It’s now less than a month until the Steelers report to training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., and for the only time during the football calendar, the NFL takes a breather.
However, taking a breather doesn’t mean there aren’t still questions that have yet to be answered since the start of the new league year in March. There are plenty remaining.
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You have questions, and I might have answers. I know I have opinions, so at least there’s that.
So, let’s talk about it — and much more, including Kenny Pickett, Allen Robinson, the offensive line, Matt Canada and maybe a couple of other not-so-popular questions.
(Note: Questions have been lightly edited for clarity and length.)
I don’t believe this will happen, but what do the Steelers do if Kenny has an average season? — Michah W.
Probably lose a lot more games than they win. I can assure you that Mike Tomlin will be below .500 for the first time in his career and the Steelers miss out on the playoffs again. While I agree with you that I don’t think this will happen, we have to be realistic about it as well. Pickett found a way to win games late last year, but he still threw only seven touchdowns in 389 attempts over 13 games. To think he will all of a sudden be Joe Burrow in his second year is kind of unrealistic. But he can and will be much better than last year. How much better will determine whether or not they have a chance at the postseason.
How many QBs in the league with their age/contract would you take before our situation with Kenny Pickett? — Ethan F.
That kind of limits the players to choose from. I wouldn’t take any from the 2023 draft or any behind Pickett from the 2022 draft. That leads us to 2021, and I would take Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields, for sure. The 2020 draft is out because of the fifth-year options picked up with Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert. When you take all that into account, I’d take Lawrence, Fields and then Pickett.
Does Kenny Pickett get the veteran QB treatment during the preseason and get a series or two in the first game, more in the second and then not even dress for the third, or do they get him a bunch of snaps to continue his in-game development? — Mitch L.
That’s a good question. The last thing you want to happen is Pickett getting hurt in a preseason game, but on the flip side, he has very little experience. It is going to be a balancing act, but I would think they will do a couple of series in the first game, three quarters in the second and maybe a series or two in the third and final game. It is a tough decision, and I am not privy to answer it at this time.
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Why did the Steelers keep Matt Canada despite him putting together a bottom-tier offense two years in a row and being described as simple and predictable? — James M.
Canada was hamstrung with an old quarterback and then a young one. He wasn’t able to run what he wanted to run, so the Steelers felt like he deserved a shot without limitations. Tomlin limited what he could call last year and Roethlisberger did the year before. That’s the best answer I have for you.
The Steelers love Kenny Pickett, but will they open up the offense? Matt Canada says no because organization told him so.
via @TheAthletic https://t.co/uyw81FaJuC
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) June 15, 2023
What new wrinkle do you see coming potentially this year from the Steelers? Formation? Personnel? The emphasis in practice?— Al D.
They were pretty vanilla with their offense in the spring, and that was to be expected. We will get a better feel in camp, but if I were put to the fire to answer right now, I would say the new wrinkle with the offense is going to be taking a lot more shots down the field than the first two years under Matt Canada. Pickett’s first choice when he breaks the pocket is to look down the field instead of dumping it off.
Let’s say someone blindfolds you all season, and by season’s end, you’re allowed to pick three statistics to judge the success of the Steelers’ offense. Which would you choose? — Kevin D.
Points scored. Turnovers. Yards per pass.
Would like your take on some over/unders: Steelers wins this season (over/under is 9); T.J. Watt games played (14); Kenny Pickett TD passes (24); Najee Harris rushing yards (1,200); Patrick Peterson INTs (4); Dan Moore starts at LT (4) — Jason S.
Sounds like a man who is looking at some future bets to make. UNDER 9 team wins, OVER 14 games for Watt; OVER 24 TD passes for Pickett; UNDER 1,200 yards rushing for Harris; UNDER 4 interceptions by Peterson; and OVER 4 games started at LT for Moore.
What is the starting OL combination in Week 1 and Week 18? (assuming no injuries) — Alex S.
Right to left, I anticipate Chukwuma Okorafor, James Daniels, Mason Cole, Isaac Seumalo and Dan Moore Jr. Yes, I think Moore will start the season at left tackle, but Broderick Jones will eventually take that spot over. If that is because of injuries, then so be it. I can assure you that the starting five won’t play 99 percent of the snaps like they did last year, so there will be opportunities.
GO DEEPERKaboly: Broderick Jones looks the part, but what's the rush to play him early?Steelers OTA winners, losers: Dan Moore, Allen Robinson impress, rookies don’t https://t.co/sMYex2IZ0Q
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) June 16, 2023
What free-agent addition will have the biggest impact on the team overall? — David B.
Allen Robinson. Easily, Allen Robinson. I know he was a trade and not a free agent, but I think you will give me a pass with the particulars.
What receiver do you think gets the majority of WR3 snaps this season? — Carter M.
Robinson. What I saw from him during the spring sold me on him being a solid slot receiver who is going to produce nicely in the red zone.
With all the linebackers added, do we have the right one to complement T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith? — Eric R.
I really liked what I saw from Markus Golden during the spring. Then you have Nick Herbig as well. I think the outside linebacker position is in the best shape it has been in years in terms of talent and depth.
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Hi, Mark, did the Steelers do enough to fortify ILB for this season, or do you see another move (like a veteran who is cut) down the road? — Brian M.
Whether they did or not, Brian, I think they are going to roll with who they have until it is proven that Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb and Mark Robinson can’t get the job done. Who knows if they can, but I doubt that they bring anybody else in. They would likely use scheme to compensate for that spot if the players show that can’t live up to expectations.
GO DEEPERHow Aaron Curry overcame the 'draft bust' label and discovered his 'purpose' in coachingDo you think Kwon Alexander is still a potential signing at ILB as they get closer to training camp? — Justin E.
No. The 90 they have is the 90 they will bring to camp. Now, that doesn’t mean to totally write him off. If an injury occurs or it becomes blatantly obvious that one of the top three can’t do it, that would bring Alexander back into the conversation.
Mark, is there any chance we bring back Benny Snell as RB3? He doesn’t seem to have garnered any interest elsewhere, and we all know Anthony McFarland will never progress beyond a preseason phenom. — Brian W.
I guess they could, but I wouldn’t expect it. They do need a third running back who can also play special teams, but they can easily fill that role without Snell. They have some young, practice squad-type players on the roster who would not only be cheaper than Snell but also have more potential at this point in their careers. So, no, I don’t expect him to be back.
Will the Steelers be in line to receive a compensatory pick in the 2024 draft for the promotion of Omar Khan to GM? If so, will that be a third-rounder? — Danny C.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, Khan doesn’t count toward that because he was an in-house hire. If another team had hired Khan as GM, the Steelers would have received a third-round pick. What hurt was the loss of Brian Flores (to be the Vikings’ defensive coordinator). If he had stayed another year and then left for a head-coaching job, the Steelers would have received a third-round pick.
What are the best days on the training camp schedule to go to Latrobe to avoid the crowd? — Alex D.
With this being my 21st camp, I am jaded and say they all stink. But for you, I would say stay away from the weekends, and if you are coming from way down the road, keep an eye on the weather. A mid-afternoon thunderstorm would shut it down, and it would be a waste of your time.
Who are your way-too-early contenders for surprise cut and surprise player to make the final 53-man roster? I’m going with Zach Gentry (cut) and Tanner Morgan (make). — Jan M.
I can’t see Gentry getting cut or even Morgan making it. A surprise cut? Pressley Harvin. A surprise keep? What about Kendrick Green?
GO DEEPERSteelers 53-man roster projection: Only 2 RBs? How many D-linemen? What's the plan at DB?What happened to barefoot kickers/punters? — Josh
Technology when it comes to footwear. It is that simple.
(Photo: Charles LeClaire / USA Today)
Mark Kaboly is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Pittsburgh Steelers. He joined The Athletic in 2017 and has covered the team since 2002, first for the McKeesport Daily News and then the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Mark, the president of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America, has covered the Steelers in three Super Bowls (XL, XLIII, XLV). Follow Mark on Twitter @MarkKaboly
