The Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to get back to old-school football this offseason. They wanted to get bigger and better, starting in the trenches. They've done that through free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft, but other guys have prepared themselves for the 2023 campaign. Tuesday marked the start of OTAs, and a few different players looked noticeably bigger.
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Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (#8) showed an ability to be a solid runner in his rookie season, so adding some weight should help him.
We knew that quarterback Kenny Pickett would show up a bit bigger. It was a point of emphasis for him this offseason, as he wants to be able to endure those big hits a bit better. He did suffer two concussions in his rookie campaign, along with several other huge hits. On Tuesday, he showed up at 226 pounds according to Rich Walsh of KDKA, a 13-pound increase from 2022.
Kenny Pickett weighs in around 226. Pickett was 213 at the end of last season @KDKA
— Rich Walsh KDKA (@RichieWalsh) May 23, 2023
Elsewhere, many reporters tweeted out how different Dan Moore Jr. looks. In fact, via Mark Kaboly of The Athletic, Moore gained a few pounds of pure muscle this offseason. He seems like a forgotten name nowadays, as he has started all 34 games for the Steelers over the past two years. The front office essentially selected his replacement at the 2023 NFL Draft in Broderick Jones, a huge blow to Moore staying a starter.
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It seems like Steelers left tackle Dan Moore Jr. won't give up the left tackle job without a fight.
It seems like he's ready to compete for that job, and he opened OTAs as the team's starting left tackle on Tuesday. That was expected, as Head Coach Mike Tomlin always wants to make sure starting roles are earned, not given. That even holds true with first-round picks, and even ones that the team traded up to select in the top-15. Iron sharpens iron, though. If anything, maybe the pick of Jones makes Moore a better, hungrier player.
Steelers players adapting to old style of football
Healthy competition isn't a bad thing in the NFL. A third offensive player showed up looking a bit bigger than in 2022, and that was backup running back Jaylen Warren as pointed out by Jeff Hathhorn of 93.7 The Fan. Just a year ago, he was a rookie undrafted free agent that was seen as a long shot to make the 53-man roster. After an impressive training camp in Latrobe, he was able to make the Week 1 roster for Pittsburgh.
Not only did he make the team, but he instantly became the Steelers' No. 2 running back. As a result, Warren saw a lot more burn than expected in his rookie campaign. He complemented Najee Harris quite well, as he averaged 4.9 yards per carry on 77 attempts. The Oklahoma State product was praised for his ability to hit the hole right away, something Harris struggled with at times. Pro Football Focus recently touted Warren as the team's most underrated player.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers RB Jaylen Warren was arguably the team's biggest surprise in 2022.
Warren is still a small running back though, as he weighed in at 215 pounds for 2022. It's unclear how much he did put on, but a few pounds will likely help him in 2023, while not taking away too much of his burst. Like Pickett, he should be able to take hits better on a consistent basis. Overall, it seems like these guys are wanting to be more durable throughout the 2023 season. With a desire to get back to old-school football, this should help.
What are your thoughts on these offensive players putting on some weight? Would you be shocked if Moore started over Jones at LT to start the season? What are your expectations for Warren in his second season? Share your thoughts below!
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