2022 Season Recap
Record: 9-8 (3rd in AFC North)
Points For: 308 (26)
Points Against: 346 (10)
Off-Season Roster Recap
Added: G Isaac Seumalo, WR Allen Robinson II, G Nate Herbig, P Braden Mann, LB Cole Holcomb, S Keanu Neal, CB Patrick Peterson, LB Elandon Roberts
Losses: CB Cameron Sutton (DET), LB Devin Bush (SEA), DI Chris Wormley (FA), S Terrell Edmunds (PHI)
Draft Recap Offense
T Broderick Jones, Georgia, TE Darnell Washington, Georgia, G Spencer Anderson, Maryland
Draft Recap Defense
CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State, DI Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin, EDGE Nick Herbig, Wisconsin, CB Cory Trice Jr., Purdue
2023 Outlook
The Steelers are a going to have a tough time in 2023. Even though they have made moves to bolster their offensive line, and drafted blocking TE Darnell Washington, QB Kenny Pickett will have to take several steps forward to push this team beyond the 9-8 record and third place in 2022. On top of that, they play in the very tough AFC North. Again, historically this team always seems to find a way to play well for head coach Mike Tomlin, and he has never had a losing season but going beyond 9-8 and 3rd place in the division will be a tall order.
The offense added WR Allen Robinson to replace Chase Claypool, and they bolstered the line. This should allow Pickett more time to find the open WR and make decisions. It should also open more lanes for the running game and RB Najee Harris. Pickett only threw for 2400 yards and 7 TD in 12 starts. If he can expand that to 3500, and 21 TDs, that would be a start. Last season Pickett targeted Diontae Johnson a team high 147 times but he only had 882 yards and no TDs; George Pickens did have 84 targets for 801 yards and 4 TDs. All these numbers need to go up in 2023.
As far as defense goes, the pass rush looks to be further bolstered via the draft, the run defense may continue to be an issue — there will likely be no immediate upgrades up front, the linebacking corps has significant questions and most of last season's slot corner reps are gone. The Steelers have historically relied on a stout defense to hold opponents down and limit the requirement for the offense to score a lot of points, if that can’t happen, the offense will have to score a lot of points.
At the end of the day, Mike Tomlin gets the most out of his players and he himself is probably good for a few wins. In this tough AFC North and AFC as a whole, I expect this season to be a rough one for the Steelers but at the end of the day I also expect them to be right around that 9-10 win mark.
Here is a look at their schedule:
Week 1 vs San Francisco
Week 2 vs Cleveland
Week 3 at Las Vegas Raiders
Week 4 at Houston Texans
Week 5 vs Baltimore Ravens
Week 6 BYE
Week 7 at Los Angeles Rams
Week 8 vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 9 vs Tennessee Titans
Week 10 vs Green Bay Packers
Week 11 at Cleveland Browns
Week 12 at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 13 vs Arizona Cardinals
Week 14 vs New England Patriots
Week 15 at Indianapolis Colts
Week 16 vs Cincinnati Bengals
Week 17 at Seattle Seahawks
Week 18 at Baltimore Ravens
Strength of schedule: .470 (25th toughest)
Vegas Wins – 8.5
#AgentJO’s record prediction - 9 Wins -8 Losses
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