There'd already been some obvious themes to the Steelers' offseason additions, but that was taken to another level with their picks in the NFL Draft over the past weekend.
They're bigger. More physical. Longer. And definitely nastier.
The position being addressed hasn't mattered. Some variation of those terms has applied across the board. This 2023 team might not be the fastest or most skilled team -- not that they lack in those areas -- but they'll be brutal to face.
One might say they're returning to their roots:
WIDE RECEIVER
The Steelers haven’t made significant additions at quarterback or running back, but trading for Allen Robinson as well as retaining Myles Boykin boosts the size and physicality at wide receiver. Boykin might not see the field a lot on offense, but he's 6-4, 220, and loves to throw his big body around in the running game. Robinson, 6-2, 220, also is a fantastic blocker and thrives in tight quarters, contested situations, and in hand-to-hand combat.
TIGHT END
Much like at wide receiver, at tight end the Steelers brought back a big-bodied known blocker in 6-8, 265-pound Zach Gentry. Then they really upped the ante by drafting 6-6, 264-pound Darnell Washington.
Watching Washington’s tape at Georgia, it looks as though he actually slimmed down for the Combine. It wouldn’t be surprising if he played at nearly 280 pounds. And not surprisingly, Washington’s 34 3/8-inch arms were the longest of all the top tight ends in this draft. Washington plays with a real edge as an inline blocker as well as a route runner and attacks the football in the air.
OFFENSIVE LINE
As mentioned in my most recent article, Broderick Jones, 6-5, 311 pounds, has prototypical size and length for an NFL left tackle. He also loves to finish in the run game and put defenders on their back:
The other new linemen this year also fit the theme.
Isaac Seumalo, 6-4, 303 pounds, often gets thought of as just a road-grading guard. While he does that just fine, to keep with our theme, he also is more skilled in the finesse aspects of offensive line play. He also has above average height for an NFL guard. Nate Herbig, 6-4, 334 pounds, is pure nastiness and is a true masher. His physicality leaps off the screen. Le’Raven Clark, 6-5, 311 pounds, has uncommon pure size and, on his best days, can manhandle and engulf defensive ends. Even Spencer Anderson, 6-5, 320 pounds, the Steelers' final draft pick, plays with aggression. He is a plus athlete that has the potential to play all five offensive line positions, but certainly will be best on the interior. My hunch is center will be his primary responsibility when things shake out and, you guessed it, Anderson has above average height and length for an NFL center.
A fun thing to do is thinking of the fascinating combinations of skill position players the Steelers can trot out on any given play.
Of course, there will be five offensive linemen and a quarterback on the field for every play. There will usually be a running back out there, as well. But with the other four, build whatever combination you like of a third offensive tackle, Pat Freiermuth, Washington, Gentry, Connor Heyward, George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, Robinson, Anthony Miller, Calvin Austin and Boykin, and it can be just a massive combination, but also one with plenty of skill and pass-catching abilities.
How about handing the ball to Najee Harris late in a game on the field with six offensive linemen, Pickens, Washington and Freiermuth? Which still allows for four pass-catchers who can do damage?
DEFENSIVE LINE
Physicality and power are the foundations of Keeanu Benton’s game. He is a developing pass-rusher, but, at 6-4, 315 pounds, this is a player who thrives on just beating up on interior offensive linemen. Armon Watts has excellent size at 6-5, 307 pounds, and length in a typical 3-4 defensive end fashion while Breiden Fehoko, 6-2, 295 pounds, is an extremely thickly built nose tackle that makes his living being stout and strong at the point of attack.
The only major addition that doesn’t quite fit the getting bigger and more powerful theme is the drafting of Nick Herbig, who will begin his career at outside linebacker, a position he is on the small side for at 6-2, 240 pounds. He lacks the ideal length, too. However, his frame indicates that he could add some weight and the hustle and tenaciousness in which he plays helps make up for his lack of ideal traits. But if he eventually moves to a true linebacker spot, which is very possible, all of a sudden, his frame and overall size are above average for the position.
Physicality and downhill play are the cornerstones of what Elandon Roberts brings to the defense. He's a big-time thumper and tone setter when attacking the line of scrimmage. Cole Holcomb also throws his body around and has a good combination of length and thickness. Roberts and Holcomb both play the game with more aggression than Devin Bush -- and it really isn’t even close.
Keanu Neal is the Steelers' only real addition thus far at safety. He was picked in the first round in the 2017 draft based on his physical measurables. Neal plays safety like a linebacker.
Cornerback might be the best example of this entire process.
The Steelers recently signed Chandon Sullivan to compete for the starting slot cornerback role. As slot corners go, Sullivan, 5-11, 189 pounds, has good height and length and is certainly bigger than the Mike Hilton types.
But, the outside cornerbacks are now absolutely huge. Patrick Peterson, 6-1, 219 pounds, is still a king-sized corner with 32-inch arms, and yet he'll look somewhat small next to Joey Porter Jr., 6-2 1/2, 193 pounds, and Cory Trice, 6-3 3/8, 206 pounds. Porter has an offensive tackle-like wingspan with 34-inch arms. Trice’s 32 3/8-inch arm length is also amongst the best in this class of incoming cornerbacks.
And, much like early-career Peterson, Porter and Trice are best when getting up in the face of wide receivers in press-man coverage and using their immense size and length to their advantage. Peterson should also be the ideal mentor for Porter and Trice.
Check out more of the latter:
Almost across the board, the Steelers are now a bigger, tougher, and nastier football team than they were a year ago. Obviously, that was the plan put in place and this front office of Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin and Andy Weidl has executed it to perfection.
This team's opponents will be battered and bruised.