I know what you’re thinking Steelers Nation! This is a loaded question!

But it’s one that’s on everyone’s mind, following improvement in each of the last three seasons. The Steelers went from the Super Bowl, to out of the playoffs, to nearly making it into the playoffs, to winning their division but losing a Wild Card game at home, then on to winning in the postseason but losing in the Divisional Round, and finally in 2016, improving on that with another small step to the AFC Championship game.

Naturally, we’ve become accustomed to championship teams in the Steel City. Nothing short of a Lombardi Trophy is expected each season, and 2017 raises the bar once again.

So the question is, can next season’s Steelers be better than the 2016 team? If the trend continues, the answer to that question is yes, they can.

But to elaborate further, let’s see where the Steelers can improve in order to take that next step.

##Defense

The defense improved from 2015, when they ended the season as the 30th ranked pass defense.

This year the Steelers ended up 16th against the pass, while slipping to 13th against the run. Part of the “slip” was due to teams going pass-heavy against a poor Pittsburgh secondary a year prior. This shows a bit more balance, but a defensive lockdown is needed, as shown by the AFC title game loss to the Patriots.

Regardless, the D completed the season with the 9th best passes defensed. They took away the 15th most interceptions (tied with New England) and forced the 7th most fumbles (tied with a number of teams, including the Patriots, Seahawks, Chiefs and Broncos).

The pass rush was, to put it lightly, awful throughout the first half of the season, but became one of the league’s best in the second half, in part to the return of Bud Dupree, a healthy Ryan Shazier, and James Harrison playing full time.

To illustrate just how well they finished, Pittsburgh had 38 sacks, which were only 4 lower than the third-most (42) by the Denver Broncos. (Arizona finished with a league-high 48.)

The Steelers also finished 10th overall in points allowed with 20.4 points allowed per game, and had limited opponents to around 18.5 points per game during their 9-game winning streak.

An improvement in any statistical category here, without a decline in the others, would liken a return to the Steelers defenses of old. In my opinion the team has righted the ship. A few key pieces will need to be determined in free agency (Lawrence Timmons) as well as through the draft (potentially another corner, and Harrison’s heir).

Also consider DE Cameron Heyward missed most of the season, and this unit, on paper, should be on the rise.

##Special Teams

There isn’t much to talk about here, other than passing the eyeball test on kick returns and kick return coverage.

The kick return has been all but neutered in the NFL with rules implemented for the 2016 season. If those rules remain permanent, we should continue to see gambling by coaches and kickers utilizing the “sky” kick, as to not allow opponents to start possessions at their own 25.

Yet, somehow Steelers foes found a way to get to the 25 or better, while not doing the same when given similar opportunities.

Specialists Chris Boswell and Jordan Berry set franchises marks for kicking and punting, and are the best combination of a kicker and punter the Steelers have had in years. That means the improvements will be made by making decisions on special teamers such as Darrius Heyward-Bey, Robert Golden and Shamaro Thomas. The former two signed 3-year deals last offseason, while the latter (Thomas) is set to become a free agent, and is not expected to return.

We should also see the Steelers move on from using Sammie Coates and Fitzgerald Toussaint as kick returners. Everyone expected Justin Gilbert to be that help, but he never made in-roads on defense or special teams, and was released from the team.

Considering the revolving door of receivers and running backs who have manned the position, it wouldn’t be too wild to think the Steelers pickup a veteran, or draft a player to specifically handle these duties. Demarcus Ayers was drafted in 2016 to be “that guy” but didn’t make the active roster until December. It’s possible he will be in contention for the spot this year, with another TBD player.

##Offense

The Steelers plans to score 30 points per game went up in flames following the year-long suspension of WR Martavis Bryant, and a myriad of injury issues with free agent TE Ladarius Green.

In making up for those losses, the Steelers found they have a decent number 2 tight end in Jesse James, an Antonio Brown clone slot receiver in Eli Rogers, and that a healthy Le’Veon Bell could burn through every rushing and all-purpose yardage record that has ever existed.

That goes without mentioning a healthy Ben Roethlisberger, who had set a franchise mark for touchdown passes through the first give games of the season (which is right before he hurt his knee in the sixth game against Miami). Antonio Brown is another All-Pro talent who had a big year, but not as big as it could’ve been with someone to help withdraw double-team attempts on him.

Just looking at the few games Ladarius Green was on the field, and how AB performed in those games (Indianapolis for example) should give an indication as to what the Steelers offense could look like if Green is back to full strength for 2017.

The team could also expect to get Bryant back, who’s big play presence was also sorely missed.

The 30 points expectation should strengthen behind an offensive line which allowed the second least sacks, and third least quarterback hits in the entire league. Oddly, even with Bell crushing figures and DeAngelo Williams leading the league in rushing in the first two weeks of the season, the Steelers finished 14th overall, on average, for rushing yards per game. This signals one area of improvement, while the passing game ended 5th best in the same average category.

One last area of improvement will be scoring, where the Steelers tied for tenth in total points, while averaging 24.9 per game.

##Conclusion

Hard to believe that a team who made the Conference Championship game has so much room for improvement, but they do. They should also expect that they will need to be the best in order to improve on an 11 win season, and secure not only a bye, but home field advantage which would prove beneficial in the postseason.

We don’t know for sure if the 2017 Steelers will be better than the 2016 iteration, but we can surmise that there’s a lot of room for improvement; if they are better, the result should also be better as well.