Tag: 2024 Steelers season

Steeler Cam Heyward highest-graded DT in NFL through 4 weeks

Cam Heyward is having a huge bounce-back season.

In the offseason, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward told everyone he was healthy and prepped for a huge bounce-back season. Did we believe him? Eh, sort of but there were some concerns at 35 years old and coming off an injury-riddled season you had to wonder a little if he still had it.

Four games into the season, Heyward is answering the question. According to Pro Football Focus, Heyward is the highest-graded interior defensive lineman in the entire NFL. Yep. Better than Dexter Lawrence and Chris Jones (who were No. 2 and No. 3).

Heyward has a sack in each of the last two games giving him two on the season. This matches his season total from 2023. The impact that Heyward has on the defense doesn’t always show up in the box score. This is a case where the PFF grades can really illuminate the sheer impact he has on one of the best defenses in the NFL.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers writer says the quiet part out loud about this team

It is time for the Steelers and their fans to raise their expectations.

You can always count on Pittsburgh Steelers writer Mark Madden to write something controversial. But at the same time, Madden always finds his way to making a lot of sense in his critiques of this team but his detractors never give it that much thought.

This is what happened with his latest column where he lays out that the best thing for the Steelers future is a losing season in 2024.

The best thing that could realistically happen for the Steelers is to go 8-9 or worse.

To get out from under the phony non-achievement of Coach T never having a losing season. To then set the bar higher and take a hard look at the team as it really is, adjusting accordingly.

The Steelers have become a team content with mediocrity. The fans are just as guilty. It’s hard to argue that a four or five-win season might not be the best thing for this franchise. It could serve as a wake-up call that being middle of the road doesn’t lead anywhere.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Steelers name 4 team captains for 2024 season

One big change in 2024 Steelers team captains.

On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced their four team captains for the 2024 season. No surprises as safety Miles Killebrew, defensive tackle Cam Heyward and outside linebacker T.J. Watt made the cut. These guys have been captains multiple times for Pittsburgh.

But it did come as something of a surprise to name new starting quarterback Russell Wilson a captain as well. Wilson is preparing for his first start with the Steelers as the team prepares to take on the Atlanta Falcons.

Killebrew represents special teams with the captain’s badge as he remains one of the best special teams players in the NFL. Wilson is the only offensive player to earn the captains badge this year while Watt and Heyward will represent the defense.

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1830651772744217054

The addition of Wilson is the only change in captains from the 2023 season. This is the fourth straight seasons Watt and Heyward have been captains together and this is Killebrew’s fourth year as a special team’s captain.

In 2022, the team named quarterback Mitch Trubisky a captain but he ended up losing his starting job to then-rookie Kenny Pickett.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers WR George Pickens needs to brace for a down season

If George Pickens doesn’t get the football, he can be a problem.

2023 was a breakout season for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens. He had career highs in receptions (63), receiving yards (1,140) and receiving touchdowns (5). Pickens also averaged a league-best 18.1 yards per catch.

This offseason, the Steelers traded away wide receiver Diontae Johnson, leaving Pickens as the clear No. 1 receiver on the roster. Does this mean he is a lock to improve on his 2023 numbers? Not at all.

In fact, looking at the Steelers offense as it is currently constructed, we won’t be a bit surprised if Pickens doesn’t improve in any of his numbers from last season.

This could end up being a huge problem if we see Pickens  not seeing targets. Last season, when the passing offense was struggling and Pickens wasn’t getting the football, his level of effort tanked. This was the same for Diontae Johnson who the Steelers ended up trading away.

Pittsburgh has dedicated a ton of time, energy and resources into this new offense and we hate to think one guy could bring it crashing down if he doesn’t get the football as much as he thinks he should.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

USA TODAY plays it safe with Steelers season prediction

USA TODAY has the Steelers finishing last in the AFC North.

USA TODAY released their predictions for the upcoming NFL season on Monday. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, USA TODAY played it safe with the Pittsburgh Steelers and gave them a 9-8 record for the upcoming season.

Winning nine games would ensure that head coach Mike Tomlin keeps his streak of non-losing seasons alive. If the Steelers win nine games in 2024, it would mark 18 in a row for Tomlin. Every season he’s been the head coach.

The bad news is USA TODAY has the Steelers finishing dead last in the AFC North with that same record. The Steelers have never finished last in the AFC North.

The last time the Steelers finished last in any division was all the way back in 1988 when Pittsburgh went 5-11 and finished fourth in the AFC Central.

In these predictions, the Cincinnati Bengals finish first at 11-6 followed by the Cleveland Browns at 10-7 and the Baltimore Ravens at 10-7. The AFC North will be highly contested and these predictions bear that out.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

FanDuel calls Steelers surprise contender in 2024

The Steelers need to get off to a fast start to contend this year.

After finishing 10-7 last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers somehow sneaked into the playoffs. This was despite some pretty awful quarterback play and an inconsistent defense.

This offseason, Pittsburgh completely turned over their quarterback depth chart and added two new starters on the offensive line. The front offense also added a couple of playmakers on defense.

So it’s not a surprise that at least some in the NFL community think the additions the Steelers made this offseason are enough to elevate them into contenders. FanDuel posted the tweet below calling the Steelers a surprise contender:

The Steelers are in a tough spot on two fronts this season. First, they play in the toughest division in football with all four teams playoff contenders.

Second, their schedule, which is backloaded with division games, is the toughest in the NFL. Once the bye week hits, everything ramps up for the Steelers. If this team isn’t sitting pretty at the bye, they will have no chance to contend.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Who should start at QB for the Steelers?

Cast your vote and tell us whether Russell Wilson or Justin Fields should start at quarterback this season for the Steelers.

With just two weeks to the start of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, it’s time to talk a little about what we hope is a budding battle between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields for the starting quarterback position.

But is it really a battle at all? Fields certainly is preparing for training camp as if he’s got a fair shot to be the starting quarterback this season, but by all accounts, Wilson has the pole position and it’s just a matter of holding on to the lead.

But for this exercise, let’s say both guys come in at baseline, each with a fair shot to win the job. Who should be the starting quarterback? Who gives the Steelers the best chance to win?

In terms of veteran leadership and experience, there’s no comparison. Wilson could be headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Fields has struggled to keep a starting job. But at the same time, when it comes to athletic potential, Fields blows Wilson out of the water and could be a serious weapon in an Arthur Smith offense.

So cast your vote. Don’t tell us who you think will be the starting quarterback; instead tell us who should be the starter.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

NFL analyst calls Steelers QB need in 2025 an overreaction

The Steelers could be in the position to draft a quarterback very high in 2025.

As we start to look forward for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the short term and the long term, it’s not that difficult to see some potential roster issues or decisions that must be made.

For example, if the Steelers don’t find a viable starting wide receiver this year, they will need to pursue one in 2025, either via free agency or the NFL draft.

Another is the Steelers quarterback problem. As of right now, none of the Steelers’ three quarterbacks are under contract in 2025. This could mean back to the drawing board next offseason.

But ESPN reporter Dan Graziano, this is just one of the big overreactions of the offseason. Here’s what Graziano said about the Steelers quarterback situation:

The expectation is that the combination of Wilson and Fields will be an upgrade over what the Steelers had at quarterback last season, and the hope is that at least one of them plays well enough to merit a look as the long-term starter in Pittsburgh.

Graziano takes the side of the argument that one of them will get a new contract. But there is another scenario. Let’s say Wilson plays well enough to get a one-year extension but the team doesn’t see enough of Fields to even bother.

Now you have Wilson in 2025 with no viable alternative for the future. This is just one of many permutations of how this could turn out that would warrant Pittsburgh going after a quarterback early in the 2025 NFL draft.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Who is the Steelers most overrated player?

Vote for who you consider the Steelers most ovverrated player.

The folks over at Pro Football Network put together their list of who the most overrated player is on each of the 32 NFL teams. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they went with wide receiver George Pickens.

Here’s what they had to say about Pickens:

Surprise! Another wide receiver from the 2022 NFL Draft has landed on this list.

It feels like we’ve been waiting an eternity for George Pickens to have a breakout season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yet, he’s only heading into his third NFL season.

Following Russell Wilson’s arrival in Pittsburgh, Pickens will be playing with easily the most talented quarterback he’s had throwing to him at the next level. Now, we’ll wait and see if Pickens can finally put it all together on the field and live up to the hype.

Sort of an odd choice given how bad the quarterbacks have been in Pittsburgh since Pickens was drafted (as he mentions). Last season, Pickens ended up finishing 16th in the NFL in receiving yards in 2023 ahead of guys like DK Metcalf, DeAndre Hopkins, Chris Olae and Garrett Wilson. Pickens also led the league in yards per catch.

But despite all this, it did get us thinking about who the most overrated guy is on the Steelers. In today’s poll we offer up some options based on hype, production and contract for you all to consider. Personally, we don’t view any player on the team as truly overrated in the truest sense but if you take salary into consideration, Cam Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick both are coming off down seasons and have cap hits over $20 million this season.

Cast your vote and let us know who you consider the Steelers most overrated player.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Contract length a huge sticking point for Steelers and Cam Heyward

Cam Heyward isn’t optimistic about getting a new contract with the Steelers.

There is a ton of uncertainty surrounding the future of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward and his future with the team. Heyward is currently in the final year of his current contract and wants an extension so he can finish his career with the Steelers.

But according to Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly, the length of the contract Heyward is seeking is the problem and Heyward isn’t optimistic that a deal will get done before the start of the season.

“Heyward wants more security — he has said he wants to play for three more years, thus the impasse,” Kaboly said.

Heyward is 35 and coming off of his worst season thanks to injuries but he continues to profess he’s fully healthy now and ready for a big bounceback in 2024.

“He’s not optimistic, at this point, that a deal will get done, but he’s been in a similar position before eventually signing before the season. It’s a complicated issue with Heyward being the face of the franchise, but he is coming off two groin surgeries over five months and is a shell of himself. At 35, not many comps are around for his position, further complicating the issue.”

Fans want Heyward back, Heyward wants to be back and the team has plenty of money to spend. If there was ever a guy Pittsburgh should pay a little more in the name of loyalty, it’s Heyward.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]