3 Pittsburgh Steelers who have to take the next step this season

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin walks the sideline in the fourth quarter of of the NFL Week 11 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. The Bengals won 37-30.Cincinnati Bengals At Pittsburgh Steelers Week 11 /

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A healthy Larry Ogunjobi could really boost the Steelers’ defense in 2023. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Steelers who need to step up: 2. Larry Ogunjobi

Playing as a defensive end in a three-man front isn’t the most glamorous job in the NFL. Larry Ogunjobi plays that role for the Steelers’ scheme that is just as concerned with his ability to occupy blockers as it is with producing sacks. Unfortunately, he didn’t do either job at an impressive clip last season.

The hope in Pittsburgh is that Ogunjobi’s health is clearly way ahead of where it was last offseason. He openly told reporters that last July he couldn’t even run. This year he was able to begin his offseason work in January in hopes of being in top shape once training camp rolls around.

The Steelers defensive front needs significantly more from Ogunjobi this year if they’re going to be disruptive. He only logged 28 tackles and two sacks last year. More troubling was the reality that his PFF Grade for the season was only a mediocre mark of 61.7.

The more havoc Ogunjobi can cause from his position the more freedom he’ll give TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. If Ogunjobi doesn’t pick up his play it’s going to be tough for Pittsburgh to operate as a top-10 defense. It could also spell the end of his career with the Steelers.

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