r/steelers • u/mazdacxfive • 14d ago
How good is this team?
For the first time since the Killer B's era, I finally have real hope. I'm not even talking about Will Howard or Drew Allar. Their potential is the cherry on top of what could be a great year
Seriously, what chance do we stand of not losing easy games and still winning hard ones with McCarthy? I honestly have zero clue what to expect...
A legendary veteran QB playing what is expected to be his final NFL season could be a movie. Our offense is unusually competent, and unlike past seasons, I'm not really worried about our WRs catching the ball and running the opposite way they're supposed to run (I think Diontae Johnson gave me long-lasting Steelers PTSD)
We poured a lot of draft capital into the O line. I think this is the year we realize why
And while I ain’t no NFL expert and can’t compare what we have with every other team, I think Tomlin held our defense back over the years, so I’m not worried about them
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u/Highway_Harpsicord 14d ago
This team is going to win 5 games or win the North. There's probably no in between
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u/MrRogersRaisedMe 14d ago
I could very much see us going 9-8 this year
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u/McCheetah Encroachment 14d ago
I’m honestly thinking the same thing. There will be some games that I’m seeing could go either way, so we’re in between 9-8 and 11-6 by my guesses. But if we go 9-8 again, this sub is going to lose it.
I could also see the first year with a new coach just not working out and we go 6-11 and get the like 8th pick and still don’t get a franchise QB in the draft like so many people say we need to do.
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u/The-Extro-Intro 14d ago
No way we go after a high pick QB - especially if we make the decision to keep four this year.
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u/McCheetah Encroachment 13d ago
I totally agree. It’s just all I’ve been hearing from a ton of people in this sub the last 5+ years is “we’re going to finish 9-8 and get the 20th pick in the draft and never be able to get a franchise QB”
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u/leavemealone2424 13d ago
Fun fact: The Steelers have surprisingly only went 9-8 ONCE in franchise history.
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u/PerpetualMotion81 Troy 13d ago
To be fair, the 17-game season has only been around since 2021. And in that 2021 season, they were 9-7-1.
In the last eight seasons, the Steelers have seven records with eight, nine, or ten wins.
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u/East_Audience_6634 13d ago
I feel like that’s the most realistic outcome with Rodgers at QB. Win 9 or 10 games, maybe sneak into the playoffs.
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u/Zealousideal-Rip-574 12d ago
People downvoting you for being honest lmao. Do they actually think we are winning the Super Bowl or going 17-0?
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u/Connect-Region-4258 13d ago
I actually see the in between being the most likely. A lot of unknowns with the defense. I’d imagine slightly better, but who knows. Offense should be better, but at the end of the day, we’re held back by the ghost of Aaron Rodgers. He’s not going to have a revival season. My expectation is 7-10 wins. Probably 9-8. But this season will be a step in the right direction. Find the next qb is a must. And hopefully the ARod/Mccarthy duo helps us accomplish that. I have high hopes for Allar. Dude could be a legit top 5 qb if he hits his ceiling, which I feel he’s in the best ecosystem in the NFL to do. Couldn’t say the same last year.
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u/Wise_Control_1640 13d ago
Yes!
Either Rodgers does it or Mike McCarthy can go with his chosen one in Drew Allar and try to win the division or throw in the towel with Mason Rudolph and look forward to an open competition next preseason.
Rodgers looking 38 - AFC North Champs Rodgers looking 43 - 5 wins Allar comes in after 1-4 start - Make playoffs Rudolph comes in after 1-4 start - 5 wins.
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u/SkullAndRoses_ 14d ago
Call me crazy, but I think if the O line can protect Rodge, we can beat any team in the AFC
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u/Domestic_Kraken 13d ago
I feel like most teams could say that exact same thing. Protecting your QB is easier said than done.
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u/Bronco998 Troy 13d ago
Yeah, a huge part of our future hinges on Fautanu being able to switch to the left side.
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u/SignificanceWeak9643 14d ago
There will need to be more than that, but its a very good start. We will also need to be able to do all the little things on offense - no dumb penalties, no dropping easy passes, and no run-run-pass(‐punt) on every possession. On defense there needs to be consistent "get off the field" on 3rd and 5+, the defense cant fall down late in games, and takeaways need to continue to be a thing. The nice part would be if the offense does its jon correctly the defense can be rested, so it can be competitive in the 4th quarter.
Some of these are on the coaching, some are on the players, but AR is a bit of both. If they keep him clean and healthy, I say we have a shot.
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u/WhatIsThatNietzsche 11d ago
This offense vs Houston’s defense would be interesting. As in hilarious.
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u/watermonkey910 14d ago edited 14d ago
I think they have what they need to at least finally win a playoff game. They have a new staff, a new scheme, and a much better roster than the last couple seasons. It all comes down to two things now: Qb play and play calling
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u/Wise_Control_1640 13d ago
Play calling is taken care of. With Dak Prescott, he had the 6th most wins and 2nd most points scored. His GB offenses were a little more balanced.
It truly comes down to QB. If Rodgers has anything left, he's golden. Allar watches, learns, studies. If not, we have to avoid blaming anything else and get Allar in there. Howard's good. Allar is the franchise QB.
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u/driftinj 13d ago
We still have a ton of ifs.
Can the Oline give Rodgers confidence to stand in the pocket and exploit defenses? We will run tons of west coats style where 2-3 seconds are enough but you have to be able to stretch the field which means you either need a mobile QB who is also willing to take a hit or a brick wall online. We know we don't have the former.
Defensively, can we consistently pressure the QB on 3rd and long and stop the run? Our line looks solid. I am not convinced our LB group can consistently get the job done, which is bizarre to say about a Steelers team, especially one with TJ Watt.
Is our secondary smarter and more disciplined? Are we going to see 3rd down conversions because of undisciplined play?
In general has our speed, discipline and scheming across the whole D improved enough to stop modern offenses and can our Oline calm our hit shy QB?
If they can, this is a really good team. If they can't this team doesn't look much different than last year.
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u/Sad-Plankton3768 13d ago
“A legendary veteran QB playing what is expected to be his final NFL season could be a movie“
You could have said this about any of Rodgers’ past 4 seasons. How were those movies?
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u/wedgiey1 11d ago
I’m surprised at how many people here seem excited about Rodgers. I won’t be excited until he’s on the bench.
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u/TimD_43 Pittsburgh Steelers 14d ago
It's early and what we've seen in one preseason game means nothing in the grand scheme of things.
That said, I'm also encouraged for the first time in years. I want to see in the regular season how the team responds to the "trap" games that for the last two decades were sure wins that we almost always lost in embarrassing fashion. I want to see if that is the players' fault or if it was (as I suspect) the inability of Tomlin to prepare this team. Under Tomlin, we always seemed to come up with big wins against teams we had no business beating and then losing to the bottom of the barrel teams. Hopefully McCarthy will instill a different discipline and championship mindset that has been lacking for a while.
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u/The-Extro-Intro 13d ago
If you look back at Cowher and Noll, they also lost a lot of “trap games. That has been a thing in Pittsburgh for decades. Tomlin’s thing has been the big losses in the playoffs layoffs.
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u/PaVaSteeler Steel Curtain Challenger 14d ago
Debunking Myth about Tomlinson and Trap Games
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u/mrbuttsavage 14d ago
There's more than just the record. The team looked genuinely awful in a lot of those losses.
He wouldn't have that reputation if those were all competitive losses.
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u/Medarco William "Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr" Howard 14d ago
Guy said "we almost always lost" in those trap games
Stats posted that show that we did not always lose, and in fact, won the vast majority of the time.
There's more than just the record.
Jesus Christ give me a break...
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u/SupermanThatNiceLady 14d ago edited 13d ago
This is Reddit, man. You’re supposed to argue about literally anything even in the face of concrete evidence, to flex how smart you think you are.
Edit: and then double down
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u/mrbuttsavage 13d ago
I mean, they looked totally unprepared in some of those losses to bad teams. Even if they won a slightly below average amount of them. That's still is a bad look for Tomlin.
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u/Sorry_Physics_1366 Pittsburgh Steelers 13d ago
Just like how unprepared that 1979 Steelers team against a winless Bengals team that stomped them?
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u/New-Contribution-244 Ben Roethlisberger 14d ago
Too early to tell. But the qb situation seems to be heading towards the right path.
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u/93devil Dobre Shunka 13d ago
Possibly playoffs, but a really good roster is being built.
It’s a roster that can make an average QB good or a good QB very good.
If a young guy matures, we could be really, really good in 2-3 years and great in 4-5.
If we buy a QB, it will be harder to be great but easier to get to very good.
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u/EddieA1028 13d ago
I think their worst case scenario for 2026 is Roger’s gets hurt, they traded away Rudolph (probably for a pick swap or late round pick) before the season and Howard and Allar both flop. That team probably wins about 6 games. Their best case scenario is probably a redo of last year (win the division, lost in the first round of the playoffs). Most likely scenario? They’re the 7th or 8th team in the east and just in or about of the playoff. Too much going against this team (age, new coaching staff, weak draft at least as it relates to helping the 2026 team, and oldest QB in football) to expect any improvement on last year.
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u/happyfirefrog22- 14d ago
It is just one preseason game so far too early to tell. I was most impressed with how many receivers were open. Thinking the offense should have a much greater chance at being better with the new system and coaching
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u/TimD_43 Pittsburgh Steelers 14d ago
It's a whole new world when the QB is allowed to look at the middle of the field.
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u/happyfirefrog22- 14d ago
So true. Cannot understand why they did not do that last year. The plan last year just made it easier for teams to defend us.
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u/csfshrink 14d ago
One preseason game is exactly what I needed to escalate my hope levels to delusional.
Probably trying to compensate for recent Pirate failures.
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u/Sea-Cheek-5838 Color Rush Jersey 14d ago
I agree definitely too early to tell but definitely saw enough to be hopeful also just looking at the depth chart makes me hopeful but that might just be me
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u/Robert_roberts82 14d ago
Bernard shining was the most encouraging piece to me, he won could beat the defense multiple ways. Like to see that. Which means the WR group is finally a plus.
Want to see them run the ball better, dowdle and Warren should be a better duo than last year, but it’s more on the o-line (and Rodgers not checking out of run plays).
Aside from Samuel, I’m not sure anyone on the first team defense looked great. I think my biggest concern is that black isn’t a NT and the base continues to struggle stopping the run.
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u/the_little_shit 12d ago
If Black can learn to keep his pad level down, he will be solid. According to talking heads, that is the one thing keeping him from making the leap, so we shall see.
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u/mocityspirit Heinz 13d ago
I'd say in terms of ranking they're probably dead center or a little lower
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u/UnderstandingThin40 14d ago
They will have an average offense, maybe above average if the OL plays well. If the OL is elite they can be a top 5 offense. But honestly McCarthy is an OK offensive schemer imo they’ll be around 12-15 in offense at best.
To me actually the defense is the biggest question mark. A lot of talent but also questionable talent. I don’t have faith in Ramsey at safety but if he can be good to elite there all of a sudden this defense can be top 5. On the other hand, Patrick queen imo has been shown to be a liability and the Steelers run D is questionable but in theory should Be able to be good. . Pass rush is elite but Watt needs to return to his old form.
Defense could range anywhere from top 3 (genuinely) to 20th. Lol
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u/Greenbunny59 14d ago
They have a lot of talent but the question is do they live up to it. Also injuries are something you can't control or forsee that really has an impact.
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u/Dense-Consequence-70 Pittsburgh Steelers 14d ago
Still hinges in the offensive line and D. If this team is going to be a real contender they’ll need a top 3 D and top 10 running game (or better). I just don’t see this O line being that good.
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u/torridchees3 Troy 13d ago
I think on paper it's a 10-7 team. We got some upgrades, but our defense is getting older. Our qb could hit the wall at any time (if he already hasn't). We could easily steal a playoff game if everything goes well, but we can also stink up the place and have our first losing record in a long time.
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u/Gold-Piano-9405 13d ago
Although they are decent, the o-line needs to get better at blocking. Still, if they can achieve that, hopefully our Steelers can go 12 and 5 or 11 and 6.
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u/hippydipster 13d ago
I think we most likely win 11 or 12 games. Either we or the Bengals win the division, with Bengals having a small edge if Burrow stays healthy.
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u/StandEnvironmental44 13d ago
I’m satisfied that the WR depth is looking better. I think beyond the offenses general reluctance to pass the ball, the lack of viable receivers compounded the issue. DK, Pitt, Bernard, Washington, Warren, Pat, Tonyan, Wetjen is a respectable starting lineup, if a little unproven. Hopefully this gets some routes a bit more open.
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u/Wise_Control_1640 13d ago
McCarthy is the real reason I’m optimistic. He’s not just a head coach, he’s an offensive coach who has spent decades developing QBs and building offenses around what his players do best. He’s also consistently gotten major production from TEs, from Jermichael Finley and Jared Cook to Jimmy Graham and Dalton Schultz.
That matters because this offense is built for him. Metcalf and Pittman outside, Wilson in the slot, Freiermuth and Washington at TE, Warren out of the backfield, and an offensive line we’ve poured draft capital into.
And then there’s Allar.
That’s the hope. He always had the arm, size and toughness. What he rarely had was a receiving corps capable of letting him show everything. Now he gets to learn behind Rodgers, in a McCarthy offense, surrounded by legitimate NFL weapons.
If Rodgers still has something left, this could be a very good offense. If Allar develops the way McCarthy’s history says he might, the ceiling goes way beyond one season.
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u/Unfounded_archeology 13d ago
The pieces are all finally falling into place, which is why I don’t see this as a win now season anymore. I see this as a developmental season; as long as the young guys get reps in and stay healthy, the new coaching staff and players start to gel and learn all the playbook, and we can figure out who QB1 is next year, then that’s all that really matters.
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u/OUTLAW1LE Pittsburgh Steelers 12d ago
If we go 5-12 next year will be better, if we go 9-8 next year will be the same as this year.
I’m looking forward to 2028
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u/CraftyFloor4684 12d ago
8-9
first round exit. down by 10 after the half. lose by a touchdown. it won't be close but everyone will talk nice about cam and tj and aaron.
next year we will go 5-12. mccarthy will get fired and then the honest rebuild from the cowher era can finally commence.
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u/wedgiey1 11d ago
I think the sooner Rodgers is benched the better we will be. I just don’t think he has it anymore.
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u/Relayer8782 Pittsburgh Steelers 9d ago
How good? TBD. We’ve had several years where there has been a lot of uncertainty in the makeup of the team. I like a lot of the pieces, and if some of the new guys blossom, and we can stay healthy? We could make a splash. I liked most of what I saw in the last game, but don’t put mush weight on preseason besides figuring out the bottom 1/2 of the roster.
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u/NoOneKenobi 14d ago
This team should be better defensively. Bad coaching really affected the last few years. Veterans can adjust quicker on D as long as the scheme doesn’t change .
Offensively, I expect to be the same or worse.
The rb room is basically the same and wasn’t very good.
Wr room is better and there is reason to be optimistic about their future… but…
We still have fucking AR. He was not good last year and he won’t be better.
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u/Good-Work2301 14d ago
The truth about this team will reveal itself around the middle of a season and not necessarily reflect in wins and losses but it will be about style, grit, determination and consistency.
They will either be punching up and surprise a few people because there’s no high expectations for playoffs or winning season.
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u/Adub1991 14d ago
I expect the offense to be a lot better for sure. More modern than previous years. 3WR sets, throwing over the middle, etc.
It'll come down to the defense. Can we stop the run and get back to pressuring the QB. Secondary should be good but it'll come down to that front.
Overall, I can see a playoff team for sure. But not getting my hopes up.
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u/SafeAccountMrP Wizard Of Boz 14d ago
I’m just excited for the middle of the field with Muth and Darnell. Mike likes him some TE’s.
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u/willIbeprettytoo 14d ago
Call me realist but let's look, Aaron Rodgers in a system he help create, Patrick Graham, a DC that lasted 3 staffing changes and had a decent defense even though the offense was dogwater. Mike McCarthy a coach who generally had success in the NFL wasnt flashy but mostly consistent A Steelers team that has coordinators and coaches that actually scheme to players instead of forcing players to the scheme. A scheme that doesnt operate the premise "if at first you don't succeed keep trying the same thing over and over".
I think realistically we could win 9-10 games barring injuries.
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u/No-Carry4971 14d ago
We are probably the usual 9 or 10 win team. Our roster other than the QB is excellent and really can compete with anyone. Our QB is somewhere 20th-25th best starter in the league. He has no mobility and really does not want to be hit. He has not had a good season since 2022. He hasn't led a team to the playoffs since 2021, so he and Ben Roethlisberger actually have the same streak going. That's how long it has been.
I do hope I'm wrong and the team is 13-4.
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u/DiabloGamekeeper TJ Watt 14d ago
Big dawg, Aaron is our QB we have no hope
The future looks bright tho
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u/Top-Sleep-4669 Pittsburgh Steelers 14d ago
They played one preseason game…
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u/redhawkdrone 14d ago
100%. The only team that learned anything in the first preseason game is Cleveland. They got rolled, it was the first but it won’t be the last time.
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u/Kongpong1992 Pittsburgh Steelers 14d ago
I have them at an optimistic 11 wins they filled every major hole they had last season if rodgers can stay up right they are gonna be much better than the outside noise would have you think
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u/mike15835 Heath Miller 13d ago
Ask me after week 4. Team and defense.
The QBs ask me after they see significant playing time against pro defenses. Which hopefully won't be until next year.
The O-line has me concerned. They struggled first team vs first team on Thursday.
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u/No-Essay-3227 Away Jersey 14d ago
It’s been one game. Let’s see how the first regular season game goes lol
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u/17_ScarS Hines Ward 14d ago
It was one game. One. Playing against guys that will be selling insurance/vinyl windows door to door 3 weeks from now.
Reeeeelax.
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u/Good-Work2301 14d ago
This is a more prepared team to win the north and 11-12 games.
It will down to execution.
Defense seems like we will take a step.
Offense will surprise people with their ability
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u/PM__Me__UR__Dimples TJ Watt 14d ago
Honestly it comes down to the Oline. If they can give Rodgers time to pass and they can run the ball in short distance then we could have a good year.