Coaching
The Steelers have been one of the best franchises in the NFL since 2001 while having elite success since 1972. Over the last 20 seasons, Pittsburgh has a 208-110-2 record with 13 playoff appearances, and two Super Bowl wins. Last year, they started the year with 11 straight wins but limped home with only one win over their final five contests. Their season ended in the wild card game (37-48) to the Browns.
Mike Tomlin returns for his 15th season as head coach. He has a 145-78-1 record with nine playoff berths and one Super Bowl title. Tomlin has an 8-8 record in the postseason, but 3-6 over his last six appearances. He has the third-best winning percentage (.656) behind Bill Belichick (.664) and Sean McVay (.663) of all active coaches.
His road to the playoff lives or dies with the quarterback position. Pittsburgh needs to squeeze another year out of Ben Roethlisberger to make a deep playoff run.
The Steelers promoted Matt Canada from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator. He has a long history of holding the same job in college, but 2021 will be his second season of coaching in the pros. Canada used a quick passing game last season to limit the damage in sacks. Pittsburgh’s inability to consistently make big plays caught up to them late in the season.
The Steelers ended 2020 with the 24th ranking in offensive yards, which was the lowest placement for Ben Roethlisberger in his 16 seasons leading the offense. Pittsburgh finished 12th in points scored (416), a mere 127 points more than 2019 (289) when Roethlisberger missed most of the year.
Keith Butler will run the defense for the seventh straight season after working as their linebackers’ coach for 12 years. Pittsburgh ranked in the top six in the league in yards allowed (3rd in 2020) over the past four years. They allowed 321 points (3rd) last season.
Free Agency
Their offensive line lost T Alejandro Villanueva and G Matt Feiler.
Over the past five seasons with the Steelers, Villanueva excelled in pass blocking. The quick release by Ben Roethlisberger also helped his success in minimizing the damage in sacks. His game regressed over past seasons in run blocking.
Feiler made 13 starts in 2020 with a similar opportunity the previous year. His run blocking regressed each in the year, but Pittsburgh never found a viable lead running back to fill in the void of Le’Veon Bell after he left town. His value in pass protection showed some growth over the past two seasons.
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RB James Conner signed with the Cardinals. Injuries led to 12 missed games from 2018 to 2020. When healthy, he runs well with value in the passing game. His yards per catch (6.1 in 2020) faded in back-to-back seasons.
Pittsburgh’s defense lost CB Mike Hilton and DE Bud Dupree.
Hilton did most of his work in slot coverage, where he limits receivers to short yards per catch and minimal damage in touchdowns allowed. His play against the run regressed over the past two seasons due to some missed tackles.
Dupree missed five games last season due to a torn ACL in his left knee. He delivered 19.5 sacks over his previous 27 games while being a liability in most seasons in run support. He continues to miss too many tackles.
Draft
RB Najee Harris
By drafting Harris with the 24th selection in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Steelers brought power back to their running game. There is a lot to like with the potential upside with Harris. He runs with power plus shows enough wiggle to make defenders miss in space. His feel for the passing game looks to be a win for any team while expecting him to upgrade the scoring on the ground in the red zone. Harris worked hard for his yards, which is what he’ll face at the next level.
TE Pat Freiermuth
Pittsburgh added Freiermuth in the second round. His short-area quickness or overall speed won’t be an edge, but Freiermuth is a hand catcher who plays with strength and power to finish off his receptions for first downs and touchdowns. He reads defenders well with the vision to see open space. Freiermuth will be a play-action scoring threat with the ability to work the middle of a defense in the end zone. Penn State gave him chances on the move behind the line of scrimmage and jump balls at the goal line.
G Kendrick Green
Green has a natural fit for a fast-hitting run game thanks to his quickness off the snaps. His vision needs improvement in pass protection, and his strength isn’t where it needs to be to handle power players. Green can play center or guard, but his range is limited.
T Dan Moore
Moore brings a good foundation in his blocking technique while showing more patience than fire in his game. His hands aren’t where they need to be, and Moore lacks the fire to deliver knockout blows in the run game. His experience comes against top defenders, which will help his learning curve with the Steelers.
LB Buddy Johnson
Johnson works hard in run support with room to grow in his game, which will come with more experience. He attacks the line with a fighter mentality that sometimes hurts his playmaking ability. Johnson isn’t ready to handle top receivers in the passing game. His aggressive style should shine in early downs for the Steelers.
DE Isaiahh Loudermilk
Loudermilk won’t win in the pass rush with his speed or quickness, and his style of play amounts to a strength-based, stalemate player. His vision grades well while showing a hammer with his body and hands when attacking the line of scrimmage.
DE Quincy Roche
Roche should work as a passing down attacker for Pittsburgh. He made plenty of plays at the line of scrimmage in college while showing the ability to slip blocks and finish his rushes. His challenge will come against power, and Roche lacks the recovery speed to make up for any delay in his attack.
CB Tre Norwood
Norwood wants to jump routes and make plays in coverage, but his mistakes outweigh his wins. He lacks the feel and vision to handle top wideouts, especially over the long field. His recovery speed leaves him in the dust when spying in the backfield or biting on a double move. The Steelers should transition him to safety, where his foundation skill set works better, moving toward the line of scrimmage. Norwood tends to be a liability in tackling.
P Pressley Harvin
His strong leg and quick tempo should land him the starting job in his first season.
