The Pittsburgh Steelers knew going into the 2022 season that they had a steep hill to climb if they wanted to be playing playoff football in January. With a 2-6 start, it looked all but headed for a complete disaster of a season. But since the bye week, the Steelers have made tremendous changes on both sides of the ball, and in particular, the offensive unit as a whole. The changes and improvements have given the Steelers a slight chance to still pull off a playoff berth in the final stages of the regular season.
Kenny Pickett during warmups in Atlanta, Georgia. / Photo Credit: Karl Roser Pittsburgh Steelers
Rookie Quarterback Kenny Pickett has been at the top of the list when it comes to positive changes so far in 2022. Pickett has gone four games without a turnover which is a complete night and day difference when compared to his first five games where he threw eight interceptions. We have also seen Pickett start to build chemistry with second-year tight-end Pat Freiermuth. Freiermuth finished the game with three receptions for 76 yards including a 57-yard catch and run in the second quarter.
Although his stats haven't blown anybody away, rookie Wide Receiver George Pickens has continued to show the entire NFL that he is going to be among one of the top receivers in the league for many years to come. His playmaking ability is some of the best that a rookie has put on in quite some time. It is only a matter of time before Pickett and Pickens become one of the top duo's in the AFC.
Running Back Najee Harris has seen a recent burst as well. Since the bye week, Harris has averaged 4.6 yards per carry which is 1.6 yards more than he had after the first eight games of the season. His running style has been completely different and it seems as if he has focused more on being a downhill runner which has really paid off and given the Steelers a consistent running game which is something they have struggled to establish for multiple seasons.
Running back Najee Harris running against the Atlanta Falcons / Photo Credit: Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers offensive line has taken a big step in the right direction and it has given Harris more of an opportunity to hit the gaps harder which has made him tremendously elusive. It was also rumored at the beginning of the season that Harris had been nursing an injury, so if a healthy Harris is what we have seen lately, the future certainly looks bright for the Steelers' run game.
All these improvements we have seen from the Steelers show that it is not time to throw in the towel on this season quite yet, and also give us a sneak peek of what the future is going to look like for this offense. It was no secret that this season would be considered a rebuilding year for the Steelers. Not only are they working through the process of a starting quarterback in his rookie season, but many of the playmakers are also in the beginning stages of their NFL careers and need time to build chemistry as a unit.
The Current Steelers Rebuild Will Be Unlike Most Rebuild Around The NFL
The difference with this rebuild the Steelers are currently against when compared to other rebuilds around the league is that they have all the tools already in place to make a deep playoff run in 2023. Some teams take five-plus years to become competitive again, but the Steelers have maintained to stay alive in such a tough AFC conference. The fact the Steelers have dealt with so many obstacles and growing pains within their own franchise while still remaining competitive should scare other teams around the league.
Steelers' Cam Heyward (left) and Alex Highsmith (right) / Photo Credit: Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
As it stands today, the Steelers have three of the top 45 picks in the NFL Draft next spring. This will give them plenty of opportunities to fill holes on both the offensive and defensive lines along with the cornerback position. They are in a prime position to select multiple players that can make a significant impact in their rookie season.
The Steelers having so many early picks in the draft will certainly give them a chance to expedite this rebuild and give them a chance to compete for an AFC North championship in 2023. At the end of the day, the Steelers are ahead of schedule on their rebuild and won't have to completely start from scratch. Fans should be proud of the work General Manager Omar Khan has done thus far and be excited for what the future holds on Pittsburgh's north shore.
What do you think? Are the Steelers closer to competing for a Lombardi Trophy now than you originally thought? What is this team missing in order to get another Super Bowl trophy back to Pittsburgh? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below or on my Twitter @collinlschmitt.
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