Steelers Applauded For "Clear Vision" Of Future Thanks To Andy Weidl's Drafting Genuis

The Pittsburgh Steelers offense showed during the last five games of the 2024 regular season that they are not ready to compete with the most elite teams in the NFL. Everyone knew the schedule surrounding Christmas would be challenging. They faced the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, and the Kansas City Chiefs in 10 days, and now two are battling for a Lombardi Trophy.

The Steelers' offense under Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith seemed predictable as if they'd been figured out. The fans said the franchise is dated and out of sync with the new way of things in the NFL. They blamed Art Rooney II and Head Coach Mike Tomlin for keeping the team trapped in the 1970s, which is ironic since that same group of fans does nothing but obsess over those glory days. 

Christopher Carter from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Mike DeFabo from The Athletic said on the Locked on Steelers Podcast that many fans have this wrong. The new way isn't a non-stop air attack. The best teams in the league have run games. According to DeFabo, it is a big part of the modern era, and the Steelers are building it.   

"I think it's important to look back at what the Steelers have done well," explained DeFabo. "The one thing I will give them a lot of credit for is there is a clear vision, and for me, you could pick either way. You could pick a certain style or philosophy of football, but all subsequent decisions have to line up, and I think the Steelers are doing that. They brought in a guy, Andy Weidl, to be the guy who sets the draft board as the assistant GM. He has a big role in shaping this team and deciding which direction they're going to go in the draft."

Omar Khan has been with Pittsburgh for decades but was promoted to general manager in 2022. Andy Weidl returned home to become the assistant general manager that same year. Weidl had been with the Eagles, where he helped them develop their Super Bowl-winning team from the trenches up. 

The Steelers knew exactly what they were getting in Weidl, and he immediately set to helping the team return to its winning ways. Weidl is often credited for overhauling Philadelphia's roster. Since 2016, they have been to three Super Bowls and won one with this method of making non-sexy picks.

"He knows what a good offensive lineman looks like," added DeFabo. "I have confidence that if the Steelers play the long game, which has been their approach -- Let's be honest, drafting a ton of offensive linemen the first two drafts with Omar Khan and Andy Weidl, that's not a sexy thing to do. That does not get people excited. But it's like putting money in a 401K, it going to come back and benefit you in the long run."

While the Steelers might not be Super Bowl-ready in 2025, they are creating foundations to help them be ready. Carter and DeFabo agreed that this reminds them of the seasons right before they drafted Ben Roethlisberger. They are gathering all the necessary components for when they find their next franchise quarterback. 

Steelers' Offensive Line Still Needs Time

While the Steelers have put a lot of draft capital into their offensive line since Weidl joined the team, DeFabo and Carter cautioned fans not to expect Week 1 perfection. They said they expect Broderick Jones to take a step forward in 2025 and Troy Fautanu to live up to expectations in 2025. They also think that Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick will continue to show growth. 

However, this young group has not played together much in 2024 and will likely take some time to get up to speed. DeFabo believes it could take them a substantial chuck of the season to gel, and that's why they think Justin Fields makes more sense as the quarterback case. At least he can protect himself by escaping.  

Do you think Weidl has had a substantial impact on improving the offensive line? Tell us what you think below. 

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