It goes with out saying that the Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 marketing campaign could be the crew’s most anticipated season in years. That anticipation ballooned following an electrical offseason by the entrance workplace that included the acquisitions of a future Corridor of Fame quarterback (Aaron Rodgers), two attainable future Corridor of Fame defensive backs (Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay), a two-time Professional Bowl receiver (DK Metcalf) nonetheless in his prime and a number of other promising rookies.
All of those strikes created a buzz that permeated over Saint Vincent School in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, all through the primary week of Pittsburgh’s coaching camp. Amid the recent and muggy (and at occasions, stormy) climate, hundreds of Steelers followers waved their Horrible Towels and cheered a crew that they hope can break the franchise’s eight-year drought with no playoff win six months from now.
The humorous factor in regards to the Steelers is that, whereas anticipation is excessive relating to the 2025 season, nobody has the slightest thought as to what to anticipate from this Pittsburgh crew. Will it finish the playoff win drought whereas making a attainable Super Bowl run? Will it observe latest groups by placing collectively one other good — however not adequate — nine- or 10-win season and early playoff exit? Will it fully crumble and render Mike Tomlin his first shedding season because the Steelers head coach?
All of this unknown left many using the emotional curler coaster that was the primary week of Steelers camp, particularly relating to the offense and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It appeared as if the expectations relating to Rodgers and the offense modified on nearly each snap in the course of the first week of camp, a lot in order that Tomlin alluded to it after the offense responded to some adversity in the course of the second day of apply.
“It is gonna be ebb and circulation,” Tomlin stated. “I do not trip the emotional curler coaster on Day 2. We’re gonna hold snapping.”
Taking Tomlin’s cue, these observations from the Steelers’ first week of coaching camp may even attempt to hold issues even keel. That being stated, it is protected to say a number of issues have been made very clear after the primary practices of camp. Let’s check out each, beginning with Rodgers and the offense.
Rodgers nonetheless getting warmed up
As anticipated, the Steelers offense regarded like a unit that hasn’t spent a lot time collectively. There have been struggles, however there have been sufficient good performs to persuade anybody watching that this might be an excellent group as soon as it finds its rhythm. The primary query is: how lengthy will it take for that to occur?
It was a far cry from 2018, when Ben Roethlisberger began coaching camp by throwing dimes to Antonio Brown. Regardless of Le’Veon Bell’s absence, the Steelers offense was in close to midseason type in the course of the first week of camp and would go on to tie the franchise single-season report for touchdowns.
If the 2018 offense is the usual, the Steelers’ present offense is months behind the place that unit was. Once more, that is anticipated given all the brand new acquisitions on offense and the truth that Rodgers did not take his first official snap with the crew till the primary day of coaching camp.
Rodgers’ first week of camp consisted of many incompletions, batted balls and interceptions to Patrick Queen (on his first cross) and Jalen Ramsey. He regarded annoyed at occasions, however stated throughout his lone media availability final week that he usually takes possibilities throughout apply that may result in errors. That is why it is apply.
Rodgers did have some good throws, particularly within the purple zone and through Seven Pictures, a seven-play drill between the offense and protection from the 2-yard-line. Rodgers, when he was within the pocket and had time to throw, regarded like the longer term Corridor of Famer he’s. He particularly had success throwing to Metcalf and tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. One can anticipate newcomer Jonnu Smith to get into the act when he will get caught up to the mark. That should not take lengthy, given Smith’s spectacular work ethic that features appreciable time with the Jugs machine submit apply.
However Rodgers was something however himself exterior of the pocket. On Saturday, Rodgers was off the mark on a cross to the sideline that got here after he left the pocket. Throughout the identical apply, Rodgers heaved his first deep try of camp within the path of Metcalf. Whereas Metcalf practically made an unimaginable catch, it would not have counted as Rodgers threw it a number of yards out of bounds.
Saturday’s apply additionally included a myriad of drops as Rodgers at one level threw 5 straight incompletions. He additionally had a bevy of passes batted down in the course of the first week of apply.
Tomlin, Metcalf and Rodgers all shrugged off the offense’s early struggles, and one can perceive why. It was only one week, and it’ll take time for the offense to determine it out. However how lengthy? Whereas the Steelers proceed to attempt to determine it out, the Bengals, for instance, are firing on all cylinders on offense behind Joe Burrow and wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Steelers have time, however not that a lot time till they face the Jets 40 days from now of their common season opener.
Until issues change shortly, the Steelers offense will not be near realizing its potential when the ball is kicked off Week 1. To be truthful, no offense or unit is at that time within the season, however the Steelers offense is trending in the direction of being even additional behind the eight ball. The unit might find yourself being one of many NFL’s higher ones, nevertheless it would possibly take some time for it to get there.
Power in numbers
The 2025 Steelers offense does have one thing the high-scoring 2018 unit lacked: depth on the ability positions. The Steelers might not have a prolific No. 2 receiver, however they want to make up for it by spreading the ball round to their array of playmakers.
Together with Metcalf, Rodgers additionally has high quality tight ends in Freiermuth, Smith and Washington; receivers Calvin Austin III, Robert Woods, Scotty Miller (who had a powerful first week of camp) and Roman Wilson; and operating backs Jaylen Warren and rookie Kaleb Johnson. Each is anticipated to contribute to the offense in 2025.
The Steelers’ depth ought to make them particularly harmful within the purple zone, which was the case in the course of the first week of coaching camp. It will additionally make it simpler for the Steelers to have a balanced offense whereas making them a much less predicable unit than in years previous.
It does not take Invoice Walsh to determine what Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith desires to do: Make use of three tight ends and have Rodgers matriculate the ball down the sector. Rodgers will sometimes throw downfield (the Steelers did not get him simply to be a recreation supervisor), and when he does, Metcalf will probably be his supposed goal.
The difficulty, nonetheless, is that the Steelers haven’t any different deep threats exterior of the 5-foot-9 Austin. So it is conceivable to suppose that defenses will stack the field and power Rodgers to beat them excessive. That is an inevitable drawback that the Steelers must determine.
All this being stated, the Steelers have the potential to be a really potent offense. In Metcalf, they’ve their greatest receiver since Brown, their greatest quarterback since Roethlisberger in Rodgers and a operating again duo that has the potential to be even higher than the one Warren loved the previous few years with Najee Harris. It’d simply take longer than desired for the group to succeed in its potential.
Offensive line woes
Like the remainder of the offense, Pittsburgh’s offensive line has a great deal of potential. The difficulty up to now, nonetheless, is that it largely failed to point out it in the course of the first week of camp.
Issues did not begin effectively for the unit when information broke that Isaac Seumalo hasn’t been practising as he’s coping with a smooth tissue harm. Now, one other starter, left deal with Broderick Jones, exited Sunday’s apply early after struggling a lower-body harm.
Beginning middle Zach Frazier hasn’t been injured, however he in all probability wished he had an excuse for a number of botched snaps that in the end led to him briefly faraway from Seven Pictures on Saturday. That was the second straight Seven Pictures that started with Frazier firing a low snap that killed the play earlier than it had an opportunity to really begin.
On a constructive word, beginning proper deal with Troy Fautanu largely held his personal whereas getting quite a lot of work towards perennial Professional Bowl cross rusher T.J. Watt. Fautanu bought beat for what would have been a sack throughout a latest apply however responded by containing Watt on the next play.
From a depth perspective, the Steelers line is in respectable form with deal with Dylan Cook, guard Spencer Anderson and middle Ryan McCollum, who’s at present coping with an undisclosed harm.
The place is T.J. Watt?
As anticipated, T.J. Watt lined up at totally different spots in the course of the first week of camp in an effort to assist him proceed to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Watt has sometimes lined up on the best facet of the road as an alternative of being in his customary spot on the left facet.
Whereas Tomlin downplayed it after a latest apply, Watt lining up in numerous spots is certainly vital. Watt had simply two sacks in the course of the closing 5 video games final season as offenses made it a degree to restrict his influence. That stretch of video games made it clear that Watt and the Steelers wanted to get inventive if the previous NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr desires to proceed to supply as such shifting ahead.
Based mostly on final week’s practices, it is clear Watt and the Steelers are exploring their choices so far as him lining up at totally different positions.
Protection off to robust begin
We have spent quite a lot of time discussing the offense. Now let’s speak about just a little bit a few protection that must be within the operating for the NFL’s greatest this season.
Pittsburgh was hellbent to enhance a protection that bought chewed as much as the tune of 299 dashing yards throughout January’s wild-card playoff loss to Baltimore. That recreation looks like a distant reminiscence now after seeing the protection final week in Latrobe.
Certain, it was one week with out pads. However generally, you need not see a lot to understand you are seeing one thing that has an opportunity to be particular.
Let’s begin with the defensive position that features potential future Corridor of Famer Cam Heyward, who final yr confirmed that he’s nonetheless an elite participant at age 36. Pittsburgh has paired him with a promising teammate rookie Derrick Harmon, who a number of occasions final week confirmed why the Steelers made him their first-round decide.
Pittsburgh has continuity at inside linebacker in starters Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson, who must be significantly higher as he enters his second season. An underrated a part of Pittsburgh’s protection is its depth at ILB with newcomer Malik Harrison and veteran Cole Holcomb, who’s again after lacking all of final yr after struggling a nasty knee harm seven video games into the 2023 season.
Watt headlines a proficient group of out of doors linebackers that acquired an inflow of expertise by way of the draft in former Ohio State standout Jack Sawyer, who’s relishing his probability to work alongside Watt and Alex Highsmith. Sawyer expects to make his personal influence this season.
“At my place, cross dashing is a premium,” he stated. “I bought two nice guys to study from, and Nick Herbig, too. So I really feel like I am in an incredible spot. And, you realize, I am assured within the instruments that I’ve within the cross rush. So I am wanting ahead to studying as a lot as I can and and put my abilities on show.”
Whereas it has improved on each stage, the factor that might make Pittsburgh’s protection a dominant one is its revamped secondary that lately added yet one more new face in veteran security Chuck Clark. The unit at present boasts six-time Professional Bowler Darius Slay, veteran up-and-comer Joey Porter Jr. and potential future Corridor of Famer Jalen Ramsey, certainly one of two gamers the Steelers acquired within the Minkah Fitzpatrick commerce.
After that commerce went down, the large query was the place would Ramsey play? The reply is in every single place.
Through the first week of camp, he lined up in Fitzpatrick’s previous spot at free security when Pittsburgh was in its base bundle. He moved into the slot when the Steelers went nickel. Ramsey blitzed typically when he was within the slot, a possible foreshadowing of how Pittsburgh will intend to make use of him when the common season begins.
Ramsey embracing his new position ought to pay main dividends for the Steelers protection. Truthfully, it was laborious to not discover him roaming all through Pittsburgh’s protection final week. It was like watching a mixture of Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu and Deion Sanders all of sudden.
Rodgers felt the wrath of Ramsey a number of occasions. One one play, Ramsey blitzed and Rodgers shortly turned to the opposite facet of the sector earlier than throwing an ill-advised cross that led to an incompletion. Through the finish of Saturday’s apply, Rodgers rolled out and lofted a cross to Smith that Ramsey intercepted, beginning the play within the slot earlier than breaking on the cross.
Pittsburgh’s protection additionally contains beginning robust security DeShon Elliott, who penned an extension earlier this offseason. Alongside together with his tangible abilities, Elliott’s power as a communicator was another excuse why the Steelers wished him again for the lengthy haul. Enhancing communication on the again finish (one of many predominant causes for the unit’s struggles late final season) has been a spotlight ever because the 2024 season ended. It is protected to say the protection has already made main strides in that regard.
Add all of it up, and the Steelers look to have a protection able to serving to the crew snap its playoff win drought. It must also be adequate to assist make up for an offense nonetheless discovering its means.