don`t know if there is a way to compare. Maybe there are more than ever posters of content just looking for clicks to make money to explain this observation.

Guess I`m just worried about the "sophomore jinx" for Kenny or something because of the hype. However, with his style of play, I don`t think there is any important "trick" Kenny relies on that can be figured out by the opposition.

On the other hand, anyone posting negative commentary figuring we finish last in the division seems unrealistic, negative hype looking for clicks too.

I think the best we can hope for is we get to the playoffs, make it to the second round and lose a squeaker to the Bills or Chiefs or similar finish. That would be one hell of a statement we are ready to seriously compete.

I think that is realistic thinking for the maximum on the upside. Barely missing the playoffs again seems to me to be the downside.

All this musing of our chances on the upside is barring serious injuries to key players.

 

Have faith....,and the Bills will take another step back this year.

 

I wouldn't call it more than Average Hype per se. These proverbial Hype Vids have far more credibility than ones of the past. This Steelers Roster, on paper, is the best that Tomlin has fielded in quite some time. People like me, @mac daddyo, @SteelersFanIrl, @troybellringer55, @Steel_Elvis, @S.T.D and others NEEDED to crush both Free Agency and the Draft... and Omar Kahn did just that. Both priorities were of tremendous value as now is the time to push the proverbial chips to the middle of the table for Kenny Pickett.


Like so many have been saying... it all comes down to him (for me, Matt Canada but I digress). Should Kenny Pickett improve the way some of us believe he can (along with Matt Canada himself improving), there is no reason that the Steelers cannot just return to the Post Season but also generate some serious noise when they get there. The only major obstacle left is time itself; to wait.

 

2024 is my personal deadline for a title run as well. Having it a year early though certainly doesn't hurt!

 

I live in Bengal Land and according to many of them we should just hand them the Lombardi this year. They will be so great that all other teams should just forfeit to save the embarrassment.

 

However we still don't know what we have at inside linebacker correct? That is the position I am most concerned about. We have been weak there for a couple years now and it doesn't look like we made much improvement there. So I'll temper my optimism with hoping this position works out

 

This. Steelers have been below average at ILB since Shazier was injured and Vince Williams retired.

 

F**k them. If You listen to most media outside of Pittsburgh.....We have No chance because of Lamar, and Burrow. I'm surprised they just don't hand out the MVP to one , and the SB to the other right now...LoL. We shall see. Only team I'm seriously scared of is KC. The rest can

 

My concerns are with ILB as well. However, my biggest are Slot CB like @S.T.D for there are a lot of unknowns. Cam Sutton was far more impactful there than any other position he played during 2023. Losing him means losing a lot of snaps to such a critical position.


For me, in layman's terms, Slot CB is a Top Three position of importance in the Modern NFL for said position requires a truly unique and sometimes special skill set to perform. Finding those guys is more difficult than finding ILBs. One major aspect for ILBs is that the Steelers IDL Depth and Talent are far superior to anything the team has fielded since 2017; a component that is often overlooked when it comes to factoring ILB play. Pass coverage is of a different story but Run Defense in the middle should be much better this season thanks to the additions along the Defensive Line; some new faces who don't mind getting dirty in the form of Cole Holcomb and Elandon Robert's the same.



For Slot CBs... they are often on their own; responsible for a myriad of tasks at hand. They don't have a safety net like ILBs do.

 

I think a team to watch is Jacksonville. Lawrence is entering his 3rd year, after a rookie year that started with a horrible coaching situation he turned it up last year, they went 1-1 in the playoffs. He threw 5 picks in those 2 games, but that experience is golden moving forward.

For the Steelers it's pretty basic, can the D hold or better their PPG avg last year, and can Canada open up a play book we have not seen yet and if so will it get another TD a game avg. from last year? That's asking a lot, but if Boz can return to his old form, and the O can execute in the red zone the team should not only get to the PO's, but be competitive when there.

 

Ok So as I understand it the slot CB used to be called the Nickel defender right? He is brought in to cover the area between the outside receiver and the last guy on the offensive line correct? Who do we have that fulfills that spot now? Isn't the slot corner normally not on the field unless it's a passing down? Forgive my ignorance here but how often does the slot CB play on the field? Every defensive down or just when the offense brings in an extra wide receiver?

 

Slot CBs are not just an important position among NFL Defenses. They are either thr 2nd or 3rd most important depending on the schematics of the Defense as a whole. Remember, the Modern NFL is all about personnel match-ups; exploiting weaknesses being a big name of the game. Tomlin and the Steelers have placed a premium on versatility as a whole for that allocates fewer resources for positions that can be filled with similar players; namely the DIME Backer and the Slot CB in this case. Of the two, Slot CB is so much more integral to not just cover opposing Offensive Weapons but provide additional run support along with adding another dimensions towards blitz packages.


Recall back to Mike Hilton during his time with the Steeles. While he was slightly above average for coverage, he excelled in both run support and blitzing. While that does not seem all that much in terms of a player who acting merely as a Nickel, NFL Defenses often play in Sub Package Formations anymore for Base Defenses are insufficient overall sans a few teams cases. Due to the increase of playing Sub Package Football, teams now are more inclined to invest heavily on specific types of players for specific types of spots. Among these "specialized roles", Slot CB and the players that play it have been among the biggest winners for their ability to adapt to a multi array of Offensive Personnel Schemes is invaluable in a League which not only greatly favors passing the Football but encourages teams to score as many points as possible as quickly as possible. This is mainly in the form of as many Offensive Skill Based Weapons in the passing game as possible within the rules. So, to combat this, a position like Slot CB did not just become a team based favorite overnight but one of necessity for teams with Super Bowl aspirations. There are workarounds to this, Minkah and Demontee technically being said players, but said players with the skill set that they have are better served elsewhere. This leads me to Cameron Sutton.



Losing Mike Hilton was bad. Losing Cameron Sutton?!?! Depending on one's definition of how big a loss, the answers vary from about the same level of pain to worse. Sutton may have not been nearly as consistent as Hilton when it came to Run Support and Blitzing but he was Hiltons superior in Pass Coverage; an area where the Steelers have heavily invested in this Offseason.


Time will tell who will be the Slot CB for the Steelers in 2023 as that is going to play a much bigger role than others realize for not just the reasons I have outlined but also the teams the Steelers will face; much less their usual AFC North Opponents. While an Elite ILB is hard to come by, finding even a very good Slot CB is another league of difficulty.

 

Beat me to it regarding Jacksonville. For that matter, outside of the Steelers, expect the Jaguars to be major players in the Conference. An AFC South with little to no QBs to speak of and a manageable schedule along with an ascending Doug Pederson Coached Team?!?!



... has all the makings of being party crashes come January Football.

 

Thanks for the explanation

 

My pleasure!

 

I wanted to, but @AskQuestionsLater did a fine job. Remember....like He hit on.....there are ways to work around it, but then You must be strong elsewhere, and may even cause You to change scheme.

 

The key is staying healthy and fresh. If we can do both, we are as good as anyone.

 

This is key. I believe He will. I believe on most players too much is put on talent, and not work ethic, brains, and heart. Yet how many times do We see the physical freaks get out played in the NFL.....hell the entire sports world???
As far as Qb....just being able to see the open man quickly is worth way more than arm strength, and foot speed any day.

 

Kenny will see the Steelers land of the WR/TE giants when he goes through his progressions. He needs to able to throw high catchable balls to them.

Zach Gentry 6-8
Darnell Washington 6-7
Pat Freiermuth 6-5
Hakeem Butler 6-5
Miles Boykin 6-4
George Pickens 6-3
Allen Robinson 6-3

Along with elusive Diontae Johnson and Calvin Austin

 

We have witnessed some heartbreak in the NFL markets we live in. I'd say, "that's a shame" but we both know that'd be a big lie

 

Lamar didn't worry me as much as Burrow and Lawrence coming into the NFL. I really was hoping the NFC would have got both. Hell, AFC had to deal with Brady and now Mahomes. Zero idea what will happen but if I'm shooting the breeze with friends about the AFC with my black and gold glasses off I'd say Mahomes, Burrow and Lawrence will be in the next few SB's representing the AFC

 

Always happy to help!

 

I wouldn't put Butler on the team just yet.