Takeaways: Steelers preseason ends, tough decisions loom
On Sunday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Steelers were able to leave the field undefeated in the 2022 NFL preseason, having handed the Detroit Lions a 19-9 loss. The hard part for the Steelers is now upon them, though; roster decisions and cuts to be made and some players’ hopes to make the team dashed.
Before jumping into those meetings and discussions, there are some takeaways from the final preseason game that are likely to factor into what the Steelers do before the 2022-23 NFL regular season kicks off.
Who will be QB1?
Head coach Mike Tomlin made it clear after the game that he is not naming a “starting” quarterback. When he was asked in the post-game press conference if he had a starter, Tomlin said, “I might, but you guys not gonna get it today,” focusing on the fact that the staff aren’t going to make any “knee-jerk reactions.”
It’s interesting to note, however, that Tomlin expressed a level of dissatisfaction that the offense, when run by Mitchell Trubisky, weren’t efficient in converting key third downs. He also stated that it was important to see how Trubisky ran the two-minute offense in this game.
Without reading anything into those statements, there was a noticeable difference between Trubisky’s play and that of rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett. Although both had decent stats, Pickett looked more comfortable and seemed intent on putting the ball where receivers could battle for the ball. Trubisky looked less confident in trusting receivers to make adjustments.
It’s not a well-kept secret that fans want Pickett to be the QB1. The chants of “Kenny” could be heard throughout the stadium.
Regardless, Trubisky was brought in because Pittsburgh wanted a veteran quarterback that was not Mason Rudolph. There’s still no rush to put all the weight on Pickett to be “that guy” when it comes to running the offense… yet.
Offensive performance
Once again, the offensive line took time to get warmed up and in sync. By the second quarter, they’d drawn some penalties that got Tomlin’s attention, but started clicking a little better. The line will have to continue improving in practice before they’ll have the confidence of fans.
Although the offense wasn’t dynamic, there were moments worth highlighting.
Miles Boykin caught a beautifully-threaded pass from Pickett that made a much bigger statement than the receiver has made all preseason.
Najee Harris, who’d practically begged for reps, looked the playmaker during his short time on the field. He didn’t appear to hesitate to play hard, making one leap over a defender that may have had some holding their breath when he landed on the turf.
As a whole, it was an opportunity for players to give coaches a final showcase of what their abilities are. There was nothing fancy, but seldom are preseason games as electric as the first game the Steelers played. There are some players who may have made decisions on cuts a bit harder, and others who were seen as being exactly who coaches believed they are.
The receivers will be one of the hardest groups to cut down when trimming the roster. There are a lot of talented players the Steelers have to choose from.
Defensive performance
The starting defense looked solid, for the most part, with the usual suspects – including T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward – fully engaged. Minkah Fitzpatrick got the opportunity to show how good he is roaming the field and getting after the quarterback.
There are still areas in the run-stopping game that need cleaned up. Detroit was able to make several nice plays on the ground that showed there are chinks in the armor.
The defensive backfield was feisty, something that always gets fans on their feet. It wasn’t just first-teamers out there defending passes and keeping big receiving plays limited.
The fourth-quarter play by guys fighting for a roster spot, though, was impressive – at least to me. They didn’t give the Lions much give and continued to fight. Yes, Detroit got a late touchdown but, overall, the Steelers defense looks like it’s ready for the season.
Final thoughts
Coach Tomlin said that the staff, front office, and organization would have discussions and evaluations – internal and external – regarding how the team is designed and moves forward.
As for the workload, Tomlin said, “You can’t box without sparring,” indicating that players were given opportunities to give everything they had with the time they were given.
He answered to the affirmative that the time included training camp and practices.
Watt and Diontae Johnson both left the game with injuries considered minor, but Damontae Kazee is being evaluated with what is considered a more serious injury that may result in his being of limited availability to the team; he was on the shortlist for competing for starting time with Terrell Edmunds.
Tomlin laughed and said, “No,” when he was asked if he has to curb the enthusiasm fans have over Pickett.
It certainly appears “Coach” is ready to move forward and not rest on the fact that his team was able to go 3-0 in exhibition play.
“I just appreciate the competitive spirit all the guys gave us.” Tomlin said that, ultimately, players that gave that kind of energy and effort made it harder for the staff to make decisions coming up.
