For decades, the Steelers were seen as the moral compass of the National Football League. No organization is owned by a classier family than the Rooneys, and over the years problematic citizens have been dealt with swiftly.
Those times are apparently over, and costing the team dearly. This offseason was something of a nightmare for the Steelers, who watched as star receiver Martavis Bryant was suspended for the entire 2016 season due to a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. Bryant could be suspended further, as the NFL reserves the right to reinstate him.
Then there’s running back Le’Veon Bell, who was also suspended last year for a violation of the substance abuse policy, before getting popped again in July for reportedly missing several drug tests. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, a missed test is equivalent of a failed one. Because of Bell’s lack of judgment, the Steelers will be without Bell for the first three games of the campaign.
Pittsburgh will be relying heavily on the duo of Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Brown is the best receiver in the game today, fresh off a season in which he hauled in 136 catches for 1,834 yards, leading the league in both categories. The 28-year-old runs the best routes of anybody in today’s game and has elite speed, showcased by the fact he is still used in the return game.
Roethlisberger’s biggest challenge might be to stay healthy. Last year, Roethlisberger dealt with a sprained knee among other maladies, limiting him to 12 games. The 34-year-old still threw 21 touchdowns and passes for 3,938 yards, helping the Steelers reach the AFC Divisional round.
In short, the offense will still be dynamic with DeAngelo Williams replacing Bell and Brown stretching out defenses, but it won’t be the same.
Roethlisberger and Brown will need to be prolific, because the defense continues to have major question marks. The front line was hurt with the departure of Steve McLendon, a solid run defender who could line up over the nose. Cameron Heyward, Ryan Shazier, and Lawrence Timmons are three high-quality players in the front seven, but concerns remain on the edges.
James Harrison is a former superstar and Defensive Player of the Year, but at 38 years old, how much does he have left? Pittsburgh was able to apply pressure without a player in double-digit sacks last season, amassing 48 as a team. It will once again be relying on getting home as a group, with no one player presenting a huge threat.
The Steelers desperately need pressure because their secondary is a weak link. Both Artie Burns and Sean Davis were drafted to contribute immediately, hopefully taking the place of Brandon Boykin and Cortez Allen. William Gay is also aging at 31, but remains Pittsburgh’s best corner.
This is a team with aspirations of winning another Super Bowl in the Mike Tomlin era, but there are legitimate hurdles in the way. With age in certain spots and injury risks abound, Pittsburgh will have to navigate the regular season and hope for some luck.
Schedule
Week 1 – at Washington Redskins (Mon.)
Week 2 – Cincinnati Bengals
Week 3 – at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 4 – Kansas City Chiefs (Sun. night)
Week 5 – New York Jets
Week 6 – at Miami Dolphins
Week 7 – New England Patriots
Week 8 – BYE
Week 9 – at Baltimore Ravens
Week 10 – Dallas Cowboys
Week 11 – at Cleveland Browns
Week 12 – at Indianapolis Colts (Sun. night)
Week 13 – New York Giants
Week 14 – at Buffalo Bills
Week 15 – at Cincinnati Bengals (Sun. night)
Week 16 – Baltimore Ravens (Christmas)
Week 17 – Cleveland Browns
There is no brutal stretch for Pittsburgh in this schedule. The Steelers do have a difficult three-game swing in December, however, with road games at Buffalo and Cincinnati before facing the Ravens at home, who swept them last year despite going 5-11.
Pittsburgh does have a nice chance to gain ground from Week 10-13 with a pair of home games against beatable opponents and two away contests against weak teams. The Steelers could create nice momentum going into the snow and sleet.
Draft class
Round 1 (25) – Artie Burns, CB, Miami (FL)
Round 2 (58) – Sean Davis, CB, Maryland
Round 3 (89) – Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State
Round 4 (123) – Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU
Round 6 (220) – Travis Feeney, OLB, Washington
Round 7 (229) – Demarcus Ayers, WR, Houston
Round 7 (246) – Tyler Matakevich, OLB, Temple
This class won’t win any offseason polls as the best, but it serves its purpose. The Steelers desperately needed to add some help in the secondary and they did that with Burns and Davis. Both could start Week 1.
The rest of this group won’t be contributing immediately, barring the unforeseen. Pittsburgh is hoping this class can provide help two and three years down the road, when some of the current stars either price themselves into free agency or are ready to hang the cleats up.
Offseason moves
Acquired
Ladarius Green, TE (4 years, $24 million)
Lost
Kelvin Beachum, OT (JAX – 1 year, $4.5 million)
Brandon Boykin, CB (Unsigned)
X-Factor
Can Bell and Roethlisberger stay healthy? Bell is trying to come back from a torn ACL and LCL in one of the uglier injuries we have seen in recent years. When he’s 100 percent, few backs can compete with his dual-threat ability.
As for Roethlisberger, he’s not young anymore. At 34 years old, the former University of Miami (OH) product is getting hit more and more, and getting up less and less. Roethlisberger has only played all 16 games twice since 2008, and played in only 12 last year.
Bottom Line
Pittsburgh has Super Bowl aspirations and could realize those dreams if the secondary is good enough. The offense has the capability of scoring 30 points against any defense, so even an average D would be enough for the Steelers on most Sundays.
With Bell facing free agency after this season and Roethlisberger’s sand slipping through the hourglass, the Steelers are in win-now mode. Pittsburgh will certainly be one of the favorites deep into January, provided its health doesn’t betray.