Whether or not Russell Wilson holds the job all 12 months or Justin Fields finally will get the nod, the Pittsburgh Steelers ought to have higher quarterback play this 12 months. Wilson and Fields each carry higher abilities than any of the quarterbacks the Steelers had final 12 months. Nevertheless, some individuals nonetheless don’t suppose that can make them a playoff workforce. Former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker sees the Steelers successful fewer video games this 12 months however will not be completely counting them out.
On his private YouTube channel, Tucker, who performed within the league from 2001 to 2007, gave his opinion on the Steelers.
“They really feel like an eight- or nine-win workforce,” Tucker stated. “In the event you’re a Steelers fan, you’re in all probability beginning to really feel like yearly the Steelers are an eight- or nine-win workforce, and also you’re virtually type of getting sick of it. I perceive that mindset. Nevertheless, they preserve making the playoffs. Did they win ten video games final 12 months with Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph and make the playoffs? It’s fairly spectacular.”
The Steelers do really feel like they’ll win the same variety of video games as they’ve the previous few years, however that’s largely as a result of their schedule is so robust. They improved their workforce, however they only have a tricky late-season stretch. Nevertheless, accidents occur, and it’s probably that a few of these groups gained’t be as fearsome as they had been in Week 1.
Tucker is right that followers are getting just a little pissed off on the Steelers’ mediocrity. They haven’t been Tremendous Bowl contenders for fairly a while and haven’t gained a playoff sport since 2016. Nevertheless, he’s additionally right that it’s spectacular that they will nonetheless keep aggressive. Some groups have their franchise quarterback and nonetheless wrestle to make the playoffs.
A part of that frustration is that the Steelers’ normal is successful championships, and simply making the playoffs isn’t ok. The workforce is aware of that, although. That’s why they made so many drastic modifications this offseason: They employed an skilled offensive coordinator, overhauled their quarterback room, and gave Patrick Queen an enormous contract.
The Steelers even tried to pursue Brandon Aiyuk. They wish to make some noise within the playoffs this 12 months. Primarily based on the way in which Tucker is speaking, he additionally seems like this workforce might be higher on the sector than they give the impression of being on paper. That’s a credit score to Mike Tomlin’s teaching as a result of he tends to wring essentially the most expertise he can out of his roster.
If the Steelers make the playoffs this 12 months, it can imply they managed to climate the storm late within the 12 months. That might be a step in the proper route for the Steelers to finally make it again to the Tremendous Bowl. In the event that they do put up one other mediocre season, although, they might make extra modifications subsequent offseason just like those they made this 12 months.
