Can Pittsburgh “Steel” the AFC North Division in 2019?
Under typical circumstances, the Steelers would be heavily favored to win the AFC North. But after a couple of superstars walked out the door, the climb will be more uphill than ever.
The 2019 NFL offseason once again brought much change to an always exciting league. Perhaps most notable was the transformation of the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason. The trio of Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown was easily the best in the league, but after a tumultuous 2018 season, the “Killer B’s” won’t be stinging together.
In what felt like the snap of a finger, the Steelers lost Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, who considered by many to be the best at their respective positions. The Steelers traded away a disgruntled Brown to the Oakland Raiders and let an infuriated Bell walk in free agency to the New York Jets.
It put a cap on what was an odd season for the Steelers who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013. So naturally, it brings up the question, how good can the Pittsburgh Steelers be in 2019 without two of the best players in the league?
The One Constant
With the exception of the 2018 season, the past several years have been a success in Pittsburgh. Despite much change to their skill players and coaching staff with inconsistent defenses from year-to-year, the Steelers have remained fluid with four straight seasons of 10+ wins.
Throughout the years, the Steelers have gone through a ton of injuries and changes but there’s one element that’s kept this team elite; their pile-driving, sea-parting, mammoth-sized offensive line.
This offensive has been so dominant over the years. With studs like left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, center Maurkice Pouncey and right guard David DeCastro, this unit has been the driving force of this team.
People often undervalue the need for a solid offensive line. But the reality is, line play elevates the whole team. Quarterbacks have more time to throw, receivers can keep fighting to get open, and running backs have better holes to run through. Having that elite line allows you to sustain drives and win the time of possession battle, which in turn keeps your defense off the field.
Roethlisberger has been the benefactor of this scary offensive line. For one thing, he’s been kept upright, which kept his injuries to a (relative) minimum despite his advanced age. The strong pass blocking allows Big Ben to extend the play and find open receivers. Bell is known for his patience as a runner. He bounces behind his line, waits for a hole to open up then bursts through. It’s a great technique… if you get the hole. But with the Steelers line, you know you always do.
Is Big Ben Still The Answer?
Roethlisberger is like aged wine. He’s seemingly gotten better with time. Despite running well into his 30's, Big Ben has retained his elite arm strength, while taking on a bigger load passing the ball. After averaging 418.0 pass attempts his first 9 years in the league, that number spiked to 567.7 the past 6 years.
And with the increased responsibility, Ben has been even more productive, putting up 1,075.7 more yards, 7.5 more touchdowns and 12.0 fewer sacks taken in those seasons. As the Steelers shifted from a defense dominated roster to an explosive offensive attack, Big Ben became the savior they needed. But now at age 37, we have to ask, is he still the man to lead this team?
In what’s become a passing league, Ben’s ability to adapt to the times and step up to the plate has been indispensable. Especially last season where he led the league with 675 pass attempts, which actually ranked 4th highest in NFL history. The attempts were easily a career high, as was his 5,129 passing yards and 34 touchdowns.
The stats were there, but the wins were not. The Steelers went 9–6–1, which marked their worst winning percentage since 2013. But it’s tough to put it all on the quarterback, as he had to deal with an M.I.A. Le’Veon Bell, an unhealthy James Connor and a pissed off Antonio Brown. The Steelers took a 7–2–1 start and squashed any chance of making the playoffs losing 4 of those remaining games by 7 points or less.
The Steelers seem to be turning the page and starting fresh in 2019, but a lot of their success is going to hinge on the status of Big Ben. While the quarterback has played admirably, you have the question where that age will start to hit him. At 37 years old, with a body that’s taken a beating, is this the year he finally breaks down? And perhaps the biggest question is, will the losses of AB and Bell come back to bite the Ben and Steelers?
Should They Have Kept Bell & Brown?
The narrative was straight for years. Before holding out in 2018, Le’Veon Bell was easily the best running back in the NFL. And before a “down” year for Antonio Brown, the game-breaking talent supplanted his name as the best wide receiver in the league. But still, the Steelers organization was quick to make the two expendable. Were they the right moves?
Bell and Brown are more than just productive players. Bell was a true workhorse for the Steelers. But he was more than just a statistical king, he changed the complexion of defenses and with his ability to line up as a wideout and create mismatches would alter the way teams defend the Steelers. Bell’s dominance as a rusher took a ton of Big Ben’s plate and allowed the Steelers to achieve balance while keeping time of possession on their side. His presence kept the team afloat by taking on big workloads and remaining consistent. Simply, he made life easier for his teammates.
It’s crazy to think Brown put up a 104–1,297–15 line, and that’s considered “bad.” Brown is a generational talent. He’s the best route runner in the NFL, he’s got amazing hands, and he’s able to dominate at all three levels. But more importantly, his chemistry with Big Ben on those back-shoulders is rivaled by very few. He an get open in a jiffy, but even when he’s covered, you throw it up and he still comes down with it. Brown dictated coverages. Opposing teams would put their No. 1 cornerback and subsequent double coverages on him, making it much easier for his teammates to get open.
Without Bell and Brown in this offense, you have to think the Steelers don’t realize what they’re missing.
So How Will They Replace The Talent?
The talent these two guys hold is unmistakable, but the Steelers clearly believe they can replicate it. James Connor came in and filled the stats sheet nicely last season, falling just short of a 1,000 yards while putting up 12 touchdowns in 13 games. Then there is the electric JuJu Smith-Schuster who had 111 receptions and 1,426 yards lining up opposite of AB.
While Connor is a great talent that can be a regular Pro-Bowler, he’s no Bell. Connor hits the hole hard, but he isn’t methodical the way Bell bounces behind his line waiting for the right hole to open up. Connor can catch screens and check-downs, but he doesn’t give you the versatility to line him up out wide to create mismatches. Perhaps even more crucial, Conner never had the pristine, reliable nature of Le’Veon. In Week 11, the Steelers were attempting to make a comeback against the Jaguars. Down 3 points, with 52 seconds left, Connor got wide open down the field for what would have been a sure-fire touchdown. He instead drops the ball in disappointing fashion. In football, one play can make or break your season.
With JuJu, last season we saw another huge sophomore breakout. Smith-Schuster tore apart defenses, showing off his fantastic big-play ability every time he was on the field. He was so good last year it had fans questioning, “is he better than Antonio Brown?” Well, let’s step back to reality for a second.
JuJu really reaped the benefits of playing opposite Brown. The second year receiver consistently saw single coverages against the lesser corners which made it very easy for him to toast the competition. In Week 17, AB didn’t play and Smith-Schuster became the Cincinnati Bengals’ focal point on defense. Against Cincinnati’s league-worst pass defense, Smith-Schuster fell flat on his face, turning 10 targets into 5 receptions for 37 yards. Not good.
And with that, it’s a scary thought for Steelers fans as to how good can JuJu be? It remains to be seen if he can be a true No. 1 receiver and if Connor can provide the Steelers with the same dynamic force Bell did. The Steelers are putting all their eggs in the basket, confident that they can produce elite skill players without paying them. For their sake, let’s hope their right.
Tougher Competition
While the division has struggled a bit the past few years, the AFC North is about to get real tough. The Cleveland Browns, who were once the laughingstock of the league, look to be building a dynasty with Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr., Myles Garrett and a whole bunch of young talent.
An improved Lamar Jackson bookended by that scary defense and one of the best head coaches in the league has the Baltimore Ravens as a true threat to win the division. And with Andy Dalton returning to new head coach and Sean McVay disciple Zac Taylor, the Bengals are another team with serious potential.
The Steelers have generally been able to make it out of AFC North without too much heartache, but in 2019 they’ll have to be in tip-top shape if they expect the same feat.
Final Thoughts
The Steelers are still one of the most talented teams in the NFL and they have one of the best head coaches in Mike Tomlin, to go along with that. Losing Bell and Brown may not hurt Pittsburgh the way it would most teams, but they’re what made this Steelers team so special. Their level of skill changed the dynamic of this team and brought the Steelers to new heights.
This season, if JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Connor develop into the game-breaking threats that Bell and Brown were, the Steelers should have no problems. But that’s easier said than done. This Pittsburgh team still has a ton going with an improving defense, a stellar line, and a bunch of young talent.
But will the losses of Bell and Brown prove to be too much for the Steelers?
It just might.
All statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
