Steelers Showing Signs Of A “Mid-Level Team” With Russell Wilson

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had an aggressive offseason following a 2023 season where their offense hit historically low points. Despite these struggles, the Steelers finished 10-7 and made it to the postseason, a testament to Head Coach Mike Tomlin's ability to maximize his team's potential even in the face of significant adversity.

Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and Assistant General Manager Andy Weidl worked hard this offseason to address the team's issues. Steelers fans have grown frustrated with the fact that Pittsburgh has not won a playoff game since the 2016 season. To address this, the Steelers signed former Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum and brought in new Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith, to revamp the offense.

The Steelers also made significant investments on defense, signing linebacker Patrick Queen to bolster an already strong linebacker unit. They enhanced their special teams by adding punter Cameron Johnston and star return man Cordarrelle Patterson. Upgrades have been made across the roster, except for the wide receiver position.

These offseason moves have given Steelers fans an optimistic outlook for the 2024 season. However, not everyone shares this optimism. Analyst Mike Golic explained on his show GoJo and Golic why he believes the Steelers may not be very good in the upcoming season.

"I think a normally defensive-led team is not as strong defensively as we have seen," said Golic. "So we will see what they can do offensively. This is now Arthur Smith taking over with Russell Wilson heading in. I think it will be more run acclimated to run to pass game."

The Steelers' defensive unit is the most expensive in all of football, featuring stars like TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Cam Heyward. They also added Queen and cornerback Donte Jackson, with Joey Porter Jr. expected to make significant strides in his second season. There is a lot of excitement surrounding the defensive unit.

However, Golic believes this defensive unit might be overrated. He acknowledged that the Steelers' defense survived the 2023 season largely due to Watt's greatness, but expressed a lack of confidence in the rest of the unit. Golic thinks the Steelers will need to rely on their offense more than ever in the upcoming season.

"It's going to be a dog fight for them. I don't think it's a team that, if you're down 14, they will be great at coming back. They must get into some mudslinging, phonebooth-type fights to win their games and I do not see them being a surprise big-time double-digit win team this year at all. A lot of that is based on Russell Wilson and not knowing what to expect. Even the weapons around him. I think they are a mid-level team.”

The Steelers' offense needs to make significant improvements in 2024 if Pittsburgh wants to compete. Wilson joins the team after two challenging seasons with the Broncos, while Smith is expected to quickly turn around a historically poor offense. 

Despite these changes, Golic is skeptical about the Steelers' prospects for the upcoming season.

Steelers' Offense Is Expected To Be Much Better In 2024

The Steelers boast two star running backs, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, and a tight end, Pat Freiermuth, who has struggled to be effectively utilized in the offense. Given Smith's offensive style, he has a solid group of players to work with. Freiermuth is expected to have a massive 2024 season working with Smith. As well as Harris and Warren.

While Golic remains doubtful, the Steelers' offense has clearly improved this offseason and promises to be exciting to watch. Steelers fans will hope their team can defy Golic's expectations and make a surprising impact in 2024.

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