Chris Mueller: Steelers' QB battle will be intriguing, but OL equally intriguing
Steelers training camp is a few weeks away. As such, I can’t think of a better idea than to list 10 thoughts/questions/storylines/predictions on the team, even though only a few of them – if that – will actually be answered in Latrobe. Let’s dive right in, shall we?
1. Unless virtually everyone covering the team is being totally misled and/or is utterly misreading the situation, the starting quarterback job is Mitch Trubisky’s to lose. I will submit again that all of the arguments in favor of starting Trubisky are specious, at best. Near as I can tell, those arguments are: he was done wrong in Chicago by Matt Nagy; he learned an exceptional amount under Brian Daboll in Buffalo; he’s a really nice guy and his teammates love him. None of those really pass the smell test for being viable justification, at least for me.
The only reason Trubisky should start the season under center is because the team’s early schedule looks rough, and easing Kenny Pickett into the job wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. And if that happens, who knows? Maybe Trubisky will prove everyone wrong, and then Mike Tomlin will have a problem most coaches would kill for. I doubt it, though.
2. Rumors of a successful offensive line rebuild are…unconfirmed, at best. No offense to Mason Cole, but he’s not Dermotti Dawson. James Daniels is a good, solid addition and should be the team’s best lineman. Dan Moore Jr. was average last year, at best. Chuks Okorafor is just a guy, at this point. The left guard battle pits a guy who was in Tomlin’s doghouse last year against a player who looks like a career backup. These guys might be better than last year’s group, but only because it would be hard to be worse.
3. Prediction: George Pickens will quickly establish himself as the team’s most explosive receiving threat. Second prediction: Chase Claypool’s mercurial career arc will continue. There will be a few jaw-dropping plays, but also continued head-scratchers.
4. I’m buying the Steelers’ defense this year. You’d think that falls under the “dog bites man” category of opinions, but there hasn’t been universal acclaim for the team’s offseason moves on that side. I can understand the corners being underwhelming to some, but the Steelers have rarely prioritized having a “shutdown” guy at that position. The questions are health and age, and while they’re both relevant, the front-seven talent has a chance to be overwhelming. Here’s another prediction: if Larry Ogunjobi is healthy and unencumbered by his Lisfranc injury, he’ll be an upgrade over Stephon Tuitt.
5. Does Alex Highsmith make “the leap” in year three? What does such a leap even look like with a likely future Hall of Famer opposite him? If he does a LaMarr Woodley impersonation, the defense will be downright terrifying.
6. Brian Flores is going to “run” the defense, despite not having the title of defensive coordinator. Mind you, I think that putting together game plans will be a truly collaborative effort between Tomlin, Flores and Teryl Austin, but my hunch is that Flores’ acumen and reputation will result in him ultimately doing most of the play-to-play work on that side. Is this me trying to will something into existence by predicting it? Why would you ask such a thing?
7. Chris Boswell will get a new contract, and continue his run of boring excellence and reliability. Hey, not all of these can be earth-shattering hot takes.
8. Gunner Olszewski will return a punt for a touchdown this season. Gunner Olszewski jerseys will be, and I cannot stress this enough, extremely popular around town. Despite his overall excellence on special teams, and the fact that in Derek Watt, the Steelers still have on the payroll another player whose role is mostly in the “third phase” of the game, Danny Smith’s group will have at least one breakdown that makes fans pull their hair out.
9. It will take less than a full week of training camp for Connor Heyward to emerge as a fan favorite on whom many hopes, dreams, and utterly unrealistic expectations are heaped. After one preseason game, fans will be clamoring for special Heyward-centric packages on offense.
10. Speaking of that offense, you won’t see a whole heck of a lot of “real” Matt Canada schemes in the preseason. It will be the usual vanilla, with minimal twists. However, you will see something that looks markedly different than what this city became accustomed to during Ben Roethlisberger’s career. Whether or not it actually works is a very different story; though unlike some, I am willing to give Canada and his tactics a real chance before I bury him, and them.
11. Wait, this seems like the spot where I give a season prediction in July, doesn’t it? Sorry, but I said 10 thoughts/questions/storylines/predictions. And wouldn’t you know it, we’ve already reached our quota. Give me two months, and I’m sure I can come up with something.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Mueller: Steelers' QB battle will be intriguing, but OL equally intriguing
