Jordan DeFigio, @fidgenewton
SteelerNation.com
In a season that began with a remarkable (and somewhat shocking) 11 straight wins, the Pittsburgh Steelers fizzled out like a flat Coke - capping off the season with a demeaning 48-37 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Ouch. That still hurts.
But the thing that hurts the most is that what cost them the game, ultimately the season, was the poor play and decision making by the veterans on the team.
And not just in the game against Cleveland, but in their 1-4 stretch leading up to it.
Thinking specifically of the breakdown on the offensive line, forcing the ball to receivers on dinky screen passes, the struggling run-game, big name players on defense going Invisible Man little by little.
All of it slowly dug a deeper hole that the team just couldn't climb out of. Their issues eventually buried them.
But now, as we're diving head-first into our postmortems and assessments, it's just as critical to look at the positives as it is to look at the...not-so-positives. And a HUGE bright spot for this aging team was its spry rookies. We saw a whole lot of some and a whole not of others, but by and large they were what made the season exciting.
That being said, here are my official grades for the Steelers' 2020 Draft Class.
Chase Claypool: B-
There were plenty of people who threw a fit when the Steelers drafted a wide receiver with their pick in the second round. Could they have drafted a running back like JK Dobbins with that pick? Sure. But they had yet to see the extent of their issues on the line, and they had their minds made up - receiver it was.
And is it really any surprise they hit the jackpot? The 6'4" 238 pound receiver Chase Claypool had himself a rookie campaign to remember, especially given the WR room he joined. Claypool boasted 62 receptions for 873 yards and 9 touchdowns, despite seeing fewer and fewer snaps later in the season. There were several occasions where he dropped passes that would have moved the chains or even put points on the board, but he's young. And he proved he has a high ceiling and was worth being selected 49th overall.
Alex Highsmith: B
This team had their fair share of self-inflicted issues throughout the course of the season, but one that plagued them more consistently and hauntingly than any other was outside of their control - injuries. Losing Devin Bush, Bud Dupree, and Robert Spillane was unexpected, and their absence took its toll on the defense. But it also provided an opportunity and opening for Alex Highsmith to take his place on the field and show us what he's capable of.
Turns out, it's quite a lot. He had moments where he looked slow and, well, like a rookie.
More often than not, though, he was making moves like this:
Highsmith posted 48 total tackles, 30 solo, 2 sacks, and 1 interception in his rookie year. Not too bad. He still has a good bit to learn, but he's already displayed a crazy amount of skill and football IQ. And he has one of the better tutors in the game to guide him along.
Anthony McFarland Jr.: C-
It felt like our dearly beloved offensive coordinator (RIP) had no idea how to actually effectively utilize Anthony McFarland Jr. So this isn't all on him. But besides his incredible speed, he didn't show us much in his limited snaps. He saw 33 carries and ran for only 113 yards. He averaged 3.4 yards per carry and had 0 touchdowns.
Yeah. Not great.
I'm hopeful he comes out next year and, with an actual offensive coordinator, finds his footing. With the right guidance and coaching, he can start to make an impact on the offensive side of the ball.
Kevin Dotson: A-
No rookie came out of the gate and did as much with as little as Kevin Dotson. His number was called upon in just a few games, but in every single one he held his ground and blocked against defenders like he'd been in the league for 5+ years.
Seriously. The guy is a tank. Strong, resilient, smart; it was a real shame the coaching staff chose to play anyone else in his place at any point in the season. The guy deserves to be a starting guard, and I expect he'll be a staple of the Steelers' line for years to come.
Antoine Brooks Jr. and Carlos Davis: NA
We didn't see enough of either of these guys to properly grade them. Poor guys.
Maybe next year.
All things considered, the Steelers' future has promise. They found a handful of diamonds in the rough and if they can have another draft like that, will be setting themselves up for success.
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