Good Thursday to you Steelers fans.
I really don’t care for social media but doing what I do it’s a necessary evil I suppose. Sometimes however I come across something that really makes me think or perhaps makes me happy or angry. One such tweet came out this week from the Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac. Gerry has been around the Steelers a very long time and he’s often considered the “mouthpiece of the Steelers.” He’s earned this moniker because he often gets things out before anyone else. Whether they are always accurate or not is up for debate but when the issue of Matt Canada came up, Dulac hit a home run with the tweet here.
Randy Fichtner was fired after three seasons as OC despite averaging 24.6 points in 48 games and 26 ppg his final year. Steelers are averaging 18.5 ppg since the beginning of 2021 season under Matt Canada, including 15 ppg this season.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) November 2, 2022
So therefore it was hard to believe when Mike Tomlin was asked this week if there would be any changes among his coordinators and his reply was a very curt, “No.” Did you ever think you’d long for the days of Randy Fichtner? There is a bit of a common denominator here though by the name of Ben Roethlisberger. It’s no secret that Big Ben took control of the offense late in games in 2021. His seven comebacks were proof of that. The question is, would his presence this season equate to more points? If we assume his physical abilities are roughly the same as last year, would he make some of the reads and throws that Kenny Pickett hasn’t? It’s a question that really is quite unfair and it is also a talking point that gets us off message. The fact that Tomlin is making NO changes is concerning. He’s like the only guy in the house who doesn’t see it’s on fire.
How It Plays Out Without Claypool
With Chase Claypool off to Chicago, the Steelers will need to find a replacement for him when they go three receivers or more. The options include Steven Sims, Miles Boykin and Gunner Olszewski. Boykin does not seem like a fit in the slot at all while both Sims and Olszewski appear to be ideal. There also exists the possibility of Diontae Johnson playing some slot and then using Boykin on the outside, especially to send him deep. I would also not be a bit surprised to see more two tight end sets and even more usage of Connor Heyward.
Way Too Early
I’ve seen some suggest that if Kenny Pickett continues to struggle, the Steelers could use yet another first round selection on a QB. With guys like Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Will Levis coming out, the QB class is MUCH better than it was this year. Personally I think it’s way too early to go here. It’s not impossible – the Arizona Cardinals did it with Josh Rosen and then Kyler Murray – but we need to see just how the final nine games unfold before going here. This team is also desperate for help in other areas too.
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