This is an “Elite Pro Football Preview” here at PigSkinNut Football, your #1 source for team previews for the 2020 NFL season, with the Pittsburgh Steelers being the focus here. At PigskinNut, all of our team previews will be focusing on key areas like:
- 2019 Season Analysis
- Offseason Recap
- Coaching Analysis
- Current Roster Evaluation
- Outlook & Projection for the 2020 Season
We will be previewing the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers led by veteran QB Ben Roethlisberger, entering his 17thseason and coming off of a season-ending elbow injury, and 14-year Head Coach Mike Tomlin. The Steelers, for much of the 2000s, have been a contender and haven’t had a losing season since 2003. Mike Tomlin is 133-74-1 in the regular season but 2019 might have been his toughest season ever.
Antonio Brown spiraled and crashed and burned following the disastrous ending to the 2018 campaign. The team was forced to trade him away to the Raiders for a 3rd and 5th round pick. That’s a story for another day. Star RB Le’Veon Bell left for free agency and went to the Jets. The 2019 season still showed promise for Pittsburgh with their youth movement but Ben Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending elbow injury in Week 2 and that was the beginning of the end.
The Steelers were solid contenders until Ben went down. Then a carousel took place with Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges playing hot potato with the starting job. Despite mediocracy at QB, Pittsburgh finished 8-8 and kept in the playoff hunt. The rushing attack was one of the worst and the passing game was even worse from a productivity standpoint.
Keith Butler’s defense was the driving force and the shining light of the team. This squad led the league in sacks with 54 and the secondary made an impressive leap with the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade earlier in the season. The secondary improved greatly and the defense was able to actually produce turnovers.
What Went Wrong With Pittsburgh In 2019?
Next Men Up
Once Big Ben crumbled in Week 2, the injury bug continued feeding on the roster. FB Roosevelt Nix wentdown against the Seahawks as well. Nix never really saw the field for the rest of the season and it took a toll on the run. Say what you want but a fullback, especially Nix, is a vital part of the offense. Star receiver Juju Smith-Schuster missed four games on the tail end of the season that put a damper on their playoff hopes. RB Benny Snell Jr never got off to a great start as a rookie and missed 3 games, another reason the rushing attack suffered in 2019. WR Ryan Switzer missed the final six games.
Starting RB James Conner was banged up throughout the second half of the season and missed several games. RB Jaylen Samuels, QB Mason Rudolph, TE Vance McDonald, and C Maurkice Pouncey were playing hurt at some point in 2019.
The defense didn’t fare any better with injures but they played like it wasn’t an issue. S Sean Davis only played one game but Mike Hilton filled in nicely. Rookie LB Ulysses Gilbert missed the second half of the season. DT Lavon Hooks missed the whole season with an Achilles injury. Star DE Stephon Tuitt went down and missed the last 10 games of the season. LT Walton and Anthony Chickillo both missed major time and it left a hole on the depth chart. Regardless, the defense was one of the top highlights of the 2019 season.
Inconsistency Under Center
Again, we circle back to the loss of Ben Roethlisberger. Losing your franchise QB is usually the end of your hopes of being a contender. Despite the fact that Ben is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel for his career, the team’s replacements for him are not acceptable.
Mason Rudolph, a 3rd-rounder in 2018 and standout at Oklahoma State, seemed promising. He was a prototype pocket passer but struggled with mobility and the long ball. Mason beat out the competition but his time as a starter might be over. He played well as a first-time starter in the NFL and had a solid, well-rounded offense around him. Unfortunately, a scary head injury seemed to alter his progress. He suffered a bad concussion against Baltimore and may have played with lingering issues for the remainder of the season. Still, he did play well enough earlier in the season to be the potential bridge QB until Pittsburgh finds someone else.
Devlin “Duck” Hodges won over the Steelers fans with his personality and his fast start once he got the nod to play. For an undrafted rookie who was thrown into the mix without much warning once Ben and Rudolph were injured, he played admirably. You can’t base your entire opinion on the 2019 season though, as there are a lot of factors to consider. He can beat out Rudolph in this year’s camp but we need to see more of Hodges to get a better opinion on him.
Paxton Lynch, the former starter for the Broncos, is merely a depth chart player. If he manages to stay on the roster, he will aid in helping Hodges, Rudolph, or whoever else is behind Ben. He can also serve as a last resort back up if things so south.
Power Struggle With Tomlin and Ben?
One of the storylines that lingered throughout the season was whether or not Head Coach Mike Tomlin had control of his locker room. It started with Le’Veon Bell’s antics and then escalated with Antonio Brown. With the case of Brown, it led to other players calling out Tomlin’s leadership.
Brown called out Roethlisberger not being a true veteran leader and Tomlin not being any better. Ben tends to only give his full attention to his “buddies”, mostly the offensive line and certain receivers. Tomlin has let too much drama cloud Pittsburgh’s goal of remaining a real contender. After the disastrous 2019 season, Tomlin still helped the team get to an even 8-8 record. Regardless of what happened in 2018 and prior, Tomlin seems to have a better grasp on the team and in preventing further divas from emerging. As for Roethlisberger, he seems to have accepted his leadership role a bit better, but the 2020 season relies on him. Time will tell if the slander towards them was ill-will or had some truth behind it.
Pittsburgh Steelers Offseason Review:
Notable Departures
- FB Roosevelt Nix was cut after missing most of the 2019 season.
- LB Anthony Chickillo was cut after missing time in the 2019 season.
- LB Mark Barron was cut one year into his two-year deal.
- DT Javon Hargrave left in free agency to sign with Philadelphia.
- FS Sean Davis left in free agency to sign with Washington after missing most of the 2019 season.
Former first-round pick CB Artie Burns left in free agency and signed with the Bears after having an underwhelming career in Pittsburgh.
LB and special teams star Tyler Matakevich left in free agency to sign with Buffalo.
Notable Free Agent SIgnings
- FB Derek watt, brother of LB TJ Watt, was signed and will replace Nix as the lead FB.
- G Stefen Wisniewski signed after winning a Super Bowl with Kansas City in 2019.
- TE Eric Ebron, a red zone threat in 2018, was signed and will battle for the starting position.
Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 NFL Draft, Top 3 Selections
Pittsburgh did not have a first-round pick due to the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade, which worked out in their favor. They had six total draft picks and there were a few that will really have a huge impact on the team.
WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame, 2nd Round, 49th Overall
Claypool was Pittsburgh’s first draft pick and his talents are needed for the offense. He has the speed and the hands to help take the pressure off of Juju Smith-Schuster. The receivers group for this team is young, hungry, and dangerous. There is some risk in Claypool, as he only had one huge year of production in college. With the little we have already seen of him in camp, there might not be need for concern.
RB Anthony McFarland, Maryland, 4th Round, 124th Overall
Pittsburgh already has a solid group of RBs, each with their own unique trait. James Conner is the starter but is entering a contract year and struggles with injuries. Jaylen Samuels and Trey Edmunds are runners and Benny Snell is in better shape than last year. McFarland will likely take time away from Edmunds and is an insurance plan for Conner, whether he gets injured or leaves the team in 2020. He has the potential of taking over Conner’s role as the number one RB and can shot off a big play at any time.
G Kevin Dotson, Louisiana, 4th Round, 135th Overall
The offensive line is getting older and needs some youth on the depth chart. Dotson will have to fight for his spot on the line. DeCastro isn’t going anywhere but Feiler and Wisniewski aren’t solidified as the other starter yet. Dotson has experience as a starter and is a tough competitor and is not afraid of the trenches. The downside to him is that he has to face Myles Garrett, Carlos Dunlap, and Calais Campbell twice a year and didn’t face top defenses in college. Still, he can be a long-term piece on this offensive line.
2020 Projections: Coaches, Players, Season
Coaches
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Tomlin is entering his 14th season with Pittsburgh and has never had a losing season. He has missed the playoffs for the last two seasons though, granted he was without his starting QB last year. It also doesn’t help that his leadership and discipline have been under questioning lately. With Roethlisberger back and the defense firing on all cylinders, his doubters should be silenced. The rushing game has been struggling as of late but he is betting on Anthony McFarland on being a big addition.
Roethlisberger is nearing the end of his career and that will be a huge crossroad for Tomlin. He has decided against taking a QB early in the draft or signing a big name in free agency. Time is running out and it’s proven that there isn’t a valuable replacement on the roster yet. Once he has a new starting QB, Tomlin could be on the hot seat again.
OC Randy Fichtner
Fichtner, 56, has been with Pittsburgh since 2007 and has slowly worked his way up to offensive coordinator. He started as the WR coach from 2007 to 2009 and coached the likes of Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward, and a rookie Mike Wallace, back when he was still good. From 2010 to 2017, he coached the QBs and was the right-hand man to Roethlisberger through most of his career. He got promoted to OC in 2018 and has been doing a decent job despite all the drama, injuries, and inconsistency. 2020 will be a bit less stressful than last year, as he has Roethlisberger back and new weapons. Fichtner has been with the team for over a decade and knows his personnel. He was a major player in keeping the team afloat last year.
DC Keith Butler
Butler has been coaching in the NFL since 1999 and has quite a reputation behind him. He coached the linebackers for Pittsburgh from 2003 to 2014. While working under legend Dick LeBeau, Butler helped polish several linebackers into Pro Bowl studs: Joey Porter, James Farrior, Lawerence Timmons, and LaMarr Woodley. His greatest achievement might be taking an undrafted practice squad player and turning him into a Defensive Player of the Year named James Harrison.
Since being the DC when LeBeau retired in 2014, Butler’s defense has improved each season. With new stars like TJ Watt, Bud Dupree, and Minkah Fitzpatrick, the defense led the league in sacks in 2019 and was 2nd in interceptions, The defense has been the backbone of the team but Ben is back and they won’t have to carry the team as much, but don’t expect them to ease up.
Special Teams Coach Danny Smith
A coach since 1976, Smith has been coaching within the NFL since 1995 and with Pittsburgh since 2013 as the special team’s coach. He’s helped polish Antonio Brown’s return game and also had kickers such as Shaun Suisham and Chris Boswell. Tyler Matakevich was one of his star players on special teams.
Pittsburgh Steelers Roster Projection
Offense: Rebound Year and Finding An Identity For the Future
The Steelers went from being a top unit on offense in 2018 to falling to the bottom of the barrel last year. Granted, there were tons of injuries that ruined the flow of the offense. 2020, as horrible of a year that it has been, could be another career-high year for Roethlisberger. He’s out to prove he isn’t just an old vet who is over the hill and too banged up to contend.
The receiver core gives me the vibes of “Young Money” from the last decade. Antonio Brown (before he went nuts), Emmanuel Sanders, and Mike Wallace were the young pillars of the offense once upon a time and were all talented and at a bargain at the time. Juju Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Diontae Johnson, and rookie Chase Claypool are becoming a young, promising group. if one of them can make the leap and help free up Juju, they should climb the rankings and will be deep in the playoffs. That is unless Ben has a setback from his injury.
The RBs run on a committee and they should continue to do so. The days of the elite No.1 RB are in the past and the top teams have several key weapons in their backfield. James Conner can bust through a hole and is a great receiver but he’s injury-prone and not the sharpest or quickest. Jaylen Samuels is more of a tight end-type than a runner. Trey Edmunds can be placed in several spots on the roster to best utilize him. Benny Snell slimmed down and can be a great runner. Rookie Anthony McFarland will likely down one of these guys off the roster and is an all-around athlete. There likely won’t be a 1,000-yard rusher from these players but they can play to their strengths and help improve the passing game.
Eric Ebron hopes to regain his title of being a red zone threat and that quality could make Pittsburgh dangerous, as it is something they have been missing. The offensive line is still intact as it has been for years. The question is how long they can remain intact and healthy.
3 Bold Predictions for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense:
- Roethlisberger goes over 5,000 passing yards and 30 TDs
- Diontae Johnson is the breakout star, not James Washington
- Trey Edmunds get demoted for McFarland and McFarland leads the team in rushing yards
Defense: Remaining a Top Unit
The defense led the league in sacks and had the second-most interceptions while being an all-around Top 5 squad. Javon Hargrave leaving over the offseason will hurt the front line but there is decent depth. Minkah Fitzpatrick was a blessing to this defense and will be a cornerstone for many years to come. The trio of linebackers (Watt, Bush, Dupree) is going to be a force of chaos for the opposition and it will help fill Hargrave’s void. Joe Haden has had a resurgence in Pittsburgh and is playing well for his age.
The depth is the real weakness here. The starters are studs but their backups and rotational players lack a high level of talent. If injuries hit the defense like it did the offense, there could be trouble. Plus, there is the issue of contracts expiring with Cameron Heyward, Bud Dupree, and Mike Hilton. At least one of them won’t be with the team for 2021 so hopefully, they go out with a bang.
3 Bold Predictions for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense:
- Bud Dupree gets off to a hot start and Steelers trade him for maximum profit
- The defense takes a step back but finishes Top 5 in sacks
- Minkah Fitzpatrick is in the early running for DPOY
Season Projection:
9 Wins, Playoff Seed, AFC Championship Game
The AFC North is becoming one of the most competitive divisions again. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are the favorites to win the North but the Steelers have Big Ben back and are a dark horse favorite. Joe Burrow has the Bengals buzzing for the positive for a change and Baker Mayfield still shows promise for the Browns. There is a chance we get three playoff teams from these four. The Steelers should leave with a 4-4 divisional record but they play against some rising teams (Colts, Broncos, Giants).
We don’t know what shape Roethlisberger will be in, come game time, and Juju is hoping to bounce back. The best case for them is to get 9 wins and a playoff spot. With the right seeding, they can pull off some upsets and give us quite a show in the AFC title game against Kansas City. 9 wins aren’t exciting but it is better than 8-8 and at least there’s a playoff spot for the Steelers if all goes well.
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