It was a troubling 2019 season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. What does the organization need to address to get Mike Tomlin’s team back on track?
It’s a very proud organization that has stubbed its toes the past two years. Regardless of the circumstances, Mike Tomlin’s Pittsburgh Steelers owned a 7-2-1 record after 10 games in 2018, dropped four of their last six contests and missed the playoffs. This past year, the club opened 0-3 and dug itself a 1-4 hole. Seven wins in their next eight games had the team in position to challenge for a wild card berth. But s three-game skid to close out the season meant that the Steelers have missed the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 2012 and ’13.
Of course, not having quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the vast majority of 2019 was certainly an issue, as were nagging injuries to wide receiver Juju Smith-Smith Schuster and running back James Conner also hurt as well.
The good news is that the team bounced back in a big way on defense and led the NFL with 38 takeaways. Tomlin’s team did salvage an 8-8 mark, meaning he still has yet to suffer a losing season as an NFL head coach. But that distinction is starting to wear a little thin in some eyes. So what needs to be done to get this team back in serious postseason contention?
5. Re-evaluate the offensive line
It’s a unit that has three players who have reached the Pro Bowl on numerous occasions. But in 2019, the offensive line of the Pittsburgh Steelers just wasn’t as sharp as it has been in the recent past. Some would say that the departure of highly-respected coach Mike Munchak had a lot to do with the falloff. In any instance, this is a group that needs to play significantly better if Ben Roethlisberger (still on the road to recovery following elbow surgery) will be safe and sound behind this group.
Yes, center Maurkice Pouncey and right guard David DeCastro once again earned Pro Bowl honors in 2019. But this unit just didn’t execute as it had in previous seasons. Head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert could look for some young performers to add to a front that is starting to show some age.