The NFL is back, and Sportsnet is breaking down everything you need to know about each of the 32 teams in the month leading up to kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 7. Today, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Head coach: Mike Tomlin
Last season’s record: 11-5 (1st in AFC North)
Playoff result: Lost to New England in AFC Championship Game
Key free agent gains: In addition to locking up star wide receiver Antonio Brown to a lucrative extension and placing the franchise tag on powerful running back Le’Veon Bell (which he has yet to actually sign) the Steelers targeted a few free agents to add depth this off-season.
Cornerback Joe Haden, released by the Browns on Wednesday, was unemployed for just a few hours before the Steelers scooped him up and signed him for three years as a strong addition to their secondary, which struggled last year. He’ll get a fresh start and a real shot at winning in Pittsburgh if he can stay healthy and get back to Pro Bowl form, circa 2013–14.
Haden’s arrival ups the competition level for CB Coty Sensabaugh, who signed a two-year deal back in March in his quest for a starting gig.
Defensive end Tyson Alualu, in search of new life after six losing seasons in Jacksonville, will be thrown into the mix behind starters Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt to fortify an already-strong defence in Pittsburgh. Wide receiver Justin Hunter, meanwhile, has his sights set on Darrius Heyward-Bey’s job amongst a crowded crew of talented pass-catchers.
Imagine this: Martavis Bryant, Sammie Coates and Justin Hunter all run deep with AB running short and Le'Veon out of the backfield… Wow
— Antonio Brown's Ego (@ABsEgo84) August 17, 2017
The Steelers also brought in running back Knile Davis, who will fill a depth role in the backfield, and tight end Vance McDonald, who will compete with Jesse James and Xavier Grimble for a spot.
It’s worth noting here that the team inked the man responsible for all these signings, general manager Kevin Colbert, to a two-year extension on Thursday that will seem him through the 2020 draft.
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Key free agent losses: The Steelers cut ties with tight end Ladarius Green just one year into the hefty four-year deal he signed last off-season. The tight end started just two games in 2016 and appeared in six as he was plagued by a nagging ankle injury and ongoing concussion symptoms.
Veteran linebacker Lawrence Timmons signed a two-year deal with the Dolphins, opening the door for Vince Williams to step into a starting position.
The Steelers also bid farewell to running back DeAngelo Williams, who remains a free agent after two years in Pittsburgh.
Key draft picks: Quarterbacks, beware: First-round pick and outside linebacker T.J. Watt has been learning from the best, and it’s showing in his pre-season play—including a two-sack debut.
J.J. Watt’s younger brother has been billed as James Harrison’s successor but might be outgrowing that role already. Pittsburgh’s outside linebackers coach, Joey Porter, has said the team plans to use Harrison in a “relief” role behind Watt for a pretty impressive one-two pass-rush punch.
Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster’s pro career, however, is off to a rough start. The 62nd-overall pick suffered a string of injuries this summer — a minor ankle ailment, concussion symptoms, and a bone bruise in his knee — but has bounced back each time and continues to show promise.
Cornerback Cameron Sutton, who has also dealt with injuries this pre-season, made a positive first impression during his Steelers debut on Saturday, giving Pittsburgh a little more confidence when it comes to the future of that position.
Running back James Conner is the toughest rookie of them all, though, having defeated cancer during his college career and battling his way back to the football field to play for his hometown team. With Le’Veon Bell still holding out (he’s set to return on Sept. 1), Conner has been getting plenty of pre-season reps and is rising to the occasion with 124 yards in 24 attempts (5.2 yards per carry). He’s already a lock in the “fan favourite” category — his jersey is flying off the shelves — and while the 22-year-old won’t challenge Bell for the main gig, he’s certainly making a strong case for plenty of playing time this season.
X-factor: Martavis Bryant. While there remains some confusion around when Bryant will be fully reinstated following his one-year suspension for violating the NFL’s drug policy, adding him to Roethlisberger’s list of targets could prove pretty huge for Pittsburgh. The six-foot-four, 211-pound receiver gives Big Ben a sizeable end zone go-to and another speedy option down the field.
2017 will be a success if: They can get back to the Super Bowl. The hopes are high in Pittsburgh this season, and rightly so. They’ve got a possible future hall-of-famer at QB, a full slate of talented wide receivers, and one of the best (if not the best) running backs in the league right now. Roethlisberger, who toyed with the idea of retirement earlier this off-season, has said he’ll take the remainder of his career on a year-by-year basis, making it clear that the Steelers’ time is now.
