There is a very old saying about baseball teams. If you have any expectation of being good then you have to be strong up the middle. A top notch catcher, great pitcher, excellent second baseman and shortstop along with a splendid center fielder. We can say the same about the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are as you know, not a baseball team.
Let’s start with the defense. We’ve seen in recent years what happens when the Steelers aren’t strong at the point of attack. The run defense becomes atrocious. Therefore, whatever combination Teryl Austin uses, they have to be stout. In the base 3-4 it will start with Breiden Fehoko, Armon Watts or rookie Keannu Benton. In specialty packages, the combinations must not only be good against the run but they have to pressure the quarterback too. Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi and others will be tasked with this.
The next level has been unresolved since Ryan Shazier’s unfortunate injury. They tried to solve the issues with everyone from Robert Spillane and Devin Bush to Myles Jack and Mark Barron. Nothing has worked and the doubts still exist. That’s no knock on newly acquired Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts and/or Kwon Alexander because they deserve the opportunity to show what they can do. That said, these guys have to be good. If the defensive line is occupying blockers and keeping the linebackers clean then they have to produce. It’s really that simple.
Minkah Fitzpatrick anchors the deep middle and there are few that do it as well as he does. Thus, he’s the most reliable and stable of the guys in the middle of the defense. That said, whomever plays alongside him has to be good. Keanu Neal or Damontae Kazee must allow Fitzpatrick to play that freelancing style that lets his skills shine. If he’s forced to cover and forced to support the run as he did two years ago, then he becomes just another guy.
Offensively I’m going to start with the most questionable of the guys up the middle and it isn’t who you might think. Mason Cole proved last year he could handle the job but he has to be better. Athletic and physical defensive linemen give him fits and we’ve seen this from Benton in Camp. The addition of Isaac Seumalo on Cole’s flank will make him better and probably more comfortable. If Cole struggles then it can ruin the entire offense.
Next in the middle of the offense is Kenny Pickett. He has to make the jump in his second year. This isn’t negotiable. I’m not suggesting he has to throw for 35 TDs but he has to be better in all facets. The good news is that his last several games all featured moments of tremendous growth and he’s got plenty to build on. I have every expectation that Pickett will play well in 2023.
Rounding out the offensive middle is Najee Harris and I’ll include Jaylen Warren here too. Harris has been “decent” but he hasn’t been “first round worthy” yet. There have been flashes for sure but now in his third year, we have to see him meet the expectations. I’m a believer that Jaylen Warren can actually help him get there.
Warren should be able to limit Najee’s touches to the point where Mike Tomlin may not need to ride Harris into the ground. A fresher Najee Harris in the fourth quarter is a massive benefit to this offense as a runner, blocker and pass catcher.
It is absolutely true that being good up the middle in any sport is a good thing but this year the Steelers can make or break their season with good play in their middle. Any deficiencies on either side of the ball will cost this team games.
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