Pittsburgh Steelers coaching camp query: Can Ben Roethlisberger lead a playoff comeback?

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers opened the 2021 NFL coaching camp at Heinz Field on Wednesday. Here’s a better take a look at one of the tales:

At 39, Does Ben Roethlisberger Have Another Deep Playoff?

Maybe. If Roethlisberger makes any other deep playoff run, it’ll be because of his supporting solid and a big harm break out. The Steelers have given him numerous offensive guns, retraining all the beginning large receiver corps and upgrading the operating place with first-round make a selection Naji Harris. The Steelers had been one-dimensional and ceaselessly very predictable remaining season, and the combo of Harris and new offensive coordinator Matt Canada will have to remedy one of the issues that contributed to the late-season slide a 12 months in the past. But even with avid gamers with sturdy abilities round him, Roethlisberger has a tender and moderately unproven offensive line and goes to play 17 video games within the common season.

His well being is essential this season, and it is one thing that held him again a 12 months in the past — even supposing he used to be hesitant to confess it. During the OTAs, Roethlisberger admitted {that a} overall rebuilding of his elbow affected his efficiency in throwing the ball down in 2020. Roethlisberger might be got rid of any other 12 months from elbow surgical procedure, and it’ll lend a hand him deliver the ball down extra constantly.

Did the Steelers do sufficient to restore the run game in draft and loose company?

Owner Art Rooney II’s instruction used to be given to the remainder of the training and scouting team of workers: the Steelers will have to be capable of pressure the ball once they will have to run it. He looked at the primary a part of that task when he picked the most efficient operating again in Harris’s draft, together with his first-round variety. Harris makes issues occur when typical knowledge – and physics – says they mustn’t. He can impede defenders, slip thru holes and render the most efficient defenders useless. But that is all it might probably do if the Steelers’ offensive line does not take a step ahead in 2021. Unit returns only one starter from 2020 to Chukuma Okorafor, however even this is set to transport from proper to left.

He waited till the second one day of the draft to make a choice an offensive lineman, including middle Kendrick Greene in 3rd. He additionally drafted OT Dan Moore Jr. within the fourth around. The Steelers signed Pro Bowl proper guard Trai Turner after the discharge of David DeCastro, however general this is a younger, green staff. The line must be jailed — and sharpened — now not handiest to offer protection to Roethlisberger, however to provide Harris and the bottom game the most efficient probability at succeeding. The jury remains to be out at the run game till all the unit can follow in combination in Canada’s new plan.

How will the Steelers change big-name departures like Bud Dupree and Steven Nelson on protection?

The Steelers discovered no less than a kind of solutions a couple of days earlier than the beginning of coaching camp, signing former Pro Bowl edge rusher Melvin Ingram to a one-year deal. He will have to be anticipated to compete with Alex Highsmith for the beginning activity, in contrast to TJ Watts, and likewise has the choice of the use of him as a part of a three-man rotation at the out of doors linebacker. His signature is going a protracted strategy to fixing the intensity downside offered via Dupree’s departure, giving the Steelers extra flexibility ready that still contains travelman Cassius Marsh and sixth-round pick out Quincy Roche.

Meanwhile, in a futuristic global, the Steelers will remedy their secondary questions via cloning Cam Sutton to hide each Mike Hilton’s clean within the slot and Nelson at the vary. However, it’s 2021 and no one’s cloning avid gamers. It turns out Sutton has the scoop of Hilton’s activity with the emergence of James Pierre at the out of doors. But second-year defensive again Antoine Brooks Jr. did neatly sufficient within the low season exercise to try Nickel. If Brooks earns that activity, Sutton may just leap out full-time. Unlike out of doors linebacker spots, secondary has extra our bodies and chances to fill open jobs, however there might be coaching camps and a rigorous audition for preseason applicants.