Category: 2024 Steelers roster

ESPN ranks Steelers running backs outside Top 10 in NFL

Do the Steelers have one of the top running back tandems in the NFL?

All reports coming out of Pittsburgh Steelers OTAs are that the new offense under Arthur Smith is going to be run first, run heavy and lean on running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren along with the revamped offensive line.

ESPN’s Mike Clay ranked all the running back positional units in the NFL and had the tandem of Harris and Warren, along with Cordarrelle Patterson and Aaron Shampklin as the No. 11 unit in the league.

Last season the Steelers were the No. 13 rushing offense in the NFL, Harris finished with 1,035 rushing yards and Warren chipped in 785 more. Most of the team’s struggles on offense centered around the quarterback position so the hope is that the additions of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson will help Harris and Warren as much as anything.

Is this ranking too low? Based solely on talent, probably so. But based on the inefficiency last season, it is more than fair. This tandem has a chance to be among the best in the NFL this season which should quiet all the critics and naysayers.

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Steelers QB Russell Wilson says Justin Fields would ‘strike fear in defenses’

Russell Wilson welcomes the notion of installing some packages for Justin Fields in the offense.

Job one for the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason was to upgrade the quarterback room. They did so by cutting loose all three quarterbacks from last season, including former first-round pick Kenny Pickett, and bringing in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.

However, having two quarterbacks, particularly with such different skill sets, could present a challenge for the coaches. But the team hopes it presents even more problems for opposing defenses.

Wilson talked to the media on Wednesday, and while he maintained he will be the starting quarterback this season, he welcomed the idea of having packages that incorporate Fields into the game plan.

“It would strike fear in defenses,” Wilson said.

Fields, on the other hand, has stated that this is a competition for the starting job and he goes to practice every day with that mindset. He wants to be more than a gadget player as he works to earn his next contract.

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OT Dan Moore calls new offense ‘oline friendly’

Dan Moore is battling to keep his starting spot but says the offense fits his style well.

You can tell just by listening to the players talk, this is going to be a very different Pittsburgh Steelers offense. The addition of new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has already breathed new life into this unit and big changes are coming.

Offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. spoke to the media on Wednesday and he called the offense very oline friendly with its emphasis on the power run game and play-action passing.

Moore seemed particularly upbeat and optimistic given he is currently fighting an uphill battle to hold onto his spot in the starting lineup. The Steelers drafted Troy Fautanu in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft and paired with Broderick Jones appear to be the future for the Steelers.

It is somewhat odd that a guy who has started 49 of 49 games in his young career is a longshot to be the starter this season but such is the nature of the NFL. Moore is set to hit free agency at the end of the season as well.

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Steelers TE Connor Heyward poised for a breakout season

We can’t wait to see Connor Heyward shine in the Steelers new offense.

There is a ton of excitement surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers offense this season thanks to the addition of two new quarterbacks and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. We have already seen snippets of OTA practices that show plenty of new wrinkles in the passing game that feel like this offense is going to be much more explosive than in recent seasons.

Of all the players on the team who could benefit the most from all of the upgrades, we feel like tight end Connor Heyward might be the guy who shines in this scheme.

Looking at Smith’s offense, the tight end has always been big part of it but when we connect the dots between Smith and Heyward we look at 2020. Smith was the offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans and he built one of the best offenses in the NFL.

Tight end Jonnu Smith had 41 receptions and fullback Anthony Firsker had 39 of his own. Heyward’s career best is 23 receptions in 2023. With Heyward’s diverse skill set, we can see Smith getting him involved heavily in his play-action scheme and Heyward’s ability to work inline, split wide and out of the backfield.

We also lean heavily into Heyward being a big factor this season with fellow tight end Pat Freiermuth being in the final year of his contract. The Steelers have to prepare for the future in case Freiermuth moves on in free agency next offseason.

The Steelers selected Heyward, younger brother of defensive tackle Cam Heyward in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft. Heyward had a strong career at Michigan State as both a running back and tight end which just lends itself to an expanded role this season even more.

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Patience would pay off if the Steelers trade for WR DK Metcalf

The Steelers continue to be linked to various veteran wide receiver in trade rumors.

It feels like the Pittsburgh Steelers have reached out to most of the teams in the NFL to see if their top wide receiver is available for a trade. Not just one but two San Francisco 49ers wide receivers have been rumored to be coming to the Steelers, but no deal has materialized.

Staying in the NFC West, there’s another name out there who might be worth the wait. According to reporter Benjamin Allbright of KOA in Denver, the Steelers have inquired about the availability of Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf.

According to Allbright, any trade between the Steelers and Seahawks would have to take place after June 1 because of contract issues. Metcalf has two years left on his current deal.

https://x.com/AllbrightNFL/status/1785341434121359376

Metcalf is forever linked to the Steelers going back to the 2019 NFL draft. The Seahawks selected him two picks before the Steelers took WR Diontae Johnson. Now Johnson is traded away to the Carolina Panthers, and it would be ironic if Metcalf ended up replacing him.

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