Steelers Former Offensive Lineman Says 2023 Locker Room Has No "Alphas" To Call Out Underperforming Teammates

The 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers have fans all over the world questioning why it seems as if the standard within the organization is no longer about championships, but rather, creating the biggest negative storylines only to then dismiss them as irrelevant. The team hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season, but Mike Tomlin's groups have had their fair share of drama since then. Some might believe it's the generation the younger players grew up in, but the overall belief is that something has changed since the dominant rosters that were winning Super Bowls in the 2000s fizzled out.

The current state of the Steelers has been discussed by media, fans and former players as well. Recently, Ben Roethlisberger questioned whether the franchise's rich tradition is finally coming to an end. A former teammate of his, Trai Essex, who won two Super Bowls with Roethlisberger as a member of the offensive line, gave his opinion on the potential lack of leadership within the locker room on a recent episode of the Steel Here podcast.

With Jersey Jerry absent, his co-host, Kevin Adams hosted Essex and the two talked about several topics surrounding Pittsburgh in 2023. While he appreciates the likes of Cameron Heyward, TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, something doesn't seem quite right about how they approach leadership.

"We got the guys on defense in TJ [Watt] and Cam [Heyward] and Minkah [Fitzpatrick], but even still I think the way they lead, it seems different. It's not an indictment against them because they're great players and they've been there for a long time and they have a standard that's upheld."

He gave the trio their flowers too, however. He believes that they have all done their parts during their times with the organization when it comes to helping the younger players mature at the NFL level.

"I think Cam does a good job of helping the [defensive] line along because I think he's doing a great job with [Keeanu] Benton. And I think TJ helped Alex [Highsmith] along and helped Bud Dupree when he was there. Minkah does the same thing for the secondary."

There seems to be a glaring problem on the Steelers current roster according to Essex. While he's not on the team, the former lineman believes that no one is confrontational enough to call out immature behavior.

"But, we don't have any alphas. There's no dogs. There's nobody that's gonna get in your face and put you in your place and say, 'You are not doing what we need to do. You're not holding up your end of the bargain.'"

While the words are harsh, they may be true. Fitzpatrick slightly called out guys for not caring after an embarrassing Week 14 loss to the New England Patriots, but accountability appears to be lacking overall.

Essex only logged 28 starts in his seven seasons with the Steelers, but was in a locker room with dominant leaders. He understands what it takes to win multiple Super Bowls. He acknowledged that Pittsburgh sort of has that in 2023 with Heyward, Watt and Fitzpatrick, but he recalled the guys on offense when he was playing that would get in somebody's face if they weren't living up to the group's standards. The present-day Steelers don't have it.

"We had that on offense. We had the Alan Fanecas. We had Marvel Smiths. We had the Willie Colons. We had the [Maurkice] Pounceys. We had Hines Ward. There was always somebody that, if the position group was lacking, there was somebody in that room that'd be like, 'You know what, get your sh*t together man because this is not how we do it.' It didn't take a coach."

Roethlisberger was the last player standing who played on those disciplined teams that Essex was a part of up until his 2021 retirement. The 2022 and 2023 seasons have proven that something left with the legendary signal-caller. While they are a young group, no one wants to step up on offense. The ongoing reality television show that stars Diontae Johnson and George Pickens hasn't helped either.

Steelers Are A December Collapse Away From Everything Falling Apart

Pittsburgh's consecutive losses against two-win teams to begin a crucial stretch in December has fans and the media alike hitting the panic button. Fitzpatrick calling out his teammates for not respecting the black and gold colors was a start, but Tomlin immediately downplayed it when he said that the safety was probably just "smiling in the face of adversity."

Essex's comments should strike a nerve through a Steelers locker room that is starting to lose a ton of respect from the fans that pay to watch them week in and week out. The trio of leaders on defense can only do so much and if the offense continues to lack any kind of accountability, the organization may be entering a rebuild that nobody ever saw coming.

Do you think that the Steelers are lacking a true leader on offense in 2023? Let us know in the comments below!

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