SHOULD HE STAY THE STARTER?—Mitch Trubisky didn’t turn too many heads in the Steelers’ loss to the New England Patriots, 17-14, Sept. 18. (Photo by Courier photographer Marlon Martin)
by Brandon Walker, For New Pittsburgh Courier
The Pittsburgh Steelers come out of their bye week at 2-6, and there have been questions on why they are where they are right now, but trust me, they did not to this point overnight. The questionable hires of the offensive coaching staff, the culture of the team becoming cancerous over the years, and Ben Roethlisberger retiring after last season. I saw them crashing in burning going back about five years, and the biggest reason they are not a good team right now is bad drafting decisions.
The Steelers drafted one impact player over the past six years and that is T.J. Watt back in 2017, and that is the biggest issue they have because the team lacks depth. I will break down each draft class from 2016-2021.
2016 Draft: Artie Burns, Sean Davis, Javon Hargrave, Jerald Hawkins, Travis Feeney, Demarcus Ayers, and Tyler Matakevich.
None of them are on the roster, and the only one who made a Pro Bowl was Hargrave last season for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Grade: D-
2017 Draft: Watt, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Cameron Sutton, James Conner, Joshua Dobbs, Brian Allen, Colin Holba, and Keion Adams.
Watt was a great pick, Conner and JuJu contributed while they were here, and Sutton has been a solid, not spectacular player, so this draft was not so bad but with only two players left in this draft class that is not ideal.
Grade: C
2018 Draft: Terrell Edmunds, James Washington, Mason Rudolph, Chucks Okarafor, Marcus Allen, Jalen Samuels, and Joshua Frazier.
No impact players among this group at all.
Grade: C-
2019 Draft: Devin Bush, Dionte Johnson, Justin Layne, Benny Snell, Zach Gentry, Sutton Smith, Isiah Buggs, Ulysees Gilbert, and Derwin Gray.
Traded two picks for Bush and he has disappointed me. Johnson is a good, talented player. The rest of the crew are just guys.
Grade: D
2020 Draft: Chase Claypool, Alex Highsmith, Anthony McFarland, Kevin Dotson, Antione Brooks Jr., and Carlos Davis.
Claypool has already been traded to the Chicago Bears and the only player left in this draft class I would keep in the future is Highsmith.
Grade: B for getting a second-round draft pick for Claypool.
2021 Draft: Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth, Kendrick Green, Dan Moore, Buddy Johnson, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Quincy Roche, Tre Norwood, and Pressley Harvin.
Harris looks to have regressed after his rookie season. Freiermuth is already having concussion issues and Green has been inactive for every game this season, as does Loudermilk. They could have drafted Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro Center Creed Humphrey in the second round.
Grade: So far D.
Another reason for their struggles besides the lack of talent is coaching and development on the offense. The “Canada Dry” offense has held this team back this season. Running 82 jet sweeps, and not throwing the ball more than 10 yards down the field is unfathomable in 2022, as well as not having an RPO package in an offense that fields a mobile rookie quarterback. I don’t even blame Canada for this mess of an offense anymore. I put this on the feet of head coach Michael Pettaway Tomlin for allowing this continually go on and hiring a coordinator who is a below-average college coordinator. In his 11 years as a college offensive coordinator at the FBS level, his offense averaged 61st in offensive production. The Steelers need an offensive mind who has a stronger offensive mind than Tomlin so he can stop meddling and be the CEO of the football team. Furthermore, he needs to hire position coaches that know how to develop these young players on the offensive side of the ball.
One more reason for the Steelers’ struggles is the lack of leadership among the players. I was in the locker room after all three home games, two of them losses and I heard players throwing offensive coordinators under the bus, players questioning each other’s effort on and off the field. It is a shame your rookie quarterback, Kenny Pickett, has to call players out for their practice habits. It is a shame that Arthur Maulet, a journeyman backup cornerback, openly questioned the team’s passion for the game in the locker room after a game against the Buffalo Bills. Sure, when T.J. Watt comes back it will help in the leadership department, but this is a ship without a true captain. So, it is time for Tomlin to put on his best coaching job in his career in the final nine games, starting Sunday, Nov. 13 against New Orleans.
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