Who is the Steelers MVP in 2021?

Or most indispensible player. The guy without whom they have no shot to compete in 2021. For most of the last 17 years it would be Ben, no question, but I don't think that's the case anymore. I think the dropoff to Rudolph may not be a dropoff at all, actually.

List based on lack of depth and dependence on said player:

TJ Watt
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Najee Harris
Joe Haden
Devin Bush

 

TJ Watt imo. He's a righteous effin pisser for opposing offenses.

 

Can't argue with your list MD. Would really help if Johnson or Claypool made it onto the list.

 

Harvin

 

Here's a good read on your projected MVP (assuming you were and not about him).

https://triblive.com/sports/punter-...t-from-the-crowd-at-steelers-rookie-minicamp/

 

Ben

 

Juju

 

AV, for not being on the team.

 

First, I think there is a dropoff to Rudolph. Unfortunately, we're starting so low with Ben that it wouldn't really be noticeable.

That being said, I think TJ is everything to the defense. And the defense will have to carry us if we're to have a respectable season. The wildcard here, however, is whoever lines up at center. If we get stellar line play, our offense could make some noise. I'm not expecting that, though. Just lobbing it up there for an easy target.

 

Dan McCullers

 

Ben.

Because this season is going to depend on what he does.

 

Ben.

HACK

 

Najee if Ben let's him.

 

Offense: Big Ben:


The whole narrative of the team going as far as he does is essentially horse bones turned to dust as this point though not because of the truth said statement implies. Beyond Big Ben, as much as I would like to see Mason winning the team some games, I do not see Mason winning us a pivotal game and nevermind a playoff game if it ever came down to it. However, there is a different set of rules at play here or rather, a set of rules that the team has neglected for years. Aditi admittedly puts this into perspective very well;





Big Ben needs to balance out the offense by running the football a lot more. Otherwise, it will be more of the same in 2021.


Defense: Minkah Fitzpatrick


The defense can still create a great pass rush with multiple looks. That back end though is not just retooled but also lacking in experience and therefore must have a seasoned vet assisting them there. Joe Haden is one but that is not how the Steelers Secondary has operated since the departure of Rod Woodson. That level of responsibility and playmaker ability has since shifted to the safeties; Troy Polamalu being among the first highly successful ones.



Given the fact that the Safeties in Mike Tomlin's scheme have been valued far greater than the Corners, Minkah is the biggest asset to the entire defense. Losing Minkah is essentially turning this defense back into the 2015-2018 incarnations; great pass rush but very suspect to below average pass coverage.

 

Ben. Gonna prove all the naysayers wrong.

 

Rudolph

Ben falls hard and early

- Nay Sayer, IV

 

When I had the All 22 I never seen a guy dawg it so much. Tough to hide when you are that big.

He never got low in this one game and just engaged with the center standing up and let the play or RB go right past him.

I am way oversimplifying but why couldnt he get a personnel coach in the offseason to help him get a better jump on the ball and blow up the center.

Every day do a 1000 simulated snaps and perfect that.

quick story....
There was a webcam set up after a playoff game where the Steelers basically physically assaulted a team (I forgot who they were) but they just dominated on both sides and the guys were walking down the tunnel all fired up after the W...singing dancing. Vince Williams being Vince and then here comes big Dan at the end and the coaches are congratulation them and Tomlin goes "try to keep it down big guy" lol

 

That's hilarious Duke, almost spit out my mornin coffee...

 

Najee

 

That there is blasphemy 'round here.

 

I'm surprised you fell for such a tired, phony narrative. Do teams win because they ran for 100, or did they run for 100 because they were leading and running 90% of the time in the 2nd half?

That was a rhetorical question.

 

For such a tired narrative, the evidence of its effectiveness has not been proven incorrect either. For that matter, Big Ben has historically been shown to not do very well when he throws it 35+ times; the 2017 AFC Divisional Game being arguably his lowest lowlight of his career. Whether the narrative itself is to be in question is irrelevant.



The aspect that said narrative is the truth is what is most important here. Art Rooney II, Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert all clearly felt the same way. Otherwise, Najee Harris should have had no business being the 1st Pick for the team.

 

Yep.


Not just Big Ben though. Whomever the team has planned for being the next guy needs to have some balance as well. Not every QB is going to possess Justin Herbert to Patrick Mahomes level arm talent. Even if they did, always best to preserve that for as long as possible during the season.

 

On the other hand, in regular season games where Ben throws 40+ attempts and 500 yards, he is 3-0.

(Two of those games were decided by 1 point.
And you can figure out why I limited it to "regular season".)