The Pittsburgh
Steelers ended the season with a 16-13 win over the Cincinnati
Bengals to finish 9-6-1. Here’s a recap of the season and
what’s next:
SEASON GRADE: Below-average. This season was
well below the Steelers’ standards. They averaged more than 11 wins per game
from 2014-17 but made 2018 more difficult with a three-game losing streak over
a stretch of AFC West matchups in November and December. Defeating New England
for the first time since 2011 was a breakthrough, but in a year when a playoff
bye was attainable with more consistent play, the Steelers’ many lapses let
the Baltimore
Ravens keep pace in the AFC North. Considering the talent
across the roster, it’s hard to escape the belief the Steelers could have done
more with what they had. The largely lethargic Week 17 performance against
Cincinnati highlights that belief.
SEASON IN REVIEW: The Steelers faced tumult to
start the season as Le'Veon Bell skipped Week 1, a decision that turned into a
season-long holdout. Behind a stout offensive line and a proven passing game,
tailback James Conneremerged
as a legitimate threat. Despite a relatively healthy roster, the Steelers’
1-2-1 start set the wrong tone for a contender. The Steelers recovered, like
they usually do, and the rest of the season featured an amalgam of explosive
performances and uneven play. Quarterback Ben
Roethlisberger earned career highs in touchdowns and passing
yards. Young stars such as T.J. Watt and JuJu
Smith-Schuster strengthened their breakout campaigns in year
two. But the Steelers consistently ranked near the bottom of the NFL in
turnover margin, which sort of defined their season. Going four games without
an interception in the second half of the year resulted in three losses during
that stretch. They couldn’t dictate the tempo consistently enough, and closing
out games was often a struggle.
HE SAID IT: "We can beat anybody. We can
also lose to anybody." -- Steelers guard David
DeCastro
OFFSEASON
QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE STEELERS’ DEFINITIVE PLAN AT RUNNING BACK? The
Steelers technically aren’t done with Bell, a reality that casts a pall over
the offseason until a firm decision is made: Transition tag Bell or let him
walk into unrestricted free agency. The Steelers could argue the tag should be
worth somewhere between $9 million and $10 million, resorting to the slotted
2017 number since Bell skipped a year. But the Collective Bargaining Agreement
says Bell deserves 120 percent of his last salary ($14.5 million). The tag
would allow Bell to negotiate with other teams with the Steelers having the
right to match any offer. But they might want to wash themselves of the Bell
saga altogether. In that case, they have Conner and fifth-round pick Jaylen
Samuels to develop as the future of the position. Both produced
in expanded roles this season.
WHAT WILL THEY DO WITH ROETHLISBERGER’S CONTRACT? Roethlisberger’s
deal expires in March 2020, and the Steelers never relied more on Big Ben’s arm
to win games than this season. The 15-year veteran performed among the league
leaders in passing yards, touchdowns, passing attempts and interceptions. The
mushrooming quarterback market calls for Roethlisberger to earn around $30
million per year, and with massive salaries for Bell and linebacker Ryan Shazier off
the books, the Steelers will have cap space with which to maneuver. The
Steelers drafted quarterbacks Josh Dobbs and Mason Rudolph in
back-to-back years, but this is still Roethlisberger’s show. A three-year deal
would take Roethlisberger close to age 40 and expand the Super Bowl window.
WHAT DOES THE DEFENSE NEED TO GET OVER THE TOP? The
Steelers' defense has been stuck on decent-to-good for a few years now. The
leap to greatness has not been made. The Steelers consistently get pressure
with their front seven behind Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt and
T.J. Watt. They ranked among the top 10 in rushing defense and total defense
late in the year. Joe Haden leads
a secondary that experienced ups and downs in 2018 but made plays down the
stretch. From subpackage linebackers to hybrid safeties, the Steelers tried
just about everything at the inside linebacker spot opposite Vince
Williams. The draft could provide a long-term solution for the loss
of Shazier. Grab a speedy, rangy linebacker, maybe another corner, and
Pittsburgh will be closer to a finished product. First, it must decide what to
do with embattled corner Artie Burns,
who was demoted early in his third season.
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