"It Could Get Ugly": Steelers Have Real Problem That Might Develop Quickly In Training Camp

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of moving pieces with training camp on the horizon. There is a new coaching staff along with plenty of new faces on the roster. Additionally, returning players are going to need to adjust as a lot could be changing without Mike Tomlin roaming the sideline. Mike McCarthy was hired to take care of the operation, which was initially met with a little bit of criticism. The organization mixed things up and went with the experienced and offensive-minded guy as opposed to a younger individual whose expertise is on the defensive side of things.

The franchise might have finally decided to shift to being more aggressive on offense, and that is something that is going to put McCarthy under a ton of pressure. The Steelers didn't bring in guys like Michael Pittman Jr. and Rico Dowdle just to go through the motions. Despite the fact that there will be a lot of playmakers that end up in the headlines, a more thankless job and group of contributors could be the most important to pay attention to.

The offensive line has certainly been mixed up quite a bit. While there are returning starters, only one of them is currently projected to be at the same position as he was in 2025. Zach Frazier will be the center, but both Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick may very well be moving over to the left side. That leaves a whole lot of questions on the right.

During Tuesday's episode of Steelers Collective, insider and reporter Mark Kaboly highlighted what he is going to look out for when training camp kicks off in the final week of July. Overall, the big men up front are going to be a unit to keep an eye on.

"I think we have to really look at how that offensive line works together," Kaboly said. I don't think we'll see that the first week, but I think that is going to be the ultimate decider whether this team is going to be good or not. They cannot warm up to it. They have to be out there. That's why I still think it's a long-shot for a guy like [Max] Iheanachor to get a starting nod or get a chance Week 1 because — I'm stealing it from Mike Tomlin. They can't warm up to this. They have to be hitting it running."

Kaboly seemed relatively concerned about the offensive line. A new coaching staff and fresh faces could make it difficult for everyone to gel early, and that could provide some serious challenges right away.

"I think that's the biggest question mark. If they don't be more advanced than the year before when they struggled on the offensive line early, it could get ugly."

Running the ball and not forcing a 42-year-old quarterback to do too much will be pivotal for the Steelers in 2026. If there is no time for anything to develop, it's not going to be pretty.

A lot of things have to go right if any team wants to be successful at the NFL level. The Steelers are facing something that they haven't had to deal with since the 2007 offseason. This isn't just any normal coaching change. It's a complete regime switch-up after nearly two decades.

The offensive line has to be the foundation for the offense moving forward, and training camp is going to be a crucial time for all of the guys to get on the same page. McCarthy can't afford the group to struggle.

Steelers Will Go As Far As The Offensive Line Takes Them

It somehow remains a very underrated part of the game of football, but a professional unit's blockers can help set the tone. Pittsburgh hasn't recently been known for having a stout group of big men up front; however, there are promising young players that all have the talent to come together in 2026. The Steelers just have to make sure everything clicks quickly, but time is of the essence.

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