How the Steelers can still salvage their 2022 season
This may seem like an awkward topic for a 2-6 football team lacking any sort of identity. However, it’s a relevant one, as the Pittsburgh Steelers have never had a losing season under the tutelage of head coach Mike Tomlin.
Tomlin, who is currently in his 16th season as head coach of the Steelers, has had a few missteps through the years, notably a few 8- and 9-win campaigns. With nine more games remaining on the 2022 schedule, it would appear that Coach T is heading towards his first losing season ever.
Yet, that might not be the case. Here’s why.
Defensive Turnaround
The largest missing piece of the Steelers current roster is their highest-paid player and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt.
Without Watt, the Steelers went from sacking Bengals QB Joe Burrow seven times in Week 1, to having eight sacks total in the next seven games.
Obviously, a lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks has allowed offenses to do as they wish with the Steelers, but that should instantly change as soon Watt returns. He’s one of football’s most dominant defenders and can’t easily be replaced.
And if you don’t believe he’s that much of an impact player, just look at the Kansas City playoff game last season, where Watt was the first – and only – to score for the Steelers in the first half! (As a linebacker!)
The defensive changes don’t stop there. Hopefully the Steelers see Larry Ogunjobi, Terrell Edmunds, and Minkah Fitzpatrick all healthy for the remainder of the season, but its two other additions that should also help shore up some of their woes as a unit.
The first is the return of safety Damontae Kazee, who was signed this offseason as an insurance policy for the aforementioned Edmunds and Fitzpatrick, but was also being worked into subpackages as a dimebacker. His absence has altered what the defense has been able to do, as planned this summer. Like Watt, he too was recently designated to return from injured reserve.
The other impact player came via trade the other day, as William Jackson III joins the squad via the Washington Commanders. One of the highest paid cornerbacks in the game has been sought after the Steelers since he was drafted in 2016: by the Bengals.
Stuck in Washington’s zone schemes, Jackson didn’t fit and his play regressed. By rejoining his former defensive coordinator, Teryl Austin, who wants to play more man coverage, Jackson could be an upgrade over the recently benched Ahkello Witherspoon and Levi Wallace. (Who was signed this offseason, but was to be used in subpackages and not as a full-time starter.)
These additions should also raise the possibilities for Cameron Heyward, Alex Highsmith, and Cameron Sutton, as well as those already mentioned. The Steelers defense may start to look like the highest-paid unit in the league as they finally get their full squad back on the field… and at a great time…
The Remaining Schedule
The combined record of the Steelers first eight opponents is 43-26.
While they have nine games remaining (two of those are against the Baltimore Ravens) their next eight opponents are a combined 27-40-1, if you count the Ravens only once.
Note: The Ravens and Saints play tonight, so without a tie, the combined record, plus the ones below, would largely remain the same. (i.e. Ravens loss would move them to 5-4.)
- New Orleans Saints (3-5)*
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-4)
- Indianapolis Colts (3-5-1)
- Atlanta Falcons (4-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (5-3)*
- Carolina Panthers (2-7)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)
- Cleveland Browns (3-5)
If you’re a believer like I am, and think that the defense gets a huge boost during the bye week, this could make for some interesting football as Pittsburgh faces quarterbacks such as Andy Dalton, Sam Ehlinger, Marcus Mariota, and whatever Deshaun Watson may look like after over two years out of the league. And let’s not leave out the Carolina Panthers, who keep flipping between P.J. Walker and Baker Mayfield, and have now activated Sam Darnold.
Needless to say, almost all of the Steelers second half schedule is full of teams with similar dumpster fire situations to figure out. There’s a lot of football left to be played and the Steelers may come out of it looking better than they have to date.
Offensive Spark?
This is the one that seems less possible, but hear me out: the defense can help the offense here.
One of the reasons the Steelers were able to win the two games they have to date is because their defense forced turnovers and provided the offense with short fields to work with.
Its not unreasonable to think that Matt Canada isn’t capable of calling very many 10+ play drives that span 80 or more yards. But it is reasonable to think that this offense can score when given the ball near the redzone.
Some of their philosophy in how to handle their offensive attack should also shift with the trade of Chase Claypool. While everyone is looking at a wide receiver to take Chase’s vacated snaps, I’m focused on seeing more plays going to the tight ends.
That means Pat Freiermuth or Connor Heyward, who has seen more playing time as of late, in the slot. Zach Gentry at the end of the line helping block, and maybe even a dash more of Derek Watt, who has also been more involved recently.
The Steelers need to create some mismatches and help Kenny Pickett succeed. The best way to do this is giving him more security blankets, such as those tight ends – or getting Najee Harris more involved in the pass game.
Harris, who is getting panned as a disappointment, is a product of two things so far this season: a foot injury that recently may have healed, and poor play calling. If Pittsburgh can get over the hump of their obvious first down run into the pile calls, an improved Harris will raise the needle much like Watt can on defense.
Whether or not this happens is the most speculative of the items detailed here. I should preface this by saying I don’t expect the Steelers, with rookie QB Kenny Pickett, to start dropping 30+ points per game.
But without Claypool tipping balls or falling down on routes, which lead to turnovers, this small adjustment may be all they need to stay competitive in games while the defensive side shuts down equally underperforming opponents.
It may be just enough for the Steelers to surprise everyone and make yet another run at the postseason.
