The Pittsburgh Steelers enter 2023, playing in what could be the toughest division in what should be the toughest conference. Their defense looks as dangerous as ever, with a pass rush capable of inflicting pain and tons of pressure on opposing offenses. However, if they want to have a chance of being competitive this season, their offense will have to answer these burning questions:
Will Kenny Pickett Keep Making Strides?
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 24: Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 24, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Calling Kenny Pickett's preseason impressive would be a massive understatement. You could look at his numbers and see why Steelers fans are optimistic about 2023. Pickett completed 13 of 15 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions. The Steelers offense scored a touchdown on all five of his preseason drives.
Pickett seems to be more comfortable settling in the pocket, not rushing through his progressions. Not only that, but he's also taking shots downfield. Pittsburgh's offense has looked stale and anemic over the past two years with Matt Canada as OC. While it may have just been the preseason, 2023 could be an explosive year for the Steelers offense.
Outside of Allen Robinson and Darnell Washington, the receiving corps is the same as last year. He's had a chance to build a strong rapport with his pass-catchers. Yinzers will hope for many Pickett-to-Pickens connections in 2023. They have ball-winners, speedsters, possession TEs, and one of the better receiving rooms in the NFL.
Can Kenny Pickett's preseason success carry into the regular season? That's one of the burning questions for him to answer. Was the preseason a sign of what's to come, or is he giving his fans false hope?
Harris & Warren = Thunder & Lightning?
TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 11: Jaylen Warren #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries the ball during an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on August 11, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
For a second, the Steelers RB discussion was starting to become insufferable. Jaylen Warren flashed his potential during camp, and fans were clamoring for him to take Najee Harris' spot as RB1. Warren looked like a feature back in his first two preseason games, which is what ultimately spearheaded these conversations. The noise settled down after the third game when Najee Harris showed what makes him special.
Najee Harris is thunder; a powerful back capable of grinding out tough yards and wearing the defense down. Jaylen Warren is lightning; the speedster capable of flipping the field position if you give him a hint of daylight. They work better together, instead of one being used over the other as the primary back.
The Steelers have two burning questions involving their running game in 2023. The first question is if the o-line will be dominant enough to make their run game effective. Pittsburgh invested heavily in blockers this offseason. They signed Isaac Seumalo in free agency to replace Kevin Dotson at LG. They drafted Broderick Jones in the first round, as well as his teammate in college who was a dominant blocking TE in Darnell Washington.
The second question is how the workload will be split between Harris and Warren. Harris received a huge chunk of the team's offensive touches in his first two seasons. Warren is a viable option and can take some of that load off of Harris' shoulders. Both are capable weapons as ball carries and pass-catchers, so the split should be close to even.
Year Two Breakouts From Calvin Austin & Connor Heyward?
LATROBE, PA - JULY 28: Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) runs a route during the team's training camp at Saint Vincent College on July 28, 2023, in Latrobe, PA. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Last season, George Pickens, Kenny Pickett, and even Jaylen Warren got attention as rookie contributors on Pittsburgh's offense. Calvin Austin and Connor Heyward were also rookies, but they both fell under the radar. If preseason showed anything, it showed that these two are poised for breakouts in year two.
Calvin Austin should have been a valuable piece to Pittsburgh's offense in 2022, but a foot injury kept him from touching the field. Now that he's back, he looked like the speedy, elusive gadget player in preseason that he was in college. He still has the explosiveness to stretch the field as a deep threat or make people miss in the open field on bubble screens. What makes him even scarier, is his ability as a punt returner.
Connor Heyward spent more time on special teams as a rookie, playing sporadically on offense. A former RB in college, Heyward's versatility should keep him on the field. Some may consider him a tweener; a player with the ball skills of a TE that lacks the ideal TE size. Regardless of where Pittsburgh decides to put him, his ability as a ball carrier and pass-catcher should keep him on the field more often.
The AFC is filled with elite QBs and high-powered offenses. The more weapons Pittsburgh has available, the better their chances will be to compete with those teams. Connor Heyward and Calvin Austin's involvement in this offense will serve as burning questions.
Will Dan Moore Jr. Keep the Starting LT Job?
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 24: Dan Moore Jr. #65 of the Pittsburgh Steelers blocks during an NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 24, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
After two seasons of average-to-below-average play from Dan Moore Jr., the Steelers decided to draft Broderick Jones in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh made it their mission to upgrade the left side of their offensive line after getting inconsistent play from Moore and Dotson.
Broderick Jones was supposed to be the one filling in at LT this year, but nobody told that to Dan Moore, who played with a chip on his shoulder this preseason. Moore showed up to camp motivated and is still slated as starting LT heading into week one. Broderick Jones showed flashes of what he does well, but clearly, he needs time to improve his technical deficiencies. Moore, while questions still remain if he can anchor and play with more physicality, looked fine in preseason.
There will be plenty of burning questions surrounding what Pittsburgh decides to do at the tackle position. While it has been a competitive battle, Moore has still taken the time to be a mentor for Jones. Will it stay like this all season, or will Jones eventually step in before the season ends? They even teased Moore at RT for a bit, but would they really bench Chukwuma Okorafor and place Moore there to put Broderick Jones at LT? It will be interesting to see what the Steelers do with that position.
Featured image: Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images
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