(Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images)
The Black and Gold may be primed for a bounce-back season in 2020.
Many like to point out that head coach Mike Tomlin has never had a losing campaign in his first 13 seasons at the helm of the Pittsburgh Steelers and that’s all well and good. But the last two years have been a humbling experience. A 7-2-1 start in 2018 was followed by four losses in six games and no playoff appearance for the first time since 2013. The cub went through quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph and Devin Hodges this past season and despite a midseason 7-1 spurt could not overcome a 1-4 start and a 0-3 finish.
This is an organization that has not finished below .500 since 2003, one year before Roethlisberger. And depending on who you read and believe, the Steelers are destined for a long year. But will that truly be the case this year?
3. New quarterbacks coach Matt Canada’s influence.
Randy Fichtner remains the offensive coordinator for the Black and Gold. But he will have a little help this year via new quarterback coach Matt Canada, who certainly has his views of what he will be doing for the team this season.
“I think coaching Ben and his style, whatever input I have on that, I will be involved in what he does well with Randy and what Ben likes and then incorporating that back,” said Canada (via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). “And I think that is more my job.”
Pittsburgh’s lack of commitment to the running game has been costly the last two seasons. The lack of balance has been mystifying but that figures to change with another voice on offense.
2. Ben Roethlisberger completes the comeback.
After leading the NFL in passing yards in 2018 (as well as interceptions), veteran signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger saw his follow-up campaign last only a game and a half. He’s back and apparently very healthy.
He would benefit from a better running game this season. If James Conner can stay healthy, second-year runner Benny Snell Jr. and 2020 fourth-round pick Anthony McFarland Jr. can keep defenses honest, the skies the limit through the air with Juju Smith-Schuster, surging Diontae Johnson, fellow wideout James Washington (who led the team in receiving yards in 2019) and the tight end combination of Vance McDonald and newcomer Eric Ebron. And look for a talented offensive line to rebound from a rough year.
1. Improving defense takes another step forward.
Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has the Steelers as the No. 1 defense in the league entering 2020. The club has made a habit out of leading or tying for the NFL lead in sacks the past three years. And after a few years of frustration when it came to forcing turnovers, Tomlin’s club led the league in 2019 with an impressive 38 takeaways.
It’s a unit led by stars in defensive end Cameron Heyward, outside linebacker T.J. Watt and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Defensive end Stephon Tuitt returns after missing most of the season and 2019 first-round pick Devin Bush led the team in tackles from his inside linebacking spot. But defending the run was a bit of an issue this past year, bad news when facing Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens at least twice a year.
It’s difficult to bet against an organization that has been as successful as the Pittsburgh Steelers. That being said, this may also be a crucial year for Tomlin. But these past two years may have also proved to be a learning experience for the successful sideline leader. Like that team in Foxborough, those counting out the Black and Gold may wound up being mistaken.