Speed kills on a football field. The Pittsburgh Steelers offense demonstrated improvement throughout the season in 2022. The rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett started shaky in the passing game but virtually eliminated turnovers after the Steelers made some adjustments during the bye week. They did so well in fact that the team elected to retain Matt Canada and that means the jet sweep is here to stay for 2023.
Steelers receiver Steven Sims makes a catch against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17. (Photo Credit: Karl Roser/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh used a pair of former kick returners, Gunner Olszewski and Steven Sims, to varying degrees of success on jet sweeps. Sims is a fine special teams option and proved to be the better option for the Steelers but had some issues running routes and is not likely to retain the slot wide receiver position if the front office brings in the right talent.
The Steelers could add through the draft. They have struck gold repeatedly at the position but both lines and the defense have significant holes that can be better addressed with the plethora of early draft picks the organization possesses. Last season, the Steelers reached into free agency and found Mason Cole and James Daniels who both appear to be long-term solutions on the offensive line on mid-range deals. Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin have the opportunity to solve another problem this off-season in free agency.
The Steelers are exceptional at evaluating wide receivers and based on the need for a fourth or fifth option in the passing game, free agency is where they should look. Calvin Austin III is being anointed by many as the solution in the slot, but the fact is that he is a speed demon coming off season-ending foot surgery who did not play a single game. The Steelers need a backup plan, and they can weaken an AFC rival by grabbing another speed demon, Mecole Hardman.
Hardman is exactly the type of free agent the Steelers normally target. The former second-round pick from the University of Georgia is only 25 years old and he is a luxury that the Kansas City Chiefs probably can’t afford at this point. Hardman has started a little over half of the games he has been available for the Chiefs and has speed comparable to Tyreek Hill. He averages over six yards per carry when called on to run the football and despite an injury, this season has appeared in every game previously since he was drafted in 2019.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth makes a touchdown catch in front of Lions defensive back Tracy Walker in their 2021 preseason game at Heinz Field. Credit: Joe Sargent/Getty Images
Hardman isn’t a traditional slot receiver and averages nearly 14 yards per catch but lining him up in the slot and forcing the third cornerback or safety to chase him could pay huge dividends for the Steelers. It certainly did at times for Andy Reid and the Kansas City offense. If Austin struggles in his return from the injury, Hardman’s speed and experience in stretching the defense could be invaluable for Pittsburgh and especially Pat Freiermuth.
Travis Kelce is often wide open on intermediary routes because you have to run with the Kansas City speed merchants on the outside. Pickett simply has to prove early in the season that he will target Hardman and Freiermuth could have a career year. It could also have the added benefit of a few easy scores for the Steelers which would be a welcome change in 2023.
Steelers' Pat Freiermuth (#88) gets ready for a favorable matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. | Credit: Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
The Chiefs traded for Kadarius Toney and are likely to retain former Steeler JuJu Smith-Schuster so Hardman is likely to be a cap casualty unless he takes an extremely team-friendly deal. The Chiefs who have a plethora of weapons at some point can’t afford to keep everybody. Hardman should not command top-of-the-market money. The Steelers have had very good luck with former Georgia Bulldogs at wide receiver and a weightier role on offense might tempt Hardman even further.
What do you think Steeler Nation? Should the Steelers put the Jet in jet sweep next season by bringing in Hardman? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
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