The Steelers are out of Latrobe, and this summer’s camp left behind a clearer picture of where this team stands. Under new head coach Mike McCarthy, practices were shorter than the ones Mike Tomlin usually demanded, but the pace was noticeably faster. The result was a camp that revealed some real problems, while also giving Pittsburgh a few reasons to feel better about the roster than it did a year ago.
The biggest issue still hanging over the team is inside linebacker. Pittsburgh signed Elandon Roberts to help, but the position still comes down to Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen.
Neither one was especially strong last season, and expecting both to suddenly flip the script is a lot to ask. The Steelers are banking on that duo becoming a force in the middle, but it remains a major gamble.
There’s also a good chance the front office keeps looking outside the building for help. Pittsburgh looks like a playoff-caliber roster overall, but it could still use reinforcements once other teams begin trimming their rosters.
Don’t be surprised if some players cut elsewhere end up on the Steelers’ 53-man group. Several spots could use another layer of depth before the season starts.
Quarterback is another spot worth watching closely. Will Howard went from getting a loud preseason welcome to potentially being on the outside looking in after camp.
The Steelers appear ready to keep Mason Rudolph as the backup, which would leave Howard in a tough spot unless the team decides to carry four quarterbacks. Long term, the offense might be better with Howard in the mix, but his place on the roster is far from secure.
Still, camp wasn’t all uncertainty. The defensive front looked strong, and maybe stronger than it has in a while.
The run defense stood out, the starters looked prepared, and the depth behind them held up well too. A few younger players even made a case for snaps once the games begin.
Wide receiver is another area that feels far healthier than it did last summer. The group has veteran starters in place, and there’s upside behind them with Germie Bernard and Roman Wilson waiting for their turn. Compared to where that room was a year ago, the difference is hard to miss.
And then there’s McCarthy himself. After 19 years with the same head coach, the Steelers needed something new, and camp showed a staff willing to change the rhythm and put its own stamp on things.
McCarthy didn’t hesitate to make adjustments, and that fresh approach seemed to land well. Whether it becomes something bigger is the next question, but the early impression was a strong one.
In Other News...
Steelers Suddenly Have A Clear Path Through Their QB Logjam
The Steelers quarterback room has been crowded enough to draw attention all summer, with Mason Rudolph, Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard and Drew Allar all on the roster. Rudolph in particular has become a familiar name in the conversation because of his experience, his standing as a veteran backup type and the simple reality that there are only so many reps to go around in camp and preseason.
Mike McCarthy has already spoken highly of Rudolphs command and experience, which only adds to the sense that Pittsburgh has a decision to make as the roster takes shape. His absence from a recent preseason game also turned heads, especially with the team weighing a possible path forward that could ease the logjam and reshape the depth chart behind Rodgers. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Have A Trade Chip The Chargers Might Need
Tyler Biadaszs injury during Tuesdays joint practice has quickly changed the Chargers outlook up front, and it could push them into the market for help at center. With Biadasz now sidelined and rookie Jake Slaughter next in line, Los Angeles is staring at a thinner cushion than it expected, especially after losing a player who was supposed to stabilize the middle of the line.
That is where Pittsburgh could suddenly have something useful to offer in Brock Hoffman. The Steelers backup lineman gives teams the kind of flexibility that matters in a pinch, with experience at both center and guard, and that sort of versatility tends to draw attention when injuries hit this early. If the Chargers decide they need insurance before the situation gets any trickier, this is the kind of phone call that can turn a roster setback into a trade conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Have A Joey Porter Jr. Decision Fans Can't Ignore
Joey Porter Jr. is still at a familiar crossroads for the Steelers, with the young cornerback unsigned to a long-term deal as he works his way through a back issue on the Physically Unable to Perform List. Even with the uncertainty around his status, the organization continues to view him as part of its future, and his situation has become one of the more closely watched contract matters around the team as the offseason winds on.
Interest from other NFL teams has only added to the noise, but a move out of Pittsburgh does not appear to be in the cards this offseason. The real pressure point may come later if the sides still have not reached an agreement, when the Steelers could be forced to decide whether to lean on the franchise tag next offseason to keep one of their top young defenders in place. [Read more 🡒]