Assessing The Steelers' Biggest Weaknesses And Current Needs After A Demoralizing Loss Week 1

The Pittsburgh Steelers staged an incredible comeback in the second half of the 2022 season and seemed to bring that same energy into the 2023 preseason. That makes the Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers all the more devastating. What did that game tell us? What areas are the Steelers' biggest weaknesses and where do they need immediate help? 

Right from the opening drive where the Steelers chose unusually enough to receive the ball after winning the coin toss, they started a series of three-and-outs. They just could not seem to get anything going on offense and while the defense had more success, it wasn't enough. 

The 49ers receiving/rushing duo of Christian McCaffery and Brandon Aiyuk looked nearly invincible when it counted. McCaffery ran for 152 yards and had 17 additional receiving yards. Aiyuk caught eight passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns and had a key block on a touchdown. They picked up a combined total of 298 yards, which was more than the Steelers' entire offense managed during the whole game, 239. 

The offensive miscues cannot be blamed solely on quarterback Kenny Pickett. The entire offense was manhandled by former Steelers defensive lineman Javon Hargrave and his teammates up front. The Pittsburgh offensive line just couldn't hold up against them, they quickly collapsed the pocket on almost every play, allowing five sacks. 

As for the black and gold defense, they seemed disorganized, especially after Cam Heyward went out with an injury. They brought very little pressure on quarterback Brock Purdy and got pushed all around by the 49ers offensive line.   

There were some bright spots on the defense. Alex Highsmith had seven tackles, including one for a loss. His matchup was much more difficult than T.J. Watt's, but he still looked solid. Steelers rookie Keeanu Benton performed well enough in his NFL debut, with three combined tackles. Watt was exceptional as always, getting three sacks and tying James Harrison's team record. 

What Were The Steelers Biggest Weaknesses During The Week 1 Matchup?

On the heels of the opening week of the 2023 NFL season, Bleacher Report issued an article where they examined each team's biggest weaknesses and suggested players that would have an impact. They immediately noted that if Pittsburgh wants to perform better this year, they need to improve their defense. This is somewhat surprising considering the Steelers have been doing what they always do - investing in their defense. In fact, other NFL teams such as Pittsburgh's AFC North counterparts Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals are among the top 10 in offensive spending. The Steelers go against the grain with their defensive spending. 

The Steelers have had one of the most expensive defenses in the NFL for several seasons and that was before they signed Highsmith before 2023. But all of those expensive players aren't enough according to Bleacher Report. If the Steelers want to be able to get on top of the AFC, they better button up.   

The offense, led by Pickett, will be fighting to find some momentum with Matt Canada calling the offense and will need the defense to help. Bleacher Report says in order for that to be possible, the Steelers have to bolster some key positions. The biggest weaknesses the Steelers currently have are cornerback, safety, linebacker, EDGE, and right tackle, per the article. 

"Minkah Fitzpatrick remains one of the best safeties in the game. Outside of him, though, the Steelers are hoping their secondary is better than the sum of its parts. They brought in Patrick Peterson to join Levi Wallace as the starting outside corners until Joey Porter Jr. is ready to break into the starting lineup, and Chandon Sullivan is the starter in the slot. But it's all one injury away from getting scary pretty quickly."

They offer some immediate fixes to some of Pittsburgh's problems? One is signing cornerback L'Jarius Sneed from the Kansas City Chiefs. They point out that Sneed ranks 11th in Pro Football Focus's wins-above-replacement metric since 2020. According to them, he has the size and the strength to play press-man and the speed to catch opponents if he needs to. They see him as a natural complement to Porter. 

While Sneed does have a  lot of talent, he has also been battling a knee injury. He missed a lot of the 2023 preseason, but was ready to play for the Chiefs' first game against the Detroit Lions, where he had three tackles.   

As for a more long-term solution, they suggest that Pittsburgh look to draft Jeremiah Trotter Jr., a linebacker out of Clemson University. Trotter could join Porter as the second Jr. with a pedigree on the defense. They see Trotter as everything a team could possibly want in a modern linebacker. 

"The Steelers have a dominant pass-rusher in T.J. Watt and and All-Pro defensive back in Fitzpatrick. It's time to invest in a blue-chip option in the second level of the defense."

It is too early in the season to start panicking about the state of the Steelers defense. While there is definitely work to be done, Week 1 is not an appropriate full evaluation, especially against a team as good as the 49ers. It is going to be interesting to see how this team shapes up as the season progresses. 

What do you think about Bleacher Report's biggest areas of need for the Steelers? Click to comment below. 

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