The oddsmakers don't think much of the Steelers. But hey, that's fine, they didn't think much of them last year, either, setting their over/under at 9 wins, 2 1/2 wins behind the Ravens in the AFC North.
All the Steelers did was go 12-4 and win the division. Yes, things ended badly, with the Steelers faltering down the stretch, at least in part thanks to schedule changes that forced them to play three games in 12 days and four in 20.
The Steelers won the first one, the oft-moved Wednesday game against the Ravens at Heinz Field that was supposed to have been played nearly a week before on Thanksgiving night, but got moved to nearly a week later. But they then lost to Washington five days later, then dropped another game six days later on the road at Buffalo.
It was an ugly stretch of football to be sure, culminating a week after that with a 27-17 loss at Cincinnati in a game that just might have been the worst game Ben Roethlisberger has played in his life.
All told, it wound up being four games in 20 days, the time in which teams typically play just two games.
That was really the beginning of the end for the 2020 Steelers.
So what will be different this year?
"I think, having the potential — I guess you never know, but potential for a normal football season," Roethlisberger said this week. "What was it, three games in 12 days — whatever it was last year, that’ll wear anybody down. I think, just physically, I’ll feel better in terms of my arm."
OK. Let's assume the Steelers aren't forced to blow up their schedule thanks to COVID-19 issues with other teams as happened last year. And that seems to be the case with some of the NFL's pronouncements last week about not wanting to move or postpone games this season -- particularly if the reason involves unvaccinated players.
But you just never know.
The oddsmakers don't agree. Despite the NFL adding a game to the regular season, the Steelers' over/under is actually lower than it was a year ago, set at 8.5 wins.
What we know is that the Steelers return a solid defense and will have a more diverse attack under first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
"It’s the easiest offense in America, in my opinion," Canada said of his system. "I’ve always said that. Huge compliment to Ben, he’s done this a long time and we have made some changes in how we call things in the system. Football is football. There’s not that many plays out there. There are some differences in how we’re calling it and Ben’s worked very hard to be comfortable with it. We’re trying to find ways to get guys in certain spots, but it’s going to look very similar to how it’s always looked. We’re going to be the Pittsburgh Steelers."
Except with a much better running back. Najee Harris looks every bit as advertised, exactly what you'd expect a first-round running back to look like.
And Roethlisberger, despite some very loud claims to the contrary, can still throw a deep ball.
Practices aren't open just yet, so reporting on exactly what he did Sunday isn't possible. So, let defensive backs coach Teryl Austin explain it.
"He got a couple in there. It’s not what we want, but that’s why we come to practice," Austin said Sunday of some deep balls. "He’s still got an arm. There’s no issue with that. He made some throws that were typical Ben throws."
The Steelers don't need Roethlisberger to be the Ben Roethlisberger of five or even 10 years ago. They need him to be the best he can be now and make a handful of high-level throws per game. Then, he can let the running game and defense, led by perhaps the NFL's best front, do the rest.
The running game should be much better in 2021. As Mike Tomlin said earlier in the week, there's nowhere to go but up. And the defense still looks extremely dangerous.
Don't shovel dirt on these Steelers just yet.
• Pat Freiermuth is going to be a weapon for this team. The second-round draft pick has shown good hands, a solid feel for the game and some burst that few thought he had coming out of Penn State.
"He’s working hard. He’s on the details," Tomlin said Sunday after Freiermuth put on an impressive display in practice. "But as are some others. I’m pleased with Najee and what he’s doing as well. They’ll continue to write their stories. Obviously, football in shorts we don’t put a lot of stake in. As we put the pads on, we’re excited to see what they bring."
If you don't believe Tomlin, listen to Canada rave about the rookie.
"Really been pleased with him," Canada said "Certainly, we were all, obviously, excited when we got him, excited he was still around. And I think he has exceeded or met every expectation. He’s certainly a student of the game, very conscientious and working hard. I like him a lot. He’s done a very good job as this point. As everybody, a long way to go, but really, really pleased with him."
Add rookie center Kendrick Green, who returned Sunday after missing Saturday for personal reasons, into that equation, and Steelers fans are really going to like this rookie class. Really like it.
• Now, it's not all unicorns and roses at this camp thus far. We still haven't seen what figures to be the starting offensive line on the field together.
After practicing the first day, presumptive right tackle Zach Banner worked on the side the next three days as he continues to rehab from a torn ACL.
Chuks Okorafor, the left tackle, has been used sparingly, as well. Kevin Dotson, the presumptive left guard, has been slowed by a minor injury, too.
"No setbacks," Tomlin said when I asked him about Banner. "We’re excited about where he is and we’ll just keep moving forward with this process. Some of the guys that maybe you guys have had questions about regarding participation, it’ll pick up as we transition to the stadium."
We'll see that in the upcoming week.
The Steelers don't play a game that means anything until Sept. 12 at Buffalo, but you'd like to see an entirely new offensive line get on the field together and practice. At this point, the only constant has been newcomer Trai Turner.
For years, we heard the Steelers' continuity up front was a positive. And it largely was. That offensive line had played together for a long time and each guy knew what the other was doing before he would do it.
This new group is going to take time to come together. You'd like to see that sooner rather than later.
"It's camp, so you've got to embrace it," Turner said Sunday. "Not only do I have to get used to new guys, they have to get used to me. I think it's more of a positive than a negative that more people are in than not because you don't know who's available at all times.
"Sometimes you just have to make sure you have continuity with everyone and I think that's what we're getting. Just embracing it and hope everyone gets healthy soon and be back to full strength."
• One thing you have to say about rookie offensive lineman Dan Moore Jr. is that he's got guts.
Taking on Cam Heyward not once but twice as he did Saturday shows that. Moore didn't back down.
The coaching staff doesn't particularly like that kind of stuff. They don't want those kind of distractions at practice, and they certainly don't want to see a player get hurt during such theatrics.
In fact, unprompted, Tomlin mentioned it without mentioning it again on Sunday.
"We’re excited about having the opportunity to put pads on," he said. "But make no mistake, we got a lot of good work done out here, laid some foundational things, established some codes of conduct, if you will, familiarized them with the schedule and how we work, not only on the field but in the classroom. Good use of that time."
You can bet Saturday's fight was brought up in team meetings Saturday night and Sunday morning.
• We didn't hear much about Harris in the first few days of practice. That will change this week when the pads go on.
Tomlin likes to have physical practices and the Steelers don't play a game in a little over a week when they start back up Tuesday at Heinz Field. There will be backs on backers. There will be tackling to the ground -- or not.
This will be a big week for Harris, who should be the star of the show when fans are on hand for the first time Wednesday.
He won't disappoint.