The Pittsburgh Steelers made the financial decision to cut loose the team's leading tackler, Myles Jack, after injuries and a lack of splash plays in 2022. The former Jacksonville Jaguars second-round pick compiled 104 tackles in 13 starts, but didn't force a single turnover and only had three tackles for a loss. He also carried an expensive cap charge looming for 2023. The team decided to cut him after one solid, but unspectacular season. The team added Cole Holcomb in free agency as part of General Manager Omar Khan's Moneyball approach to his first offseason running the show. Bleacher Report recently released their way too early predictions for some of the newcomers to Pittsburgh, and they see the former Washington Commanders linebacker taking on a crucial role for the team.
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Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb participates in the team's 2023 organized team activities at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Holcomb has had some injury problems as he enters his fifth NFL season. In his first four seasons, he's played in every game of the season twice. He registered over 100 tackles in both of those years. He's also shown an ability to create turnovers that Jack lacked. Jack, who remains on the open market, has two career forced fumbles while Holcomb has five including forcing three in his rookie season in 2019. Holcomb is easing his way back from a serious foot injury that required surgery and dashed a promising season. Holcomb can become a "tackling machine" for the Steelers according to Bleacher Report's Jake Rill, and will play a vital role for the team if he can stay healthy.
"He played 43 games over his first three seasons, so he should bounce back and prove last year wasn't a sign of injury troubles to come," Rill said. "And if he's on the field a lot (which he should be), he should have no problem again racking up a large number of tackles."
The writer predicted that Holcomb will tally over 100 tackles again, and it's pretty easy to see it coming to fruition as long as he can maintain good health. The Steelers' other two inside linebackers Elandon Roberts and Mark Robinson are more prototypical down-hill, thumper types, so Holcomb will take on the more sideline-to-sideline, be everywhere role.
Some More Steelers Newcomer Predictions For 2023
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Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson awaits the start of a drill during the team's 2023 organized team activities at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
The Steelers signed former All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson in free agency, and while he isn't the player that was nominated for eight Pro Bowls anymore, can still be a valuable and productive member of the defense. For the Minnesota Vikings last year, Peterson set career-highs in interceptions with five and tackles with 66 starting in all 17 games. He may be on the back nine of his career, but that doesn't mean he's lost the instincts and the brain that have made him so effective since he was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2011. Rill predicts that Peterson will be shy of the five picks he snagged last year, but should still get four.
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Steelers' new guard Isaac Seumalo participates in the 2023 organized team activities at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
The Steelers brought in guard Isaac Seumalo as part of a rebuild along the offensive line or the "Kenny Pickett Fence." Seumalo, like Holcomb has struggled with injuries in the past. He's played a full season only twice since he joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016. The Super Bowl winner in 2017 got plenty of praise in the offseason from former Eagles teammate Jason Kelce for being "one of the best guards in the NFL," and for Pickett's sake, the Steelers hope that continues. Again like Holcomb, he will have to prove he can stay healthy, but if he can, Rill sees him as a sure bet to be protecting Pickett as a starter all season long.
What do you think of these predictions for some of the Steelers' new faces? Are these in line with what you'd expect? Let us know in the comments!
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