It is no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers are not Super Bowl favorites heading into the 2022 regular season. With that said, they do have some encouraging young talent and could surprise several people this year if the team performs well. The organization was very active in free agency and didn't lose a plethora of key players who played last season other than quarterback, Ben Rothlisberger and cornerback, Joe Haden. The additions and draft picks did not convince PFF's Ben Linsey that the roster was even one of the Top 20 best units in the NFL, however. The Steelers landed at #22 on his list.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin prior to a 2022 preseason game at Acrisure Stadium. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Linsey began discussing the roster's biggest strength. He, as expected, touched on the defensive side of the ball, but focused on a certain two players who consistently wreak havoc on their opponents:
"It's hard to find many better duos along the defensive front than T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward. Over the past three seasons, both Watt and Heyward rank among the top three players at their respective positions in both quarterback pressures and run stops. Their ability to make impact plays regardless of the situation is at the center of Pittsburgh's defensive success over that three-year stretch."
Watt and Heyward combined for 33.5 sacks a season ago and could be on track to put up even better numbers in 2022. The lack of acknowledgement for star safety, Minkah Fitpatrick and newcomer, Myles Jack is disappointing, however. These two playing at the second and third levels has the potential to produce one of the best defenses in the league this year.
Steelers linebacker, Myles Jack (#51) at 2022 training camp. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
The biggest weakness for the team has been heavily criticized and talked about in Pittsburgh and Linsey is right on board that train. This team will only go as far as the offensive line will take them:
"The Steelers offensive line has deteriorated from a unit that five-plus years ago was one of the best in the league under offensive line coach, Mike Munchak. Now it profiles closer to the bottom of the league. This group was aided in pass protection by Ben Roethlisberger‘s 2.2-second average time to throw over the past two seasons (fastest in the NFL), making how it fares in what should be a different-looking 2022 offense something worth monitoring."
It will be a breath of fresh air to have a mobile quarterback with a little more zip on his passes running the offense. That, however, will not matter much if he has no time to throw and the offense can't run the ball. It will take some more time for the big men up front to gel, but for the sake of the offense and quarterback play, it better improve a lot sooner than it seems on track to.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Mitch Trubisky (#10) warms up for a 2022 preseason game. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
The Steelers' X-factor this year, according to Linsey, is a defensive player who came along nicely towards the end of the 2021 season.
"The two-year, $8 million contract Ahkello Witherspoon signed to remain in Pittsburgh this off-season doesn't scream No. 1 outside cornerback, but that's what the Steelers are counting on him to be when looking at the rest of their roster. From Week 13 through the end of the season, Witherspoon allowed a passer rating of just 20.2 on throws into his coverage. His play has been hot and cold throughout his five-year career, but the Steelers will be hoping he carries over that momentum into 2022."
Witherspoon played in nine games last year, starting three of them. He was a huge part of the secondary for the Steelers' playoff push. He had nine passes defended and three interceptions. He now will be one of the top three cornerbacks on Sundays and his excellent play will hopefully carry into 2022.
For what it's worth, the other three teams in the AFC North were all ranked in the top 13.
The Steelers don't have one of the best rosters this year, but it certainly isn't in the bottom half of the league.
What do you make out of Linsey and PFF's rankings? Let us know in the comments below!
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