Exclusive with Jarrett Bailey, Deputy Editor, Behind the Steel Curtain/USA Today

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First, can you let me know about the new position?

Many of the guys that ran Behind the Steel Curtain went and did their own thing. So, Kate Magdziuk there reached out to me. Now I’m in this new role and helping to contribute content as well and helping to get other good content up on the site, while still covering the league in general. I’m just finishing assembling the talent – just in time for camp. It’s working out nicely.

How did you get started covering the league?

I’ve covered the league for the last few years – I started off at the Pro Football Network (PFB) in August of 2020 and did work for just about anyone who was willing to pay me at first. I got my media creds with PFN going to the combine and things like that.

Some of the things I’m most proud of are my features on 2022 draftees Tyjae Spears from Tulane and A.J. Arcuri from Michigan State. Those were two good guys with good stories.

On the Steelers front, I did a story on the top 10 moments of Ben’s career and he posted those on his site. Seeing him do that was cool, knowing he enjoyed that story. Being able to cover the team I grew up loving is a cool opportunity.

General speaking, what are your thoughts on the team’s playoff chances this season?

You and I follow each other on Twitter and you know how I am. I’d like to think I’m pretty grounded and don’t let my homerism take over. But I expect the Steelers to win their division.  Not so much because they are better than the Bengals , though I do think they are better than the Ravens – and the Browns are wildcards. I just think they have an easier schedule than the Bengals. They went 9-8 last year and greatly improved the offensive line and secondary. If Pickett can just take that next step and make the big passes when he needs to I think they can be an 11-win team. It’ll be hard in a division with Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow and again, Cleveland is a wildcard. But I think they can do it.

Now, if they face Cincinnati in a wildcard game I think they are one-and-done. But just getting that playoff experience and showing that they can be a viable threat will be a big step forward. Just getting to the playoffs and having that experience will be a big plus.

What’s the biggest obstacle to making it, do you think?

Off ball linebacker and nickel corner are the two big ones, in my opinion. Holcomb and Roberts, with Robinson, Kwiatkoswki and Muse – those are a lot of new faces but I would have liked to see them be more aggressive in bringing in a better player. That position has been a problem for years. I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought Myles Jack back at some point.

At Nickel, they brought in Chandon Sullivan from Minnesota and he just wasn’t good. PFF gave him a 51 rating. Now I know PFF isn’t everything, but watching Minnesota’s defense and how bad it was, he just wasn’t good. He, Duke Dawson and maybe Kazee if they have him play some nickel – I think there is a legitimate battle there that will be won in preseason. It wouldn’t shock me if Dawson wins that battle and becomes this year’s Jaylen Warren.

Do they have enough big play potential on offense to be effective?

Yeah I do. Diontae – I know he’s a polarizing figure apparently for some, but he is good at creating space and gets open. Pickens is good at those 50-50 balls and if he can improve his route-running that will make him an even better threat.

Robinson was a very good addition in the slot – he is a good fit. Austin is your gimmick guy.  Then you have Freiermuth and Washington – he’ll be there mostly as a blocker but I think they will utilize him in the redzone.

The offensive line was upgraded – Isaac Seumalo and Broderick Jones will help open up the running lanes. That Jones addition was important – last year they avoided running over the left side as much as possible – Moore was just not a good run blocker.

Does Jones start early on?

Absolutely he’ll start. If you take a guy that high he should start. They’ll say it’s a position battle but it’s Jones’ spot to lose. If he doesn’t start early on something very wrong happened.

What does the offense need to do to really excel? Is it really Canada, or are there other talent/development concerns still?

They need open up the offense. Canada is the biggest issue. He needs to let them push the ball downfield to be more to be successful. Pickett may not have the biggest arm but he can make a 30-yard pass. You don’t have to go balls-to-the-wall like Mahomes where it’s 60-yards or nothing. But they can do more than three-yard curls to gain four yards.

Any thoughts on the defensive additions and the signing of Highsmith?

I was skeptical at first, but then I looked at the deal Seattle just gave Nwoso and he got more financially than Highsmith. I was hesitant at first  – we saw what happened to Dupree when he left Pittsburgh. I worry because Highsmith had just three-and-a-half sacks without Watt in the lineup. He took a big step forward last year but I don’t think he’s a 1-A guy. He’s a great Robin to Watt’s Batman, and I guess that’s what they are paying him to be. The Highsmith deal turned out to be more team-friendly when I looked at it again.

Any sleepers in camp from your perspective we should be watching out for?

Jordan Byrd – he’s an undrafted free agent they brought in who has a legitimate shot to become the team’s kickoff returner. If so, that will open up a receiver spot and there’d be no need to keep Gunner Olszewski – that coughed open up a spot to for Hakeem Butler. That would be a domino effect that could impact guys like Cody White, Miles Boykin and others.

On defense?

The safety battle is something to watch. They brought in Neal to go with Kazee and Minkah and have Killebrew who will make the team as their special teams ace. If so does that mean Norwood will be the odd guy out? Will they keep five safeties?

I’ll give you one more. I think Braden Mann will win the punting job over Harvin. I think there is a clear reason they brought him in. It’s not a high bar to clear but I think he beats out Harvin.

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