*** 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers: Week 1 vs Jets (6 Viewers)

[5-ish Finkle]

No matter how good their defense may wind up (and I am withholding judgement there until they see "full first contact with a real enemy."), they still intend to roll out "Stegosaurus ball" on O. Unless A-a-ron goes totally rogue, thats the brand of offense this staff has deemed their ride or die.

It remains unrealistic to expect a defense in today's NFL to hold teams under 14 points weekly as your primary win condition. Especially one featuring so many key contributors at/over the age of 30. Could it work? Sure. It could work. I could also sprout wings and fly tomorrow.

Even if the O shows a bit more of a pulse, and it absolutely needs to/must, nothing from camp has made me believe this season doesnt feel primed to be a repeat of '24: Early success that tails way, way off as the season wanes while the oldsters on D wear down. Maybe back in to a WC. Prolly get rolled week one from playoffs (with high probability of getting woodshedded in the process).

 

[H8fulHuck]

No matter how good their defense may wind up (and I am withholding judgement there until they see "full first contact with a real enemy."), they still intend to roll out "Stegosaurus ball" on O. Unless A-a-ron goes totally rogue, thats the brand of offense this staff has deemed their ride or die.

It remains unrealistic to expect a defense in today's NFL to hold teams under 14 points weekly as your primary win condition. Especially one featuring so many key contributors at/over the age of 30. Could it work? Sure. It could work. I could also sprout wings and fly tomorrow.

Even if the O shows a bit more of a pulse, and it absolutely needs to/must, nothing from camp has made me believe this season doesnt feel primed to be a repeat of '24: Early success that tails way, way off as the season wanes while the oldsters on D wear down. Maybe back in to a WC. Prolly get rolled week one from playoffs (with high probability of getting woodshedded in the process).

The fans get to participate in a Renegade critical stop late in the game. Give the old man another shot at bleeding clock and kick a field goal for the dub.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

The fans get to participate in a Renegade critical stop late in the game. Give the old man another shot at bleeding clock and kick a field goal for the dub.

Just need to yeet in a "the standard is the standard" quote there and you've pretty much got what'd prolly qualify as porn to Coach T. High quality fanfic, if nothin' else.

 

[Godsbrother]

I view this season as a what-the-heck, one time shot with Rodgers. Going in with meh expectations and a pinch of intrigue as to how this will all turn out.

Anything between a 5 or 11 win season won’t shock me. It should be an interesting ride…

 

[rockaction]

Did you guys draft another back from Molasses U. and how come even some schlep like me who had no dynasty picks on the team that mattered to him was not jealous when other guys in his league got their shot to draft him? Didn’t they watch him run? Whose vision did they use to judge it?

 

[H8fulHuck]

The fans get to participate in a Renegade critical stop late in the game. Give the old man another shot at bleeding clock and kick a field goal for the dub.

Just need to yeet in a "the standard is the standard" quote there and you've pretty much got what'd prolly qualify as porn to Coach T. High quality fanfic, if nothin' else.

I’ve been called worse
Seriously enjoy when Renegade plays and the stadium is rocking. Electric

 

[Godsbrother]

No major surprise cuts yet. I thought RB Lew Nichols and TE JJ Galbreath played decent this preseason but there was no chance either was going to make the team. Maybe one or both will end up on the practice squad

 

[geneyus]

The best battle in camp goes to Corliss Waitman.

 

[infantsam]

We'll keep the thread rolling anyway - because we live on page one. WTF.

Good news:
We have a punter (I think). No more Harvin shanks. (intentional weak lead)
DK is a much more disciplined and physical WR. Pickens 12 second routes every third play were gorgeous but useless
Calvin and Roman in competition - yes please
The TE room - if that ain't decent .....
OL - OMG please lets be at least OK
Rogers - I got nothing. But there was nothing else.

D: Mostly - the holes are way less deep. (ILB and CB). TJ and Cam need to over-deliver.

There's like 5-6 if's in there - too many. And even if the D is 'physically dominant' and the OL gels we lack that one dynamic O player, like a young SF Deebo when he runs, that flips the game.

Other than overpaying TJ and Cam I don't really see what we could have done better. Like 20 other teams - we need a QB.

 

[Godsbrother]

Steelers released Demarvin Leal

 

[Max55]

Steelers released Demarvin Leal

I’m a little surprised if only based on releasing ILB Robinson and Herbig banged up.

Wonder if this means they are keeping an extra DB or 6th WR.

 

[3C's]

Steelers released Demarvin Leal

No surprise there.

 

[3C's]

Robert Woods, we hardly knew ya.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Surprised only 3 safeties and that Kent made the team over Pierre and Bishop despite not playing at all. And all 4 qbs?

 

[irish eyes]

Surprised only 3 safeties and that Kent made the team over Pierre and Bishop despite not playing at all. And all 4 qbs?

Yeah, 4 QBs makes zero sense.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Surprised only 3 safeties and that Kent made the team over Pierre and Bishop despite not playing at all. And all 4 qbs?

I think Ramsey is counting for half a S. I expect Howard to still go to IR

 

[Godsbrother]

53 man roster as of today:

Offense (25)
Quarterbacks (4): Will Howard, Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson
Running Backs (3): Kenneth Gainwell, Kaleb Johnson, Jaylen Warren
Offensive Line (9): Calvin Anderson, Spencer Anderson, Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, Broderick Jones, Ryan McCollum, Mason McCormick, Andrus Peat, Isaac Seumalo
Tight Ends (3): Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington
Tight End/Fullback (1): Connor Heyward
Wide Receivers (5): Calvin Austin III, DK Metcalf, Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek, Roman Wilson

Defense (25)
Defensive Line (8): Keeanu Benton, Yahya Black, Daniel Ekuale, Derrick Harmon, Cameron Heyward, Logan Lee, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Esezi Otomewo
Linebackers (9): Carson Bruener, Malik Harrison, Nick Herbig, Alex Highsmith, Cole Holecomb, Patrick Queen, T.J. Watt, Jack Sawyer, Payton Wilson
Defensive Backs (8): Brandin Echols, DeShon Elliott, Donte Kent, Miles Killebrew, Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, Juan Thornhill

Specialists (3)
Kicker: Chris Boswell
Punter: Corliss Waitman
Long Snapper: Christian Kuntz

 

[H8fulHuck]

Surprised only 3 safeties and that Kent made the team over Pierre and Bishop despite not playing at all. And all 4 qbs?

Yeah, 4 QBs makes zero sense.

Coaches saw how good the OL is at pass protection.

 

[infantsam]

QB's are valuable. Raiders traded a fifth for KP.

Beanie and Corey - Just missed it. Hopes and dreams to ya but we needed better at CB

Connor - Not gonna say it, but unless you can contest with some serious ST value it's just a part of Cam's contract.

There will be plenty of #4 RB's and #6 WR's if needed.
They want a return for Skylar. That actually played out in there benefit.

 

[steelcityman]

Surprised only 3 safeties and that Kent made the team over Pierre and Bishop despite not playing at all. And all 4 qbs?

Yeah, 4 QBs makes zero sense.

Coaches saw how good the OL is at pass protection.

they've been really good this year so far(preseason). I dont get the whole thing with them being awful, they arent.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

MVS in the offing? Cut by Seattle.

Aya-who-sca Pete is a fan, and MVS certainly loves him some A-a-ron...

 

[3C's]

Robert Woods, we hardly knew ya.

Not so fast.... On the practice squad

 

[crushedspirit]

MVS in the offing? Cut by Seattle.

Aya-who-sca Pete is a fan, and MVS certainly loves him some A-a-ron...

Shanny took him for now

 

[Godsbrother]

Steelers practice squad. Glad a lot of these guys are back (at least for now);

Defensive Back: Beanie Bishop, Sebastian Castro, D’Shawn Jamison, James Pierre, Daryl Porter
Defensive Line: Kyler Baugh, DeMarvin Leal
Outside linebacker: Julius Welschof
Offensive Line: Dylan Cook, Steven Jones
Running Back: Lew Nichols, Trey Sermon
Tight End: JJ Galbreath
Wide Receiver: Max Hurleman, Ke’Shawn Williams, Robert Woods

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Kent and Howard to short-term IR, Clark and Sharping to 53 for the moment.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I am hoping we have just been sandbagging our offense this off-season . . .

 

[Godsbrother]

Steelers open up 2025 season as 3 pt road favorites against the NY Jets. The obvious storyline is the starting QBs for this game were starting week 1 in 2024 for the other team.

The Steelers game plan on defense has got to be to stop the run and make Fields beat them in the air. The only Steelers player ruled out is first round pick DT Derrick Harmon. Herbig has been practicing so there's a pretty good chance he could be active. I haven't heard of any significant injuries on the Jets other than CB sauce Gardner who says he will be ready to play.

This should be a low scoring affair and the over/under reflects that at 38.5 points.

I am very curious to see Rodgers under center since he didn't appear in any preseason games.

 

[Faust]

The Last Gasp of Steelers Exceptionalism

 

[crushedspirit]

Main point he made in that article is bang on,

Something is about to give, though. The only exceptional thing about the Steelers at this point is their interminable existence somewhere between good and bad, but nobody treads water forever. The Steelers seem to know that, and they have taken some short-term swings in an effort to move up rather than down. They skipped out on drafting an early-round quarterback prospect this year and are trying instead to coax one last good season out of Rodgers. They made blockbuster trades (George Pickens and Minkah Fitzpatrick out, DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey in). They blinked at the end of a contract fight with an on-the-wrong-side-of-30 T.J. Watt. Maybe that will all work out, and the Steelers will be something more than the annual wild-card pushover they are now. Maybe that will flame out spectacularly, and it will at least be possible to rubberneck the disaster.


Then there is the middle possibility—that the Steelers will turn in a typical 9-8 or 10-7 record and lose by 21 to a real contender on the opening weekend of the playoffs. In the context of their busy offseason, that would only set a fresh standard for boring mediocrity. Pittsburgh can’t stay different by being the most middling team in the league. One way or another, this final bastion of Steelers exceptionalism is on its last legs.