Steel City Blitz
As we approach the end of the second week of Training Camp, there are some scenarios popping up that are worthy of discussion. The Pittsburgh Steelers are like every other team in the NFL right now. They have injuries. They have position battles and they have emerging questions as a result of both. Let’s take a look at three different “what if” scenarios.
I’m no doctor but I’ll play one for the purposes of this article. OLB Alex Highsmith has now suffered his fifth groin injury since 2021. If you do the research you’ll find that when soft tissue injuries continue within the same area then yes, they become chronic. To his credit, Highsmith has played through some of these issues, but there’s no doubt they’ve affected him.
Are the Steelers confident enough in Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer and potentially DeMarvin Leal for any length of time? Or will they be forced to look elsewhere if Highsmith’s injury forces him to miss significant time? Sawyer appears to have no problem setting the edge while Herbig is a relentless pass rusher. Putting them together would give you the perfect OLB. Unfortunately, Sawyer is still working on his pass rushing while Herbig just doesn’t set an consistent edge. As for Leal? It’s hard to see where his value is but it certainly isn’t as a long-term replacement for Highsmith.
Newsflash. The starting quarterback for the Steelers is 41-years old and isn’t nearly as mobile as he used to be. Therefore, much more attention is on the young offensive line to protect Aaron Rodgers. Like it or not the focus of pass protection begins with the left tackle spot and that’s where Broderick Jones is.
After spending his first two seasons at right tackle Jones has shifted over to his more natural left tackle spot. So far in Camp, Jones has dealt with a groin issue which has cost him valuable reps especially in team drills. But he’s also struggled with pass protection since Camp began and to be blunt, that’s not good.
Mike Tomlin has already stated that Troy Fautanu will not be moved over there. He will stay at right tackle. Veteran Calvin Anderson is dinged up which has forced unproven Dylan Cook – a former quarterback – into first team reps. Spencer Anderson has also seen time there as he can play anywhere on the O-Line.
What if Jones just isn’t the guy? Can the Steelers afford to go get someone? Will they be forced to use Darnell Washington as an extra tackle to help Jones on a consistent basis?
This has been one of the most discussed topics for the Steelers for the last two seasons yet here we are. Calvin Austin III is currently listed as WR2 based [on the first depth chart of Camp...
