At the beginning of the offseason, seemingly no one was high on the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2023 season. Well, fast forward months later, and that verdict has changed a bit. General Manager Omar Khan is responsible for that, as he did a phenomenal job in free agency, as well as the 2023 NFL Draft. Now, more people around the league seem to be jumping on the bandwagon.
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The duo of Steelers offensive sophomores Kenny Pickett and George Pickens is expected to take a big step together in 2023.
In a loaded AFC North, they still have the lowest odds to win the division. In other words, oddsmakers still have the black and gold finishing last in the North. The optimism surrounding the team coincides around second-year guys Kenny Pickett and George Pickens. Throughout the offseason and into the summer, there were reports that the two had shown massive improvements.
Pickett had worked on several different things since the end of the 2022 campaign, including his knowledge of the offense as well as his arm strength. He also added a few pounds of muscle to his upper body, which should help him for the long 17-game regular season. Former NFL defensive back Jason McCourty, who is now a regular on NFL Network's Good Morning Football, has joined the hype.
"You watched them this weekend. Pickett to Pickens. It just looked amazing. I want to pick the Pittsburgh Steelers to just win it all. In this division, you have the [Cincinnati] Bengals, you have the [Baltimore] Ravens. There's just so much competition. I think Pickett can make a huge jump. I don't know how high to place these Pittsburgh Steelers. I'm losing sleep over it. Black and yellow, I like them, I just don't know how much."
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The pressure is on Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett to take a step forward in 2023 in the loaded AFC.
McCourty spent 13 seasons in the NFL before retiring at the conclusion of the 2021 campaign. In other words, he knows a thing or two. In the sports media industry, he's been one of the biggest advocates for Pickett since the end of the 2022 season. Just a few months ago, he discussed how the Steelers' franchise signal-caller has the "it" factor. He sees Pickett as the future of the team, fully expecting him to take the leap in Year 2.
Who will lead the Steelers in receiving yards in 2023?
These expectations were only raised after the team's preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head Coach Mike Tomlin opted to play his starters on offense, as he believes their youth needs more snaps together. While the offensive core only played the first drive together, it was quite impressive. That included Pickett specifically, as he went 6-for-7 with 70 yards, finished by a 33-yard touchdown for Pickens.
Diontae Johnson made sure to remind people of his excellence as well, as he caught three passes for 32 yards on that opening drive. The offense struggled at times throughout the rest of the game, specifically with backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Still, the starting unit is what matters most to Steelers fans. The team is likely still a year or two away from legitimate Super Bowl contention, but it's exciting times in Pittsburgh.
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Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (#18) stands on the field at Acrisure Stadium before the start of a 2022 preseason game.
At the very least, fans will expect a return to the playoffs in 2023. The last time the team made it in 2021, it was an ugly one-and-done appearance at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. Tomlin and his squad haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 season, a drought they hope to break with this group this season.
Do you think the Steelers are legitimate contenders in 2023, or are they still a year or two away? What has to go right for Pittsburgh to have a successful season? What are your thoughts on these comments by McCourty? Share your opinions in the comment section below, yinz!
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