First off, what’s new for you all at the Tribune-Review?
Essentially it’s still me and Joe Rutter covering the team now – we’ve been doing that for eight years now. With Tim Benz there and Chaz Palla doing the photography it’s been the four of us the past four-plus years.
What’s changed since you first started covering the team?
Well when the pandemic hit we had less locker room access and there was a lull afterwards without that access. The team moved us out of the media work room to a converted racquet ball court in the indoor facility.
Legend has it the racquet ball court was something Bill Cowher requested and they snuck it into the budget. Then it was vacant when he left until they moved us in- we had one extension cord we were all working off of! Then they renovated it. But because we’re further away from the players we get less of those informal conversations with the team as a result.
They also moved the media out of the dorms. We used to be in the dorms but they don’t have room now for us. So now we have to spend our own money – the four of us have an Airbnb we are staying in.
So are you sensing greater excitement for the team’s potential this season versus prior seasons?
It’s a strange situation – the quarterback is the face of the team, for better or worse. For so long we took it for granted with Ben as the quarterback that we’d have a chance once they got to the playoffs.
Then there was some uneasiness and excitement of having a first round quarterback. This time last year we were excited about the Kenny Pickett era after a good preseason – they had what they felt was an ascending quarterback on a rookie contract. That’s a lesson I guess on how quickly things change.
With Russell Wilson, whatever player he is now at 35, he’s a Hall of Fame quarterback who’s been to Super Bowls. There’s a certain energy to that. They believe with that defense, the quarterback is good enough to win with. There’s a certain excitement to that.
So it sounds like you think the quarterback competition is less of a real competition?
I never bought into it being an open competition. From the first reps in OTAs through the end of mini-camp there was no presentation of it being a real competition.
Now, two weeks into camp, with your starter not full practicing, it does open things up somewhat. Fields is getting more reps so they can evaluate him more. But I think they are just being extra cautious with Wilson and using this time to see what Fields can do. There’s lots of ways this could play out, but I think the Steelers are looking at this time as a way to evaluate Fields to see if he’s a real option for 2025.
What do you think about that?
I was taken aback – he’s exactly who you think he is at times. His arm strength may be better than Ben’s was. And when he takes that first step on those RPOs – you can see his speed when his foot hits the ground. He has a good deep ball too. But then you see him two-hop a throw and, I know it’s practice so they can’t touch him, but he’s getting sacked way too often. That’s all what you saw on film with him at the start and I’m not sure if that fits in with Tomlin’s idea of the offense not making mistakes and controlling field position to win games.
Part of the success of the offense will rely on that second starting wide receiver. We’re hearing maybe better-than-expected things about Jefferson. What are your takes on him and that position?
Well, Jefferson clearly is the number two receiver -in reps, targets and plays made. There’s no doubt about that – and with Austin as your third. I think that’s how it plays out. Now, is that enough? I think you’d like to see a bigger playmaker there opposite Pickens. Jefferson is a capable receiver and has made some plays. He was a starter on a Super Bowl team and has looked good. But we’ll need to see how he does in games – I always temper my expectations from what I see in practice – especially with receivers.
The secondary is boasting some new starters – do you feel better about that group, watching them in practice?
I feel better than I did two weeks ago. Donte Jackson has looked good. He had to take a quiet paycut to play for the Steelers – he wasn’t a slam-dunk. But I feel better about him now seeing him in camp. He’s more physical than I thought and still has good speed.
Beanie Bishop as been as close to a revelation as you get in camp. He’s been the starter at the nickel spot since he got here which is surprising as an undrafted free agent. He’s a good player and they’ve matched him up against different body types – against Pickens and a faster guy like Austin – and he’s done well.
DeShon Elliott has been a good addition as well. He’s an instant upgrade over Neal and even Kazee. They need to see what they have with Rush and Trice. They need someone to step up to take over at cornerback next year and to serve as the third corner now.
A lot of confusion on the offensive line from a fan’s perspective. How are the rookies looking?
They drafted three offensive linemen at the top of the draft. Frazier – a lot of people expected him to step in and start day one – that was a need position. But he has gotten less starting reps than all three of the rookie linemen.
Fautanu has looked good. And McCormick – he has looked good as well. He started five years in college and won two titles in Division II football. He’s looked just as capable as Fautanu of starting,though with two veterans that won’t happen this year.
Any sense you can make of the reps the rookies and Jones are getting there?
if you asked me July 23rd I would have said there’s was an 80% chance Frazier would be your starting center week one. But he’s barely gotten any starting reps. Now, I’d flip that at say 20%. There’s nothing I’m seeing that shows him not playing well or coaches not being happy with his play. Maybe it’s just an endorsement of Herbig’s play. And we know Tomlin likes to see rookies earn those spots. But it is curious to me.
Now, they traded two starting offensive linemen last year to teams who had needs. It shows they are willing to do so. So maybe there’s a market for Moore as well. He’s still a top 32 left tackle. So maybe that happens and everything else falls into place.
But as it stands right now, I think you’ll see the same starting lineup at offensive line as last year, except Herbig instead of Mason Cole at center.
How bullish are you on the offense from what you’re seeing right now?
It’s tough – we haven’t seen the starting quarterback operate this offense yet, so I don’t have a good read on this offense. Last year at this time though we thought the offense looked good – then in the next few months the quarterback was benched and the coordinator was fired. So I’m not sure if this is a Super Bowl team. I think if it all breaks well they are a fringe playoff team that could win a playoff game, but I don’t see them as a Super Bowl team right now.
Are there areas on this team that could offer some surprise competitions for playing time?
I think in the sub-packages there are some gray areas. I was curious to see Trice in the dime – as that sixth defensive back. I’m curious to see how that role ultimately plays out. Peyton Wilson is being talked about as that dime linebacker, but they are paying Patrick Queen a lot of money – do they take him out? They also like to use three safeties – so how will they mix and match all of that will be interesting.
I’m also curious to see if they continue to use Leal at edge rusher. He was recently used there out of necessity – but with the three linebacker sets they are experimenting with, is that an area he gets more time at? Who will be out there on third and eight versus third and two – it’ll be interesting to see how that all shakes out.
Do you think the team plays around too much with young players – taking Leal and Trice as examples?
I don’t think it’s bad. There’s five weeks to go before the season starts – there’s a lot of time to see how things shake out. There’s no harm right now in seeing what guys can do. Life comes at you fast – if you’re Cory Trice for example – coaches need to understand what you can do and this is the time to figure that out. They have to figure that out now to see what they have in him and what this guy can do now to help the team.