The Steelers May Have A Serious Problem To Be Worried About That's Brewing In Baltimore

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been the top organization in the AFC North since it formed in 2002. The franchise has won the most Division Titles and Super Bowls of the four teams since then, and hasn't had a losing season dating back to 2003. Heading into the 2023 campaign, the division may be the toughest in all of football. Each squad could find itself above .500 when January rolls around and every in-division battle will be the reason one of the groups come out on top. For Pittsburgh, a new-and-improved offense is going to be important, but a star-studded defense consistently winning over top offenses might be the main key to success.

One relatively big area of turnover for the Steelers in 2023 has come in the secondary. Veteran and future Hall of Fame candidate, Patrick Peterson was signed in free agency while Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice Jr. were drafted in the second and seventh rounds, respectively. Trice was unfortunately lost for the season after he suffered a knee injury in training camp.

Chandon Sullivan is also new to the Steel City and could possibly beat out or share snaps at slot corner with Elijah Riley. The entire secondary for Pittsburgh is going to have its hands full when it comes to the high-powered offenses in the AFC North. The Cincinnati Bengals have an elite receiving core and the Baltimore Ravens made changes with theirs to give Lamar Jackson more weapons.

Odell Beckham Jr. was brought in after a year-long break due to an ACL tear. He provides a veteran presence and if he is healthy and returns to form, could put up solid numbers. Another player who could change the dynamic of the offense in Baltimore comes at the hands and feet of wide receiver, Zay Flowers. The Steelers defense will have a new challenge facing him twice a year.

Flowers is a speedster and ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. He caught two passes that went for 37 yards in the Ravens recent preseason matchup against the Washington Commanders. He is turning heads in Baltimore's camp and backup quarterback, Josh Johnson, recently sang the pass catcher's praises.

"Zay is different. To see him do what you all see every day... We were able to get the ball in his hands early. He's a very exciting player, and his moves are wild, and it's like that every day. So automatically, it injects life into the whole team," Johnson said on Monday.

One of the hardest things for a cornerback to do is keep up with a smaller, quick, receiver. Players like Tyreek Hill have the shiftiness that makes defenders look like they are running around on roller skates. Let's not compare Flowers to Hill just yet, but giving Jackson more weapons in Baltimore could make the unit one of the best five in the entire NFL if everything is going right. This would be a terrifying reality given the amount of athleticism that Baltimore's offense possesses.

The Steelers will need to watch as much tape that is available on Flowers in order to hinder him come the regular season. No one is saying that he is the next big thing, but he certainly has the tools to making opposing defense's lives miserable. Peterson and co. are going to need to bring their A-game in Weeks 5 and 18.

The Steelers Might Have Their Own Flowers

While Flowers was drafted in 2023, the Steelers could have their own secret weapon that was taken in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Calvin Austin III is a speedy, slot wide receiver who could wreak havoc on teams if utilized correctly in Matt Canada's offense. Pittsburgh's defense has gotten reps against him in camp and he and Flowers possess very similar playing styles. The Steelers are going to busy trying to contain Flowers for years to come, but the same could be said about the Ravens and Austin.

Are you worried about the Steelers having to face off against Flowers twice a year in the coming years? Let us know in the comments below!

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