The Pittsburgh Steelers struggled in all three phases of the game during the 2022 season. The offense seemed to lack the spark they needed to get the job done, causing the loss of multiple close games. This was in spite of the fact that the team had a great deal of talent. With that talent in mind, the Steelers went out this offseason and shored up the weak areas so that the talent they have can be utilized.
The Arthur Moats Experience
Former Steelers LB Terence Garvin (left) and Arthur Moats (right) discuss the top three most important players for 2023.
Now former Steelers linebackers Arthur Moats and Terence Garvin name who they see as the three most important players on the offense. Moats was careful to clarify that he doesn't mean the "best players," but rather the most valuable or important players.
In addition, on Moats' podcast, The Arthur Moats Experience, they both agreed that it is a bit of a "cop-out" to try to qualify the list with information on contracts, impact from other players, or even the prior year's performance. Moats said he is looking to see who the Steelers most need to find success in 2023.
The Top Three Most Important Steelers For 2023
Garvin went first and said this his first most important player is Kenny Pickett. Pickett is entering his second year as quarterback of the Steelers and despite a rocky start last season, he showed vast improvements as the year went on and nearly helped Pittsburgh make the playoffs.
"He showed some real flashes, showed great potential. But you know what they say about potential, that's a cuss word because that means you're not there yet. So KP8 for sure, they need him to captain the boat."
Steelers.com
Steelers' Kenny Pickett during 2023 OTAs.
His second player is George Pickens. Pickens was also a rookie last year and may have been the steal of the 2022 NFL Draft. While the Steelers' offense might have been struggling, they could count on Pickens to win those contested catches. He would contort his body in crazy ways and manage to come down with the ball.
"I saw a quote that said, 'If it's one-on-one, we expect him to win.' Basically, that's a dub. Let me see yours cover mine all day. Everything I am seeing, hearing, believing sounds like, 'Ok 14, this is your time.' And why not? It is almost like when they gave AB [Antonio Brown] the time."
Garvin said it is much harder to pick that third, he felt like Pickett and Pickens were obvious answers. He said really his pick would be the offensive line as a single person. In his mind, the operation of that improved line is going to be critical to the success of the rest of the offense, but of course, Moats says he has to pick one player.
"I think it has to be Broderick Jones. I think you traded up to pick him, you invested in that at the end of the day."
Twitter: Matt Freed/@mattfreedpghpg)
Steelers receiver George Pickens makes an acrobatic catch over Levi Wallace in camp in Latrobe, PA.
Moats reminds Garvin that Jones was labeled a "loser" recently during OTAs. The two then laugh a bit at the ridiculousness of labeling a player a "loser" while he is in shirt and shorts, not pads. As Garvin points out, the game is a physical one and that pronouncement was premature. He said this was your first-round pick, you are giving him the benefit of the doubt and it just makes sense they went offensive line this draft.
"You gotta think their last two first rounds, you got a quarterback and a running back. So they are basically saying, 'I want to control the ball.' Remember the whole thing a couple of years ago was that 4th and 1, we weren't picking them up. So you got a big boy, you got a running back to get 4th and 1. Now you went and got your franchise quarterback and now your franchise left tackle to protect him. These are the key pieces."
Moats agrees that Pickett is the number one most important person on the offense and that Jones is the third. However, instead of Pickens as number two, he has Najee Harris. Harris is the running back the Steelers selected with the first-round pick in 2021.
"The reason I said Najee is this; do I want to put the pressure on Kenny in year two? The guy is amazing, but I don't want to rush it. How do I not rush it? Run the ball. But it can't be Jaylen Warren. Jaylen's a good complimentary back, but it's a different style of runner, it's a different style of play for what we're looking for."
They agree that Harris has that ability, but has to be able to both stay physically healthy and mentally in the game. Moats points out that Harris cannot get back into that lateral style of running, he has to continue to run in that bruising style, smashmouth where he got towards the end of last season.
AP Photo | Gene J. Puskar
Steelers running back Najee Harris fires up the crowd during introductions.
Moats says that he didn't mention Pickens, Diontae Johnson, or Pat Freiermuth because he has no doubt that they will perform as expected. He said he knows what he gets from those players.
There is no shortage of talent on this Steelers offense. It feels as though the team has removed all excuses this offseason and expectations are high.
Who are your top three most important Steelers? Do you agree with Moats and Garvin? Click to comment below.
#SteelerNation
