Pittsburgh Steelers Those itching and craving a chance to measure this team at full strength against higher quality opponents may want to commit to the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
The bye week for Pittsburgh came at a critical time. Pittsburgh’s reset happened midseason. All six Steelers AFC North games will take place in the second half of the season. For Pittsburgh, priorities have changed. Extending Mike Tomlin’s streak of finishing .500 or better to 18 and threatening New England’s record of 20 is a side mission in 2024.
For some of the squad, however, the reset is exactly what they needed. For various reasons, some guys needed the bye week more than others. For these four names, a little R&R&R (rest, relaxation and reset) was crucial.
Carrying a team on your back at the age of thirty is a tough commitment. Especially for a future Hall of Fame guy. This season, Watt is on the field for 92 percent of Steelers snaps, an increase of 10 from a year ago, when he played all 17 games. Injuries to Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith forced Watt to play hero on almost every pass rush.
In contrast, Will Anderson, Watt’s likely runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year, has 128 fewer snaps (65 percent of Houston’s total defensive plays) than Watt in one additional game. Although he rested for the second half of Houston’s second-half loss to the Jets, Anderson resting 35 percent of Houston’s snaps underscores the extent to which Pittsburgh relies on Watt.
The Steelers’ injury problems were so severe a month into the season that defensive tackle DeMarvin Leal joined the outside linebacker rotation. The Steelers will need Watt to stay fresh in the second half of the season. Highsmith, 27, and Herbig will have to take on more responsibility if they want a new Watt in January.
When you hear offensive linemen’s name on a national television broadcast and it’s not Tush Push, it’s usually because someone in the trenches made a royal mistake. Every week, Broderick Jones gains fame for his atrocious pass blocking. Jones’ seven sacks and 21 pressures allowed in eight starts is a testament to how much regression has been seen in his play since his rookie year, when he allowed 24 pressures and five sacks in 11 starts. Jones’ 46.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus ($) ranks 113th out of 126 tackles.
Jones was originally drafted in the first round out of the University of Georgia to play left tackle, but the Steelers opted to draft him on the other side to take advantage of his potential as a quality run blocker. He switched back to right tackle after rookie Troy Fautanu was lost for the season and has continued his downward spiral. If there is any long-term hope for Jones to justify his draft status, it will likely be at his original left tackle position, currently held by Dan Moore.
With any luck, Jones spent his bye week visiting a mentalist who could trick his brain into believing that his right side was left and that the left was equal; Pittsburgh could cook with hot fat. Unfortunately, Jones blocks like he’s sliding on hot grease for the first half of the schedule. During the Steelers’ Monday Night Football victory over the Giants, Jones committed a facemask penalty on the opening drive that negated a George Pickens touchdown.
Cam Sutton’s return to Pittsburgh may have come about under the worst possible circumstances. Still, after serving his eight-game suspension, he is finally eligible to practice with the Steelers for the first time. Sutton wasn’t just suspended from competing. He was also not allowed to train for half the season.
First, the Steelers need to figure out a role for Sutton. The outside corner position is occupied by Joey Porter Jr. and offseason acquisition Donte Jackson. The lengthy matchup in the Steelers defensive fly zone was expected to feature embattled Beanie Bishop Jr. in the slot corner, but in recent weeks the rookie has stepped aside after recovering from early-season struggles to be identified as the weakest link in the secondary. Sutton plied his trade as a jack-of-all-trades during his first six seasons with the Steelers, but after a year and a half away he will face an adjustment period.
The second half of the season is a crucial test for Benton, who is notoriously worse at pressuring quarterbacks from the interior during the second half of games. Steeler Depot analyst Alex Kozora Examining Benton’s production highlighted how Benton struggles mightily in the second half after offensive linemen adapt to his signature club move.
Through eight games, Benton has generated 16 tackles, a fumble recovery and four pass deflections, but Pittsburgh’s 2023 second-round pick needs to develop and show counter moves if he wants to make an impact on the defensive line.