Tag: Pittsburgh Steelers

Jaylen Warren highlights ‘biggest difference’ between Arthur Smith, Matt Canada

Jaylen Warren takes a subtle shot at his old offensive coordinator.

For what felt like months (because it was), all of the Pittsburgh Steelers fandom was screaming from the mountaintops for head coach Mike Tomlin to fire offensive coordinator Matt Canada. It got to a point where it seemed that Tomlin was the only person in all of football who didn’t see the harm Canada was doing to the offense.

But mercifully, Tomlin finally found his way to relieve Canada of his duties during the season and after an OC by committee approach in the second half of 2023, this offense belongs to Arthur Smith now. Smith struggled as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons but his experience as the offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans before that and be excited about what he brings to this offense.

One guy who seems to be excited about the change is running back Jaylen Warren. He was on the Not Just Football podcast with Cam Heyward and took a shot at Canada when he talked about how Smith runs his meetings.

“His biggest difference is he’s very interactive in the meetings,” “You want to pay attention because he’s gonna call you out if you’re not paying attention. That’s happened a couple times. I think his approach to being the OC is really good.”

Every Sunday it seems like Canada was just mailing in the gameplan so it makes sense he was mailing it in during meetings too.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

PFF shows Steelers O-line love after 2024 NFL draft

The Steelers really gave their offensive line a boost in the draft.

There was no question heading into the 2024 NFL draft that the Pittsburgh Steelers desperately needed to improve their offensive line. The play of center Mason Cole and both starting offensive tackles Chuks Okorafor and Dan Moore Jr. were subpar. But luckily last season, Pittsburgh drafted offensive tackle Broderick Jones in the first round and when the time was right, benched Okorafor in favor of the then-rookie and things were looking up.

Now this time around in the 2024 NFL draft, the Steelers took two more huge steps by selecting offensive tackle Troy Fautnau and center Zach Frazier. Which, if both guys play as expected will completely solidify this unit.

Pro Football Focus talked about the most improved offensive lines in the NFL after the draft, and to no one’s surprise, they had the Steelers right at the top. Here’s what they had to say about them:

On paper, the offensive line rebuild the Steelers put together through the 2024 NFL Draft could go down as one of the best ever. They used three selections on the unit, all inside the top 120 picks in the draft. It started with Washington’s Troy Fautanu, whose 88.2 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2023 ranked fifth among FBS tackles. He can start at either tackle or guard.

Pittsburgh followed that up by adding West Virginia’s Zach Frazier to man the middle of the offensive line. He allowed just a 2.3% pressure rate over the past three seasons. And then there is South Dakota State’s Mason McCormick. While he played at a smaller school, he earned a 90.3 PFF grade over the past two seasons, dominating at that level.

Under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the Steelers are going to want to pound the football on the ground and run play action off of it. Smith also likes to utilize the zone read to add an extra twist to the run game. This group has a very high ceiling and thanks to veteran guards Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels, the leadership is there as well.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Somewhere, ex-Steelers WR Diontae Johnson is smiling

The Steelers traded Diontae Johnson and now they’re scrambling.

Omar Khan may still affectionately be known as the “Khan Artist” to most of Steelers Nation, but that greatness is starting to tarnish with the lack of movement in the veteran wide receiver department.

It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Khan would’ve traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson without a plan. And now, with OTAs less than three weeks away, it’s haunting them. Did something go awry?

In early April, The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly reported that the Steelers “low-balled” the Cincinnati Bengals in a trade offer for Tyler Boyd. Could that be what the big plan was to adequately replace the talented but disgruntled Johnson? Why would the Bengals even entertain trading any productive player to their biggest rival for anything less than a first-round pick (and we know Boyd isn’t quite worth that)?

I get it. With one year left on Johnson’s contract, the Steelers wanted to get something for him while they could. But he was still the team’s leading receiver, responsible for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns since he was drafted in 2019. Not having something firmly in place seems very un-Khan Artist.

Now the Steelers are stuck with one of the weakest receiving corps in the NFL—all after making two shrewd moves for talented quarterbacks — while teams around them make moves to solidify their rosters.

If Khan doesn’t do something quickly, No. 1 George Pickens will be tripled-teamed all season, and his bigger-than-Steelers attitude will turn the locker room toxic. Then it won’t be long before Pickens is another casualty of Pittsburgh’s drafting selfish players.

I’m sure Roman Wilson will be great and could turn out to be the Steelers’ next Antonio Brown. But until Wilson gets his feet under him with the speed of the NFL, the brunt falls on Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins and Denzel Mims (as far as true wide receivers go)—all good depth but of zero threat to defenders.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

WATCH: NFL teases upcoming schedule release with video hyping looming matchups

NFL teases upcoming 2024 schedule release with a hype video

We’re about 7-14 days away from the 2024 NFL schedule reveal, and the league is helping build the hype by releasing a video teasing the looming matchups.

The Bengals, Ravens, and Rams highlight the Eagles’ 2024 opponents list, and we already know that Philadelphia will open up in Brazil against the Green Bay Packers.

There’s a cycle of inter-conference faceoffs; each NFC division rotates through each AFC division every four seasons and the other NFC divisions every three seasons.

In addition, where a team finishes within their division dictates a same-finish matchup with one team from the opposite conference and whichever divisions aren’t in the rotation for that season.

Philadelphia previously had one of the more difficult schedules over the past two years, but 2024 will see the Eagles among the top ten easiest schedules based on win-loss percentages from last year.

Steelers running out of time to finalize offensive roster

The Steelers still need to add talent at wide receiver.

We have to applaud Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and the rest of the front office for another huge offseason. This group has once again reloaded the roster and should be prepared to compete in the AFC North this season.

Maybe.

The one position the Steelers didn’t address in the offseason to any real degree is wide receiver. From the moment the Steelers traded away star wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers we wondered who they would replace him with.

After the first wave of free agency, Pittsburgh added a pair of role players in Quez Watkins and Van Jefferson but neither of them is fit to be a true No. 1 receiver at this point.

And while there were always rumblings about Pittsburgh trading for a top receiver nothing came of it. Then the NFL draft rolls around and while we applaud the selection of former Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson, his addition doesn’t solve the Steelers problems.

Now it is the second wave of free agency is going strong and the few good receivers left on the market appear to be headed elsewhere. So if the trade rumors are just smoke and no fire, what could the Steelers have planned for the upcoming season at receiver?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Pittsburgh Steelers decline RB Najee Harris fifth-year option

Former Alabama running back Najee Harris entering what will likely be his final year with the Steelers

After being drafted No. 24 overall in the 2021 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, it appears as if former Alabama Crimson Tide running back Najee Harris’s time in Pittsburgh is coming to a close. The franchise decided to decline the former Pro Bowler’s fifth-year option on his rookie deal which will make Harris a free agent next summer while saving the team nearly $7 million.

As quarterbacks and the passing game continues to dominate the NFL, the value of running backs has dropped quite significantly. With Harris being a former first-round pick, he does have a bit of a price tag that and the Steelers feel as if they will be able to find similar production for a cheaper price. The Steelers also moved off former first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett after just two years as Mike Tomlin and the franchise begins to turn a new page.

Harris has taken some criticism during his time in Pittsburgh, but the fact of the matter is the offensive line play has been at the bottom of the league for the entirety of his tenure. Despite that, he has posted over 4,000 career all-purpose yards, 28 touchdowns and just six fumbles in three years.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Buffalo Bills Sign Chase Claypool in NFL Free Agency

Chase Claypool gets another NFL deal. Is this his last chance?

The NFL draft has come and gone and a small wave of free agency across the league has picked up again.

Friday morning saw the Buffalo Bills announce a few signings, including a one-year deal with wide receiver Chase Claypool.

After starring at Notre Dame, Claypool made an instant splash as a rookie with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  In 16 games in 2020, Claypool hauled in 873-receiving yards while scoring 11 touchdowns.  He seemed like a star in the making but by his third year the wheels started to come off.

Claypool was dealt to the Chicago Bears early in the 2022 season where he hauled in 191 receiving yards in 10 games split over two years.  The Bears dealt him to the Miami Dolphins where he played in nine games last year, catching just four passes.

In signing with Buffalo, Claypool may be on his last chance in the NFL.

[lawrence-related id=24721,81797]

Ex-Steelers WR Chase Claypool finds new NFL home

Former Steelers WR Chase Claypool was signed to a one-year contract by the Bills.

Per NFL on CBS’ Jonathan Jones, Chase Claypool has found a new NFL home, signing a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills.

Pro Football Focus reported last month that the Canadian-born Claypool was added to the CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders’ exclusive negotiation list, but he doesn’t have to deal with that — right now, at least.

In 2022, the Steelers traded Claypool to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a second-round pick, which Pittsburgh used to draft Joey Porter Jr.

Claypool suited up for just 10 games for Chicago before being dealt to the Miami Dolphins, where he caught eight passes for 77 yards and a score in a dozen games.

Fourth time’s a charm?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Around the North: Steelers decline fifth-year option of RB Najee Harris

The Steelers running back will be a free agent next year

A few days after the Cleveland Browns picked up 2021 first-rounder Greg Newsome II’s fifth-year option, the rival Pittsburgh Steelers declined their first-rounder from that year’s option as running back Najee Harris will now be a free agent after the 2024 season.

It comes as a surprise after Harris’s third straight 1,000-yard season for the Steelers in 2023, the first year he averaged over four yards per carry. In the end, Harris has been productive but hasn’t been a difference-maker, and the Steelers are showing they won’t pay top dollar for someone who just fills up the stat sheet.

The team also has Jaylen Warren already on the roster who has shown a knack for making explosive plays when given the chance. Ultimately, the Steelers could still sign Harris to an extension or bring him back next year, but for now, he is essentially on a one-year prove-it deal.

Steelers decline former Bears QB Justin Fields’ fifth-year option

The Steelers have declined the fifth-year option on former Bears QB Justin Fields, which would’ve paid him $25.6 million in 2025.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have declined the fifth-year option for former Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, according to Ari Meirov.

The Bears traded Fields to the Steelers last month (in exchange for a 2025 conditional sixth-round pick) to pave the way for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who was selected with the first overall pick in 2024 NFL draft last Thursday.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that Pittsburgh declined the option as he’s not guaranteed to be the starter, and the fifth-year option would’ve paid Fields $25.6 million in 2025. He’s essentially a one-year rental, barring the Steelers re-signing him to a different deal.

Pittsburgh overhauled their quarterback room this offseason. Before trading for Fields, they signed free agent Russell Wilson, who’s the favorite to be the starter in 2024. But Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin did say Fields will have the chance to compete for the starting role.

If Fields does win the starting job and plays in 51 percent of the snaps this season, the conditional sixth-round pick that the Bears received for him will become a fourth rounder.