The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the start of their 2025 training camp this week, and there is going to be a lot of eyes on the big name additions that Omar Khan managed to bring to Pittsburgh this offseason. Steeler Nation is definitely going to have their eyes heavily focused on the new look offense, and how 41 year old quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks as the team has their focus set on a deep playoff run and their first playoff win since the 2016 season.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan answer questions from the Pittsburgh media.
Many are going to expect a quarterback with such a decorated resume as Rodgers to come out and light up the field during training camp. However, the four-time MVP does have a lot that he needs to overcome very quickly in order to have the level of success he is accustomed to.
Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith has not worked with a player of Rodgers' talent yet as a play-caller, and the two styles will likely take some getting used to. So some early hiccups should be expected as both sides adjust to their new situations. However, future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger expects there to be more than just a couple hiccups for the offense early on in training camp.
During his most recent episode of Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, the aforementioned Roethlisberger discussed how the new look Steelers offense might not give fans the instant gratification they are looking for. He explained how success for the offense isn't a given on the early days of training camp.
"I anticipate that there is going to be some frustrations early on from our offense," Roethlisberger says about the Steelers offense in training camp. "Because I think the defense has the potential to be that good."
I don't think many would look to argue that the Steelers' defense should be one of the best in the league again. Roethlisberger also made the point that early success is typically much easier for the defense than the offense in training camp. The offense needs time to get their timing in live action, players are working off a new playbook, etc.
Regardless if offensive struggles can be explained away by the reasons Roethlisberger listed, there will still be no shortage of people speaking up if Rodgers and the offense don't appear to be improved over last season throughout training camp.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers gets warmed up before offseason activities.
Bringing in Rodgers to be the quarterback for the Steelers in 2025 was not a move that was universally supported across the NFL media or the Steelers fan base, so the people who criticized the move won't hesitate to call out when the offense struggles, whether that be early on in training camp or throughout the regular season.
Expectations are already pretty high for a team that has a brand new quarterback, a new top wide receiver, and a young offensive line that hasn't shown its full potential to this point. Realistically, expectations for what can be expected out of this offense early on should likely be lowered based on Roethlisberger's experience.
Steelers' Offensive Line Will Likely Play A Larger Role Than Many Are Admitting
Most of the media and fans have had heavy focus on the performance of Rodgers and the skill players heading into the 2025 NFL season. While that is likely justified considering they are the newer faces with a lot to prove, the offensive line deserves just as much attention on their performance. The Steelers have invested heavily in the offensive line the previous two offseasons, and it is time that investment starts showing its payback. If it doesn't, this season could get ugly much faster than many believe it could.
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Steelers offensive lineman Troy Fautanu (left) and Broderick Jones (right) sit in their lockers before a 2024 Week 1 contest against the Falcons in Atlanta, GA.
There seems to be a high level of confidence heading into training camp that the position group as a whole should be a strong point of the team. Despite the confidence around the offensive line's potential however, there are still several young players who have yet to fully prove themselves, along with a left tackle in Broderick Jones, who has struggled at right tackle through his first two NFL seasons.
Do you expect the offense to struggle throughout training camp? Let us know in the comments below!
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