Pittsburgh Steelers 2024: In-Depth Season Preview with Alex Kozora

all right so it's uh always good to talk Pittsburgh Steelers football here on the RADS football network and the RADS football YouTube channel so when we talk Pittsburgh Steelers football Alex kazora is here to join us he is writer with Steelers depo.com uh he was with us during the offseason when we had an opportunity to look at the draft uh and here we are already Alex we're just a couple of weeks away from the start of the season so uh this is a great time to reconnect yeah thank you Greg I appreciate it it should be really fun year for an offseason of plenty of changes for the Pittsburgh Steelers absolutely and let's start at the top the biggest change of all happening on the offensive side so how from from what from your perspective how is the transition going on offense with new coordinator Arthur Smith and the new scheme changes and as we talked about before on our last conversation we figured that this would be actually the perfect marriage uh based on person with Alex Smith and the Falcons first and 22 Personnel last year that's two running backs two tight ends and you look at the Steelers they love their two running backs and they have two really good tight ends in three if you want to look at how they used them last year so yeah how's the new scheme work and overall practice going with the new offense I think it's gone really well Greg I know this is a time of year where hop brings Eternal and everyone's happy about their scheme and their coaching staff and the guys they have until the games kick off and things can change but Pittsburgh is really committed to marrying what Arthur Smith's ideals are which is like you said 12 Personnel 13 Personnel tight splits play action and marrying that with the people that they brought in when you bring in quarterbacks that are more functionally Mobile in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields you have your tight ends the lack of a number two Receiver right now even though all the IU bu is going around impacts this offense less under arther Smith who traditionally doesn't utilize a number two number three receiver as often as Pittsburgh and their 11 personnel heaviness the prime Ben years for example so um I think it's worked out pretty well the offensive line is going to be the key ingredient there's some injury issues right now that group's not been entirely healthy which has I think had some bumpiness along the way this preseason so far and that's going to be key going forward is that group getting healthy and playing well but yeah I think what you know Pittsburgh has sought out to do which is to to run the ball a lot probably be the most runmind team in football and utilize play action off of that has been what this team has shown throughout training camp in the preseason all right well uh let's talk about that running game I heard something uh not too long ago about Warren getting banged up is is everything okay there he's got a hamstring injury he injured in the Buffalo Bills game Mike Tomlin says it's not longterm optimistic he'll be back for week one obviously no official injury reports this time of year he won't play Warren w against Detroit in the finale so hoping he gets back for week one can't guarantee that but even if he misses week one shouldn't be missing too much longer after that all right so it shouldn't scare off too many fantasy owners then to draft Jaylen Warren okay correct so a really good either handcuffed the Naji or really just a standalone value especially for PPR Lees because Warren will function as a third down back and if Warren does miss the first game does that mean that Patterson takes his spot Patterson should be the number two and he'll get his touches they've moved him around some receiver running back he's got the receiver background which he was coming out of Tennessee but I imagine in that scenario nji Harris will go back to kind of his Bel how status the way that he was as a rookie okay uh and then taking a look at the the rest of the unit uh let me just uh move this down here because we've got a lot of players still of course uh on the depth chart uh regarding uh these four here uh Pine I am familiar with he had he was pretty good college of running back at Florida wasn't it he was in a crowded backfield really um with the Jets uh didn't take advantage of maybe some opportunities in Kansas City at least it looked that like that uh he's here now any of these four running backs have a chance to make the team the 53 unlikely unless Warren's injury would it be more severe than their leading on I don't think that's the case Jonathan Ward felt like that next man up was the number four running back he's got a hamstring injury himself did not play against Buffalo I don't know his status right now but he was the most impressive in the opener against Houston and throughout training camp he's versatile he showed off his speed play on special teams had a lot of well-roundedness to his game as a potential number four running back I think also behind him it's still kind of Muddy but Aaron Champlain he's kind of an unknown guy out of Harvard he's got a big lower half he's squatty he's explosive Vision a little questionable but I think he's shown some things he's worked as the personal protector on special teams a little bit so there's some practice squad value with him so if I had to rank it behind the top three no one else will make the 53 but Ward Champlain I like dejon Edwards from Georgia he's a tough contact balance Runner not had a ton of carries in training camp got a little bit more play with some of the injuries there perine's been been okay but I think wards the guy to watch Assuming he's healthy okay now uh let's take a look at uh tight end and again this is going to be pretty important here uh Freer moves coming back being healthy uh Washington year two um do you what are you expecting do you expect a big jump up uh in production from both of those uh two tight ends well fouth will increase his production just assuming good health you missed about four or five games last year with a hamstring injury hurt his chest in week one which impacted him throughout the early portions of the season so he should return to Norm and Norm for Frou is 60 plus receptions for 700 or so yards and a couple of touchdowns and really he is the deao number two Target in this passing game right now it's George Pickins and then Pat Prime behind if they were to add auk or somebody that'll obviously change the equation but in this Arthur Smith System um he should be utilized a lot and also used in different way he should be standing up in kind of a quasi wide receiver more kind of a I don't know I think Arthur Smith compared him to Delaney Walker kind of the way that Kyle Pitts gotot stood up some 3 by one backside uh some stack looks with him and George Pickins to create some free releases so you you'll see Friday M probably less as an attached why tight end and kind of standing up a bit more and and utilize his receiving skills because he's an average blocker at best and D of Washington is going to be your real you know do the Dirty Work in line Y type okay uh as far as the receivers uh again we don't know how much they're going to use the depth of this unit with this offense uh but van Jefferson of course uh he came over to Atlanta late last year now he's moved over filed Arthur Smith to Pittsburgh let's start let's start with Calvin Austin because I know we had talked about whether or not he's too small uh for this offense uh Roman Wilson was drafted so according to the step chart they're battling for playing time in the slot is that the case and how's it going if that is the case I don't want to say that Austin is tooo small I know conventionally Arthur Smith System likes some bigger receivers because of their blocking skills uh but you got small guys Wilson's not terribly big and they brought in Scotty Miller who's about the same size as Calvin Austin where I think Austin has struggled is being able to I I don't want to say he can't run the whole route tree he's not a gadget guy he was a true receiver at Memphis for example but he's really just kind of one vertically and it's very feast or famine that's how it was last year the big touchdown against the Raiders quiet the rest of the way you could blame that on scheme blame that on quarterback play this this season this training camp I haven't really seen him take that jump I think his biggest issue Greg is winning in those contested cat situations unless the ball is thrown perfectly on him he doesn't have to deal with contact to make that you combat contested catch he can make plays but he's got to be able to fight through something or extend outside his frame a little bit he's really inconsistent hard to trust in that sense so I don't know what kind of role he'll have he's behind Jefferson right now Austin did run his number three training camp but I don't know what kind of consistent value that's going to bring and and he benefited from Roman Wilson unfortunately getting hurt had an ankle sprain early in training camp hasn't played since it's going to miss the entire preseason that puts him behind the eightball Wilson was impressing with his route running his catch radius and tracking early on but that was really before the pads came on so it's really incomplete evaluation of Wilson and stun but I imagine as the season goes along Wilson's playing time will increase and probably take away even more from Calvin Austin and Van Jefferson is this clear-cut number two Receiver right now that like his versatility his blocking his experience his hands he looked more athletic in Pittsburgh in training camp this year than what he looked like in Atlanta last year making more plays down field so not an ideal number two but right now the number two in the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver dep shart and Pickins uh we know that he's clearly the number one he's the dude here uh offensively uh big play guy so uh Russell Wilson has been known in his career to throw a good deep ball um are you expecting this to be even the biggest year that George Pickins has ever had I do I think it will be um I think it fits the offense you talk about running the ball and then vertical shots off play action and that's what Pickins can Thrive I thought Pickins had a really good rapport with Justin Fields especially in training camp whenever Wilson was impacted and held up by that calf injury but Wilson looked his way a ton and the moon balls you referenced that Wilson can throw he's the best deep ball thrower him and Fields that Pittsburgh has had in in in quite some time Pickins will benefit from that but I think beyond that because everyone knows Pickins about the big plays downfield the awesome catches Pickins has really worked to develop his game to be more than just the nine route vertical type of guy they moved him around more he's playing in the slot more than he ever has before I think Arthur Smith has creatively found ways to get him free because you know defenses will be keying in on taking him away as the clearcut number one option in this passing game I think there's been some really smart things formally that Smith has shown so far to get him free and Pickin has become a more nuance rout Runner he's never going to be elite he's never going to be Devonte Adams or Stefan Diggs or somebody like that but he is a much better post catch guy that he was coming out of Georgia his rookie year he had the lowest Yak per reception in the NFL of any qualifying receiver last year he was top 10 and already this year I'm seeing him improve post catch even more that long Strider high knee kind of guy that GNA be tough to take down in space so I think he'll be able to run a more full route tree he's going to be able to get more open looks based on how the scheme is able to work him open more and it still of course went effectively downfield so all that combined good health assuming pick and will have a big season you think they're going to keep well how many wide receivers do you think will be on the roster and who will win or who do you think has the inside track to win that last spot or two it's going to be five or six which I know is typical for basically every team and there could be an outsider brought in you're looking at that last spot special teams value can you find somebody to play that M boyin role who was a tremendous Gunner and is's doing his thing up there with the Giants right now Des Patrick could potentially fill that role he's been the Gunner throughout training camp it's not made the impact that I've been hoping and searching for but it could be him they like Scotty Miller a lot he knows the Arthur Smith offense he's quick he's fast he makes tough catch he's got a little bit of return value so it's kind of Miller Fitzpatrick battling towards the end qu Watkins came on strong at the end of training camp I don't think he's gonna make the 53 just think he's gonna be squeezed out by the numbers game so it's probably Miller Fitzpatrick potential Outsider special Team edition seems to be the bottom of the dep chart right now okay now what let's let's get on that quarterback uh battle uh if if it still is between fields and Wilson uh so going into Camp uh was there in your opinion a number one and where do you think it stands right now going into Camp Russell Wilson was the number one which the team didn't shy away from Tomlin called Wilson in pole position and that's been his posture and the phrase he's used without really provid providing any updates on the position Wilson will start this finale against Detroit on Saturday um I thought Fields had a really good training camp I thought he progressed I thought his where he started Camp to where he ended was really remarkable and notable he was a more consistent thrower thought the first four days he looked like Old Chicago Times where it was a little inconsistent missing routine throws um dropping his eyes a little bit too often he did have a ton of batted passes at the line of scoring he had 12 passes batted down during training camp which is a number I've never seen before for a quarter back in a setting like that um I thought in stadium you certainly saw some big plays and electric moments but I I don't think I know they're both new but to me when you have two veteran quarterbacks what you do inside stadiums matters a whole lot more than what you're doing in training camp I don't think really Fields it enough to close that Gap and maybe there was nothing he could have done I think Wilson was really going to be this team's de facto starter unless something dramatic happened where Wilson just completely tanked and Fields was fantastic start to finish I know that used the the the racing phrase of pull position to me Wilson always felt like the pace car or as slow as he is you can't pass the pace car and I think that's kind of where this team is at Tomlin has not declared a starter but it would be a major upset Greg if Russell Wilson was not taking that first snap week one in in a Atlanta okay uh and has has your mind changed at all regarding uh either quarterback and the and their and their respective Futures with the organization especially maybe field considering again he's he's number two and how long is he going to be here is is is it going to be just a one-year deal or do you think Fields is going to hang around and and and eventually take over Wilson's job my mindset has not really changed but it's also still uncertain because there is a great question about who's your starter right now but who's your starter in 2025 because there are no quarterbacks under contract past this year on your top three won's a free agent Fields is a free agent even third Stringer Kyle Allen is a free agent so there's a lot to be bad for in this one I I will say just to be clear Fields will play this year they're going to work a package for him they're going to get him on the field he is too darn talented to sit and hold the clipboard like a traditional number two quarterback how much you'll play I don't know it'll 11 Flow I'm sure week to week but you there will be ways to utilize Fields talents Pittsburgh will be foolish not to do so so that'll give some evaluation of him but I think Wilson's going to be the starter really the whole way barring injury and he's been a healthy quarterback throughout his career that's going to make it tough to evaluate Justin field so the concern is Pittsburgh be stuck in this quarterback Purgatory they've been in post Ben where it's like yeah Wilson's okay but do you want to pay him a bunch next year 36y old quarterback and yeah Fields we've seen some flashes but have we seen enough to really evaluate him it's a tricky spot to be in so it's hard to say the future but I'll just say the present all I can really say with confidence right now is that Wilson will start week one and where it goes from there is really just dictated by their own play how do you feel about Wilson uh confidence wise uh and the fans how do they feel as well are they feeling are they seeing anything that says yeah there's a little bit of the old Russell Wilson here and this is a better situation for him much more well coached bigger best better Foundation yeah hey we're pretty excited about what's going to happen here or or maybe they they really just haven't seen that yet and they're still a little bit concerned the mood right now is a bit lower because the off the first team offense has struggled through the first two preseason games Wilson and Fields have not led a single touchdown Drive they have three points between them but I'm not panicking it's preseason there's some newness Wilson missed the first half of training camp of the calf injury and even if the preseason was awesome Pittsburgh learned last year was Kenny pick at a great preseason does not always mean a great regular season so I'm gonna have a more kind of even Keel thought about how Camp has gone so far I like Wilson I mean listen if he can if he can if you can copy and paste his stats from last year 26 touchdowns eight interceptions I don't want to use the Box four alone but if you can just give that Pittsburgh has thrown 25 passing touchdowns the last two years combined Wilson threw 26 last year Pittsburgh is just desperate for average I know that's such a low bar and no one should hang a banner for it but can you just get confident quarterback play that gets you 23 24 points per game this this offense is so starred for just kind of that Baseline average level of offensive play and passing game they've been missing the last two seasons so if you can do that with a strong Run game with an improved offensive line and the top top five defense you can win a playoff game with Russell Wilson that's kind of where I'm at with him Pittsburgh they been to the playoffs but they have not won a playoff game since 2016 which is unbelievably long streak and it has to end I think Wilson can get them over the hump to win a playoff game can he win a Super Bowl I think that's really pushing it I think it's going to be really tough to get to that point when you're facing a leite quarterback play in divisional rounds and Championship rounds Etc but I think you can get over the hump to win a playoff game and if you do that you wi of the final eight and you got a chance that's where I think Pittsburgh can be at right now I know it's early uh as far as relationship between the fans and Wilson but Wilson does tend to carry himself a little bit like a primadonna uh and Pittsburgh's fans I mean that's just that's like the that's that's complete opposite of what they're looking for so has any of that showed itself or yeah not really but it's early I think Wilson won a lot of fans over in the in the off season I mean he coordinated workouts in San Diego uh before training camp started he took guys the Pirates games and Penguins games here's where I come in on that you're right Russ can be he's a little my my podcast co-host da Bryan calls him Mr Mayor he's a little like mayor of Pittsburgh very buttoned up a little over the top sometimes but all this comes down to how you interpret that is based off his play if he's winning he's playing well then he's dangerous like he's gonna have that like we love we love the cliche we love kind of the Corn balless if he's struggling and the team's not winning then it's cornball R Us and we hate the cliche so I mean the way that these things get viewed that lens is all about the onfield performance so yes we've kind of felt some of that and you know giving the the perfect answer each time whenever he speaks with the media and I get that but the way that fans will receive that is all gon to be based around his play all right and before we get to the defense the uh offensive line so uh year two for brck Jones and the two rookies uh it does look like on paper that the Steelers uh have a better line but again you do have three three of the five that are fairly young in Jones Frasier and fanu so talk a little bit about what you've seen so far uh and again it's a it's a new scheme so I don't know what kind of major changes they've had with that scheme on the line with their blocking but how's it going to go with the three young guys you mentioned bradick Jones it has been a tough summer for bradick Jones he's got an injury of some sort it's an elbow he's called he said there's multiple injuries right now he's got a big brace on his right arm he's worn for most a training camp and I believe that's impacting his play to a degree now to his credit he's not making excuses and talks about he's just got to be better he was terrible against Buffalo one of the worst performances you've seen Gregory rouso just ate his lunch the entire game and so Jones has to be better has to be more technical his punch is a mess his strike placement is is a wreck right now he's got to be able to adjust and Pittsburgh has not done him favors by this flip-flop between playing left tackle and right tackle they have not really set out a clearcut course of like what he is he should be this team's franchise left tackle that's it's a talent and he has played mostly right tackle throughout the summer little bit of left tackle but Dan Moore Jr has been this team's first team left tackle still and maybe we'll start the season at left tackle that cannot be discounted Jones has to play well in the finale against Detroit I think fanu a bit incomplete look good in training camp he's not terribly big but he's got good length he's got his big Power for lower half you cannot beat him to the edge he's so just athletic out of his stance it's really hard to beat him wide you got to be able to counter inside that gives him a bit more trouble unfortunately against Houston he springed his MCL only played the first half has not played since will not play in the preseason finale hopes to get back for week one reporting is he's still going to start a right tackle week one despite that we'll have to wait and see his health will be a guy in that Zack Fraser will be this team starting center week one against Atlanta that was probably inevitable but it was accelerated by Nate herig unfortunately tearing his rotator cuff literally in the last hour of the last training camp practice in a one-on-one blocking drill tears his left rotator cuff he's done for the season he was having a good camp but Frasier will be this team's uh first team Center starting center and he's been really good I think he's impressed and progressed throughout training camp his quickness off the ball um his football IQ Arthur Smith called him the most prepped rookie that he's had and so those are big prays there and he's ready to go I think for week one so it'll be a big test against Atlanta and Grady Jared but Frasier will start and I think he's certainly more than held to Z yeah I didn't even think about that is kind of ironic that Pittsburgh and Atlanta yeah Arthur Smith welome back like you never left yeah uh okay so let me get the straight then you think herig then would have started opening day I'm not sure herbig was running first team Center all training camp they had some exchange issues in the opener against Houston Frasier started getting first team reps and then her got hurt and that ended the conversation there so Frasier may have still started week one but obviously with herig out that is cemented but Frasier is all like it's it's it's a seamless transition Frasier is certainly ready to start week one all right and if fanu starts at right tackle on opening day because he's healthy and again that's what it sounds like you're saying who do you believe is the starter at left tackle in opening day I would have told you before this Bills game broadrick Jones and I still think it'll be broadrick Jones because it's so hard to bench your first round tackle you just drafted last year but they really like Dan Moore and if Jones can't prove his health and he's just simply not ready to go you know do you put a struggling left tackle to protect Russell Wilson's blind side I mean and Wilson's not as mobile as he used to be so you know we'll have to see you're gonna face Matthew judon and and struggle against that um I'll still go with Jones right now but that door is open for more they've liked Dan Moore um he's had a good training camp he's highly experienc he's been their starter at left tackle every game but one since 2021 when he got drafted um the fans don't like him that much but the team loves his work ethic and dedication he's a great teammate so we'll see yeah you do I mean you again I'm not saying that the coaches are wrong or not because sometimes they are but uh it's the one thing that bothers you about certain players as fans when you go look the guy's clearly not better than the other guy that's a younger and he's the the next guy in line and the coaching staff just gets so pigheaded stubborn about the vet because again like you said he good the locker room you know it's like uh that um scene in Moneyball where uh where pit as Brandon Bean is trying to explain why he doesn't go on trips on the plane because he doesn't want to be friends he doesn't he has to cut the guys he's got to trade them and that's what doesn't happen a lot in the NFL because and I don't think it should I mean you know especially the the coaches of course they got to be around these guys but you do wonder whether or not that's something that they unfortunately uh it gets too personal it's like look guy's a good guy you love him he's a great guy great in the locker room but he's just not better than the other guy the is a better player so I don't know how it really works out here with Jones and Moore but that's kind of what I'm what I'm thinking I'm hearing yeah no I Love the Money Ball analogy and I'll kind of try to to stretch it out too it's like with not like putting aside Jones's issues like Jones should have been this team's left tackle from day one to give him the opportunity like he's a young guy he had 14 starts at Georgia he should be getting these reps and being able to hone his crap they bounced him around it's kind of like had the Athletics ever lost Jason giomi but we're still like rotating him like as a platoon guy every single day like no you have you didn't lose giomi like we love hadberg that's great but like you have giomi still just play giomi it's kind of like that so it's been frustrating to see this team and they've done that with Kevin doson which was an issue shined with the Rams when he move back to his Right Guard spot and Kendrick green they didn't know what to do with him they have bounced these linemen around even Fon left tackle in college will play right tackle in the NFL it's just you take these guys you change their positions you create more projection more risk and I think it's hurt these guys okay rest of the offensive line McCormick is the draft pick uh what's are they okay as far as you mentioned more of course so one of these guys is going to be the backup but how are they dep wise they're pretty good and listen Mason McCormick has been a star of the summer I am pleasantly surprised and was abundantly wrong about my expectations on McCormack going into training camp I thought he would be a guy that struggle he comes from South Dakota State he was highly experienced but when you come to Pat Meer system the o line coach usually for the interior guys especially the guards it takes some time to adjust even' seen veterans struggle James Daniels his first training camp in Pittsburgh was abismal because he had to learn the new techniques that Pat Meyer teaches which is a really aggressive or flat pass set it's not giving ground you're either staying flat or you're coming forward on your pass set and there's an adjustment period there but MC fori has taken to it so quickly he's had a great summer overall he's been a guard he's even maybe going to get going to get some Center work because of the herbic injury looking for a backup behind Frasier right now I think mccormic could be that guard of the future James Daniels last year of his contract his team will not be uh be resigning James Daniels will be playing elsewhere in 2025 and me MC McCormack maybe starting by then so I like him Spencer Anderson has had a good camp as well potential backup center as well and Dylan Cooks a developmental offensive tackle that I've been a big fan of all right sounds like the Steelers are in pretty good shape uh looks like they've done a really nice job the last couple of drafts improving that offensive line all right let's now go to the defensive side and here you do have a defensive coordinator Austin he's been there for three years I think he's been with the team six obviously you know that uh so let's talk about uh the guys up front especially cam Hayward uh how many years do you think he has left and how many years do you think he has left at a high enough level uh where it's it's not gonna affect him or the Steelers he wants to play two more years so he wants to play through 2026 that's his goal it's kind of a starting point he's a fre agent to be after this year he wants an extension we'll see if that happens that's still up in the air right now I think he can still play longer than most guys at age 35 because he's a power guy he's a strength guy I think when you're the more athletic type that tends to go quicker you lose your speed your quickness a little bit sooner the power kind of hangs around longer and so as long as he has that he can still play I think at a pretty high level and obviously last year he got hurt and came back midseason was not 100% and certainly looked every bit of not being full cim Hayward he's looked strong in training camp and they've been mindful about resting him not playing him in the preseason Etc how much longer can he play at a really high level history says to be a 10 sack guy at this age it's very hard to find those examples you look at John Randall Warren Sapp those guys faded around this time in their careers um I don't think Hayward will get back to being a t sack guy but can he be a six seven sack guy for this year next year and play really solid run defense I think he can be that so that's kind of where I'm at right now on cam Hayward I know the the fan base is kind of turned against him a little bit they some want to see him go because he wants an extension he got hurt last year but still firmly in cam hayward's Corner okay and bton looks like uh especially when you looked at him in college you felt he had an opportunity to be a really good player as a rookie uh he seemed to do pretty well had his ups and downs but overall looked apart so uh steel is hoping for an even bigger breakthrough for him this season I'm suppose and they should get it I think Ben's had a strong training camp uh you know second year I think it's just important for second year guys in general because I don't know how any rookie surviv they go from their college season to Allstar games to combine training to the actual combine to Pro days to private workouts to the draft to rookie mini camp OTAs uh you training camp regular season playoffs like that is just a gauntlet that is unbelievable so when you have a chance just to breathe for a couple weeks in the off season you know where you're at you don't have to worry about where you're getting drafted what scheme Playbook all that kind of stuff it's really important for any sophomore but it's good for Benton as well he's worked on his power he's got a really good club over move he can really win finesse and beat these centers and guards to the edges can you create power to win down the middle and be able to cax the pocket and win in different ways he's showing that he's dropped some weight he's in better shape he's had a good summer hopeing this team's no tackle rotate in some packages big fan of Keon Ben all right and how is the overall uh rest of the unit depthwise uh and also Logan Lee was a six round draft pick so how's the depth look it looks oh okay I want to be careful I was really impressed with the depth this time last year and they did not show it once cam Hayward went down it was pretty pretty much a mess last year um but I like you I think guys like de Marvin Leal he needed to have a really strong training camp he was a bubble guy entering this year he's gotten it I don't think he'll ever be what the team envisioned him when they took him in the third round in 2022 I don't think he'll ever be an every down guy one report said he's 275 pounds right now you won't be a base end in Pittsburgh at 275 that's just far too light but can you be kind of a rotational sub package guy he's working at outside linebacker still um Line's got short there he's played on his on his feet some so he kind of might be wearing different hats and some sort of pass rusher but he's a much better technician he's beating Blocks he's now no longer just an athlete he's a guy that can translate that into useful energy and actually winning football uh Lowry and Loke are just like classic base ends that can stuff the Run they really offer nothing against the pass but they're the competent run Defenders and so that's fine Adams is is a training star that's an okay player in the regular season he's a fine backup nose tackle and Logan Lee they've had him as a true three four nose tackle which is not his game when you're 65 and kind of getting leveraged by these centers he's played 89% of his snaps in the C and so forth at no stackle which is not his role so it's been tougher to evaluate him he's got a hot motor he's decently athletic I didn't love him coming out of Iowa he's going to be on the practice squad to start his career okay let's take a look at that linebacking core and of course uh you've got two of the best in the business opposite sides watt heith heith joining the club uh to give the Steelers really a lethal one-two punch as good as if not better than any team in the NFL we Al we also talked recently about uh that the Steelers are hoping that Nick herig uh can take an even bigger uh move after a solid rookie season so uh everything looking good there yeah Edge I mean that's the engine of Pittsburgh's defense and you can ask me anytime over the last 20 years has Pittsburgh looked good on the edges and yes they've always looked good on the edges wat is watt he Smith's had a groin injury but he'll be good for week one and herig is going to be this team who clearcut number three they're even I think going to use some three outside linebacker packages to get herig on the field in some passing situations they've done that before with Heisman this rookie year Melvin Ingram the year after but they're really excited about Nick herck and I was wrong on him I thought he was too small to play at outside linebacker play on the edge he had a really good rookie year just can he play with some volume he came off the bench freshh last year he only had to play like five snaps in a row just like very fresh snaps so you want to see a bit more volume uh this year but herck is a hard worker he's learned a lot from Waton High Smith so they're good there number four spot will be interesting Jeremiah Moon Kiron Johnson different body types they're fighting down to the wire for that fourth outside linebacker spot they're both capable special teamers and so this one's going to be a battle to watch against Detroit okay and then uh inside of course the big move is bringing in Patrick Queen so I'm sure the Steelers franchise hoping he's going to be the man there for many years it was also uh quite fitting that they drafted pton Wilson he just seems like a perfect fit for the Steelers organization loved him in college uh I mean and and I'm sure the Steelers fans just probably fell in love with him immediately if they had no idea who he was uh just taking a look at his background what he's been through and and how he's persevered it's all about staying healthy for pton Wilson and if he does I think he's going to be a fantastic fit for this team uh so I think yeah with queen and Wilson in the future that's looking really nice how's he looking though I mean uh I'm I'm I'm tooting his horn but I haven't seen any any of his action in preseason yet uh but uh I got to again assume that fans are pretty excited about the future there yeah honk that horn they've been good I think they have a really strong top three and queen and wolson and Roberts uh Queen will be the every down guy with a Green Dot he won't come off the field he's had a really good summer he's been a tone set he's kind of bought brought that Baltimore Edge to Pittsburgh Pittsburgh has had that edge too but it's just you get a little little sharp edge from from Pat your queen which I appreciate he's been a real big tone Setter in training camp him and Roberts have been I wonder about Queen in coverage and kind of turning and running I still don't know if I have as much confidence in him as maybe others do I want to be able to evaluate that more although I think I might have told you this before Greg I think there's like three good coverage linebackers in the NFL like it's such a hard position to play against Athletic tight ends and and schemes and stuff um but but that's a good top three Roberts and Wilson will rotate Roberts probably will play in their base three for Wilson and their nickel packages and then queen as every down linebacker so Pittsburgh enjoyed a three-man rotation last year of of hokom and Roberts and Quan Alexander until everyone got hurt and everything got screwed um but they'll have a three-man rotation or really a two-man rotation of Roberts and Wilson to go along with Patrick Queen and Pittsburgh I think is very happy about that yeah that's a big difference that's a major upgrade how's hul not good uh he's going to start the year almost certainly on reserve pup he did not practice in training camp I didn't even see him a training camp maybe he was there but I never saw him down on the field I mean he's walking he was he's no longer on crutches he's posted some videos of him rehabing but uh they reworked his contract to have a reduced salary uh he's going to be on reserve pup will he play this year I don't know not looking great and even if he does get healthy to return I don't know what kind of role he's going to have when you have Queen and Robertson WS those are spoken for so I don't know what his status and future is it's unfortunate a severe knee injury last November against Tennessee because hul was having a good season until then but yeah just uh gonna be more time to wait on Cole hok and uh Hulk and and so once the season start starts does he tra do they put him on IR uh how does that work he'll go to reserve pup he was on active pup uh since they won a training camp and so he'll just go to reserve pup once roster cutdowns happen on the 27th all right now secondary uh some interesting uh moves here so they acquired Jackson in the trade they also wind and also get Elliott in free agency and then uh according to the depth chart because when I looked at it myself I was like whoa okay and I had had known Bishop uh just not because I didn't see him play last year but just reminded myself of him because I was doing my research for the upcoming college football season and I'm like you know so as soon as I saw I was like whoa okay I just remember uh thinking about him first team All American at West Virginia and is this is this real is this like he's really played this well that he could end up being the starter ises that have to do with Sutton being suspended and this is just the best they have tell tell me the the the beanie B Bop college free agent story of 2024 it's kind of all the above Bishop throughout training camp was consistently working as the first team slot corner I thought he was doing a good job not a great job I thought some were kind of overstating his performance and a little over the top a little prematurely and then they wanted to rotate in some different guys they wanted to try grayan Arnold in the slot well he was getting first team reps while he hurts his cat on a kick return uh drill on the last day of training camp he's on IR he's been waved with an injury settlement out of the mix uh they wanted to obviously cam Sutton has suspended the first eight games so he's not going to be a viable option TR lost in the DC spoke with the media earlier this week and he said it's wide open like whoever shows up gets the job it's literally what he said Bishop himself has been hurt he missed the Bills game which was crucial for his development it sounds like he will be playing against Detroit it's a huge game for him so right now it's Bishop as the starter that's real but he's got to prove it he's not locked down that job Thomas Grim Jr the backup behind him on the dep chart has had a good summer he's been plac in the football he's got some NFL experience in in Cleveland previously so he's in the mix as well they could go outside the organization I think the bottom line the short answer is Greg it's a pretty fluid situation and this finale against Detroit will be really important for be Bishop all right so it's still a wide open uh spot uh before even preseason game number three okay yeah and I remember just a few weeks ago there was a ton of DBS still available in for agency and a lot of those guys are starting to get gobbled up so I'm not sure there's still any viable options out there has there been any rumors about any specific free agents no the only thing fans and people like me have kicked around is do you bring back Patrick Peterson to play that slot safety role that knows your defense come in right away I think that makes some sense is it GNA happen Peterson would love to come back he's expressed it many times on his podcast like please sign me back they cut him earlier this year in March I don't know if that's going to happen but things open and it'll probably be a committee to be honest since they lost Mike Hilton they've had a committee approach of a rundown nickel and a pass down nickel you could see Desa Elliot Get slot reps he's worked in Big Nickel packages he was getting slot work early in training camp I doubt whoever wins this job will be the solo guy it'll probably be a village to work that slot roll all right and how's uh Jackson acclimating to his new digs he had a good training camp I was impressed I thought he was really competitive against George Pickins he's fast I I I thought he's never going to be a great corner but I thought it was better in Carolina last year than people made him out to be so I think he'll be a competent number two just can he be consistent and not a liability if he can do that with Porter is the number one I think you're good depth behind is an issue though what they have behind Porter and Jackson is scary and thin inexperienced and gives me a lot of pause another reason why going out and getting a player like Peterson or or again anybody similar is something that could very happen because it's not just that nickel spot it's about adding another capable corner to the to the room isn't it they need a vet they need some experience you got Cory Trace Jr rookie seventh on pick from Purdue in 2023 TS ACL the first padded practice last year which is the second torn ACL he fell because of medical concerns he's been able to work his way back this year could be an option in dime packages I'm not going to put him out there next next man up right now behind por and Jackson Darius Rush P traffic bounced around last year he was working second team corner at the start a camp he's lost some playing time could he make the roster it's possible but 40 career snaps he W him behind I don't want that right now and really there's nothing else to talk about so they're going to add an outside defensive back slot Corner outside corner it's kind of all on the table I would be shocked if they went into Atlanta week one with a current group right now they need some outside veteran help uh Watts uh the other six round draft pick do you think he has a chance to make the team to me he's on the bubble I think there's some really impressive traits with Ryan Watts he's big he's physical he can hit he's a good tackler in open space I think a better athlete than some give him credit for but he's a six round guy that played corner at Ohio State in Texas making the transition to safety and charl Austin the D coordinator talked about him learning the game being at a position missing some assignments I think it's kind of been you know continual I think he's a really vocal Communicator he's gotten a ton of reps safety this Camp that's been good for him can he win a gunner job I mean they no one talk we talk about it but no one talks about Pittsburgh lost both their starting Gunners last year and miles boyin and James Pierre they need some guys to replace that especially with a punter and Cameron Johnson who can Boom the heck out of the football and they need guys who can cover and so can Watts win that job that's his best best path to making the 53 if not maybe back the squad to start for him all right and how's uh the kicking game looking uh but we know Boswell is is just this uh Perfect Fit here in Pittsburgh he just knows how to kick there and it's just solid uh overall the kicking game looking okay yeah the kicking game's looking good the coverage game is a different story and and and some things to work on there like I mentioned Johnston I mean he's averaging in training or in um in two preseason games which I know the sample size is small but he's an established proven guy he's averaging over 50 yards per punt but his net is 36 yards it's a 14 yard Delta there and that's not acceptable and I know it's preseason and they're not playing all their their starters out there all the time but like I mentioned they have to find some Gunners boyin and Pierre were good at that job last year I mean you finally get a punter who can kick the crap out of the football and don't have the guys who can go down there and cover and so that's a concern they may go outside the organization for that Heck if the Giants cut miles boyin I'm bringing miles boyin back to Pittsburgh and Har they need a guy who can go down there Johnson's gonna boot the ball 60 yards and need someone to go down there and cover that and is it gonna be Austin and uh Patterson you think they're definitely the the two guys I mean how has it looked so far in the preseason who's who's back there for kick returns or punt returns or all the above uh yes everything okay gotta um punt returns it should be Austin they tried some different people they tried qu Watkins in the opener he was a disaster that's not going to last Scotty Miller's gotten some work but it should be Calvin Austin kick returner will be cordello Patterson he started the year on NFI with a hamstring injury he's come back he's not gotten a single kick return I would like to see it at least once under these new rules Mike Tomlin said that's not necessary they know Patterson's resumee and he'll be good to go for week one you do need a second guy back there in the landing zone I'm not entirely sure who that will be I thought Jaylen Warr made a lot of sense but with his hamstring injury maybe you don't want to have him doing kick returns in week one could be Austin could be Scotty Miller could be maybe someone else uh they' really used a lot of a guy named John rice plumbley in in summer he's a quarterback but he is doing everything but quarterback he's played wide receiver he's played kick returner he's gotten punt returner work in practice he's been the perect personal protector on the punt team he made a tackle on on punt coverage in the opener so like he's been fun to watch he won't make the 53 but they've kind of gotten some backups uh some looks there so it'll be Patterson and somebody else uh but Patterson hopefully will be the main guy returning kicks all right so it's uh it's the toughest division in football uh you've got any four teams in the NFC in the AFC North can win the division and nobody would be surprised and I think I think the only team that would surprise any body to finish in fourth would probably be Baltimore but then again if they lose Jackson The Way Cincinnati lost burrow that's what probably happen so uh it's it's it's a fun division to watch uh and to cover I'm sure uh what are you thinking so far I'm sure if you asked like 20 experts give me a prediction one through four you'd probably have you know 10 different answers so what do you think uh based on not only the Steelers but just overall for what you feel about this division you know Baltimore I'm sure theyy they're the team you got to respect them they're the that's the one you got to go after but burrow is going to be back that's huge Watson if he's healthy that's huge but it as good as the division was last year you think it should be even better this year because as long as all the quarterbacks stay healthy right that was the issue last year Baltimore kept their starting quarterback they won the division Lamar stayed healthy and that was huge for them I don't have a final thought yet and my preseason predictions it doesn't matter it's all going to be out the window by the time you know week three rolls around the whole is different I mean I you know Pittsburgh my my thought Greg is they won 10 games last year and they shouldn't have won 10 games last year they had this massive quarterback and defense was a rre and lost a bunch of guys you know Mike Tomlin it's the Jurassic Park line like life finds a way and Mike Tomlin finds a way to win nine or 10 games this team needs to be beyond that I kind of hate the whole never had a losing season stat it's you can commended in some sense but that's not the standard in Pittsburgh but I think they'll be a nine or 10- win team it's a tough schedule it's brutal down the stretch I mean that's impossible to predict what the NFL will look like by Christmas but six of their final eight games are all against the AFC North I don't know why it's so backloaded they play the Eagles and the Chiefs as their two non AFC North games down there so it is it is tough I think even the beginning is tough like you're at Atlanta at Denver two Road games I think two competent teams you play the Colts and the Cowboys uh in week three and four like in the Chargers like that that's all going to be a think battle as well but I think this offense will be competent and organized and average which doesn't sound like much but in Pittsburg to be average would be incredible based on where this team has been the last couple years this defense if they're healthy can be a top five scoring defense and wad Hayward and Minka as your as your pillars so I think it's gonna be a nine1 win team and a team that I think can finally get over that hump and win a playoff game something that has alluded them since 2016 uh a drought that just simply has to off the last time Pittsburgh has had this long of a postseason drought was the pre merger before Chuck null got there and that is a troubling stat that must change I think it will I think it can I shouldn't say it will I think it certainly can they're in a better position now to get over that hum yeah I mean look there a lot of franchises uh fans out there that oh I'll take that I take that that he's never under 500 give me that but in Pittsburgh like you said it's it's as funny as it sounds with all that winning uh if you don't win playoff games that's what that's that's what it's all about and and as you've referenced before regarding Russell Wilson that's is kind of why he's here I mean you're in the playoffs he knows that'll win uh and hopefully he can get that monkey off a back uh so yeah it sounds like it's a it's a team that if everything goes well how far do you think this team can go are can they win a Super Bowl with the roster that they have if everything goes well and if Russell Wilson is reborn if he's reborn if we go to that level then yes I mean because it comes down the quarterback play ultimately we can throw away all the particulars about dline depth and Slot corner like who's your quarterback can you make those plays late can you put points and win a game by putting up 30 at his best I think he could are you likely to get that probably not you probably get something a rung or two below that which is why I think they're a a wild card winner not a Super Bowl winner uh but we'll see and Mike tomman to his credit he knows how to win close games I mean literally since Tomlin was hired in 2007 no team has played as many one possession games as Pittsburgh Steelers and no team has a higher winning percentage in one possession games than the Pittsburgh Steelers they win every game 1714 that's enough to get you so far but if you want to win a Super Bowl you can't do that winning 17 to 14 this is not 1976 anymore so that's gonna be the challenge for this team yeah and we just talked about Atlanta being a very interesting first game and it's even interesting the following week with uh Russell going to Denver against o dicks yeah the old the new should be interesting yeah so at least it's going to be entertaining schedule-wise that's for sure if you're a Steeler fan this season Alex uh great job thank you for preparing us for the season uh for any Pittsburgh fans here of course watching here uh we look forward to talking to you during the season uh Steelers depo.com and your your podcast work do you have anything specific uh that you like to tell the viewers yeah just part of the site the terrible podcast myself and Dave Bryan every Monday Wednesday and Friday offering our commentary and Analysis Dave is a salary cap wizard which is always important so go to him if you want your Steeler salary don't go to me I can't do the I can't do the math but he'll do the math for the both of both of us in all Steelers Nation so yeah Steelers depo.com the terrible podcast go check us out thanks Alex thank you Greg