Are the Steelers a better team than last year?

correct

#coachingMATTERS

but Rooney does not get it

9, 10, 11 wins maybe, back door 7 seed.

one and done in January, maybe, if lucky to get in.

still sucks

 

This is a good breakdown, though I think they could be worse at running back. There are questions about Johnson's ability to pass protect well enough to take on significant snaps as a rookie. If he can't, they've got problems.

 

There's plenty good evaluations already mentioned.

At a high level view:
QB - The position is the nerve center of a team. We're going to bank on a 41-year-old QB in Aaron Rogers who is one of the best QB's in his time. After Rogers there is a steep drop off. Mason is a feel-good story but has very limited success in his career. Will Howard is an either/or type QB. I doubt he will set the NFL on fire should he step on the playing field in year 1. I do hope he exceeds any/all expectations and is a Diamond found in the 6th round. I like what I've seen thus far.

RB - RB represents the strength of the offense, imposing its will on defenses. I liked Harris, he was a truck which Canada tried to covert into a scatback.. all those stupid outside runs. Warren runs with a lot of heart and gouges defenses with long runs. Lot of promise in Johnson, he is stout like Harris but unlike Harris, he is capable of taking it to the house from anywhere. This group has to produce to give Rogers options.

TE - Freiermuth has to produce. The group is like the previous 2, interesting. I like big Darnell Washington, though he won't challenge Gates, Kelce, Gonzales.... Safeties probably hate when he pulls a catch down and they are in the way.

WR's - We have 1 legit, 1 that has been legit and a bunch of looking for success types led by Austin III. Aaron likes to throw those long TD's to his WR's that he trusts enough to throw those 50/50 balls to.

OL - Lots of promise again. They have to open holes and keep Aaron clean.

Defense - It is all about pressure and stopping runs and NOT allowing those splash plays that kill us. Austin has to dial up defenses to keep QB's confused and take advantage of mistakes.

I don't know what to predict as far as wins....
If Rogers can still play at a high level and we keep him healthy, it could be a very good season.
If the Run can force Defenses to respect the run, it could be a very good season.
If some unknown WR's step up to the big time, it could be a very good season.
A lot of ifs.
I think I'll wait until preseason is in progress.

 

Well, I think the defense will be better just by getting rid of Sutton, Jackson, and Kazee in the secondary.

 

What wide receiver can Rodgers trust on a 50-50 ball? The Steelers traded away the only one they had. Despite his size, Metcalf is not great in those situations, certainly nowhere near as good as Pickens.

 

9-8 or 10-7 with a first round playoff blowout loss. Same as it ever was. That’s if 41 year old Rodgers stays healthy.

 

"same as it ever was"

 

Answer to the question of the thread: NO

 

are they worse?
I would say NO also.

just different......

 

We should have just went with Mason and then taken a look at the rookie Howard. That would have likely gotten us a solid draft pick to take a franchise QB in 2026. Instead MT want to preserve his .500 legacy which will get us 0 playoff wins and the 21st pick in the draft

I also think some on here are really optimistic about 41 year old Rodgers who won 5 games last year.

 

I have been in my career for 30+ years and have been furloughed, brought back, furloughed again, brought back again, voluntarily left, changed careers and brought back again. You sir, will probably never have to travel that path.

 

KDKA had an interview with Zach Frazier saying that he has to get used to Rodgers cadence when he's at the line of scrimmage. To help he got a recording of Rodgers calling plays at the line and is going to listen to it over and over until training camp. He wants a seamless transition so there are no mistakes on the snap like there was last season especially early on when Fields was QB.

 

Steelers would have to have the best offensive line in the NFL to be better or even compete in the AFC.

However, the common denominator is still coaching the team. And that common denominator always has his team ill prepared for at least 2-3 football games a year. And those games have cost the Steelers playoff births, 2nd seeds and 1 seeds in the past.

 

I don’t think they are any better nor are they worse. The Standard will be the standard once again.

 

Quarterbacks do not win and lose games by themselves, so that's a silly way to support a good point. I think some folks are overrating what Rodgers will do. He is too focused on protecting himself from interceptions and from big hits. The numbers might not look bad, but ask anybody who watched him last season and they will tell you he's a shell of his former self.

 

You are right about Rodgers that he is too focused on protectecting himself on interceptions and big hit but he is still better that Rudolph and likely 2024 Wilson....But it will not be enough for the steelers to take a step forward unless he return to his mvp days who is so unlikely

The steelers will likely be a 9-10 wins team with a wild card exit at best...It would be much better for the future if the steelers had a 5-6 wins season to have better chance to have a franchise QB in the 2026 draft and maybe the steelers have a complete overhaul in their approach on both side of the ball after that,but this is too good to be true

 

It reminds me of Ben towards the end when defenses would just all crowd the line of scrimmage because it was a 3 step drop and quick pass to avoid hits. That offense doesn’t work very long.

 

Hope springs eternal and I appreciate the optimism from some of you guys. Lots of question marks and the range of possibilities is pretty wide IMO. The biggest downside for me is Tomlin and his same old tired schemes, poor game prep, crappy clock management, lack of in game adjustments, and failure to have his squad ready. This pattern has repeated itself for almost the past decade. Until I see something different, I'm expecting a hot streak early/mid season followed by a late season collapse, limping into the WC game, and then getting their asses handed to them. Then all the Tomlin apologists celebrating another non-losing season and Rooney giving him a lifetime extension. Mediocrity reigns supreme in steel town.

 

Agreed. I could not believe how bad Sutton played after he came back from suspension last year.

I thought he was going to be our secret weapon we kept in our back pocket; boy was I wrong.

 

Zach Frazier is going to be the biggest difference between what Aaron can do and what Ben did. Having an old man running for his life because you have a center that can't block to save his life is going to make a huge difference.

 

This is the Ben quote I wanted above.

Zach Frazier!!!

 

Personnel wise we've improved overall, but its the same inept HC and staff,

12-5 or 13-4 if we had decent coaching, ill bring that down a couple games because of our coaches being outcoached. Trying to be positive maybe we get a playoff win this year,

 

Metcalf got some love in the early camp with Rogers. And as I understand, some of Rogers spare time also.
Not saying it is a lock by any means.
What I am saying is, person or persons in the WR room, better amp up their game. Rogers does throw those and if he can't trust anyone... it will be bad.

 

At this point....... don't you think our GM brain trust would think the same things you are claiming and either:
- Maybe do a better job at getting talent.
- Maybe go to the owner and say those same things.

We have a weak front office. There are several reports of Omar trying to low ball offer players.
So far, all I've seen are bargain bin players. BOGO.

 

RW has to step up this year.