LATROBE, Pa. -- The formula for building a contender is difficult to figure out, and it is more of an improbability to sustain over a lengthened period of time.
When Andy Weidl arrived in Philadelphia as the Eagles' assistant director of player personnel in 2016, he began to decipher that formula. The 2015 Eagles had finished 7-9 under Chip Kelly and interim coach Pat Shurmur, while the offense was middling at best throughout the season and the defense finished as one of the worst in the league.
In 2017, after sweeping moves coupled with the development of players scouted and drafted, the Eagles became a Super Bowl champion.
Weidl acknowledged in a press conference at Saint Vincent College Wednesday morning that all of that depth and competition across the board helped translate to that run, and the evaluations of the newcomers to the Steelers roster for 2023 are showing signs that they can provide what those additions to the 2016 and 2017 Eagles teams brought.
“I think a lot of them are as advertised from what we saw on tape, what we knew about them coming in," Weidl said. "When they’re coming into a new place you’re watching them adjust to the culture, and I think you’re seeing a seamless adjustment in terms of the players coming in and how we do things here as the Steelers. The skillsets are there and you’re watching guys go out there daily and perform and compete. I know when I was, in the past, when I’ve been at a place in 2017, Philadelphia, we needed every guy on that roster and then some because of injuries. You can never have enough -- we would say -- corners. You can keep three, you need four. If you have four, you need five. You can never have enough, and depth is a luxury to have, and we’re fortunate enough to have the players the we have here on this 90-man roster competing.”
In order to project what Weidl is helping the Steelers build as their assistant general manager, one can find the proof in his formula with his building of the Eagles' Super Bowl roster.
Weidl's first season in his role also resulted in a 7-9 season, in the franchise's first under coach Doug Pedersen, but the tides began to turn with Weidl's influence permeating the scouting department. The Eagles finished fourth in their division, but knew something was there with quarterback Carson Wentz.
So much so, they were committed to building around him. That included by taking offensive talent with their next three picks in that draft to follow Wentz -- including current Steeler Isaac Seumalo -- to fortify their investment. That free-agent class also brought in guard Brandon Brooks, linebacker Nigel Bradham and safety Rodney McLeod, among others.
Wentz was on an MVP pace before injury cut his 2017 season short, but the Eagles were still able to finish 13-3 and have a top-five offense and a top-five defense in the league. The "dream team" of sorts was constructed with a blend of drafted talent and free agents, with the 2017 free agent class including receivers Alshon Jeffrey and Torrey Smith, running back LeGarrette Blount and veteran defensive end Chris Long. Those adds, combined with the retention of their core, contributed to a championship run.
Yes, Wentz was the unquestioned starting quarterback of that team, but the depth options across the rest of the board gave the Eagles multiple looks and options on a game-by-game basis. Blount and Corey Clement played in all 16 regular-season games at running back, while Kenjon Barner was utilized in 13. Jeffrey, Smith, Nelson Agholor, and Mack Hollins played in all 16 games at wide receiver, while Brent Celek, Trey Burton and Zach Ertz provided roles in 16, 15 and 14 games, respectively.
The defense sustained health, as well, with 10 rotational players playing in all 16 games and seven playing in 15. The depth options for that Eagles team ran widespread, and that helps provide an explanation of the Steelers' aggression led by Weidl and general manager Omar Khan this offseason.
“It’s about competition. Competition brings out the best, and we say the cream rises to the top," Weidl said. "We’re seeing it right now. Guys are out there battling, and it’s a good thing. It’s a healthy competition. These guys are helping each other out. The old guys are helping out the young guys and they’re working together. It’s going to work itself out. We’ve got our first test Friday night. We’ll see how these guys do, we’ll bring it into a stadium and we’re going to apply it there.”
The Steelers signed or retained 20 free agents this offseason. Thirteen of those players are newcomers to the roster. Six of those 13 are projected as Week 1 starters: Seumalo, Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts, Patrick Peterson, Keanu Neal and Chandon Sullivan.
Note that three of those "projected" starters are defensive backs. Though Weidl noted there is widespread competition, the secondary is one area in which Weidl specifically noted as an area of interest.
“I think we’re just -- across the board -- we’re watching the players shake out," Weidl said. "We’ve got a lot of guys fighting, different spots, we’ve brought a lot of new players in this year, and we’re watching the chemistry develop with those players in the offensive line room, you’re watching it in the secondary, and you’re seeing it develop and come together. I don’t want to focus on one area. I think we have a lot of competition going on across the board, and it’s created a real positive environment in practice.”
The first shaking-out of the competition begins Friday at 7 p.m., when the Steelers will head to Tampa Bay for their first preseason game against the Buccaneers. It will give Mike Tomlin his first look at what depth he has and where, and it will allow for a test run of sorts for players at positions where competition is high.
"I just think there's an attention in the matchup component of the game today that you cannot deny," Tomlin said. "Things trend and things move in the game, and the matchup component -- the situational matchup component of the game -- is big and getting bigger by the minute, and so you better position yourself to play that game with depth and depth with various skillsets, and so that's something that we focus on."
MORE FROM PRACTICE
• Defense reclaimed supremacy in seven shots, 4-3, in a competitive back and forth marked by standout plays from either side.
George Pickens did it again. He caught a majestic back-shoulder ball from Kenny Pickett on Play 3 over the top of Peterson and got his feet down near the sideline for the touchdown. Another amazing display of freak athleticism.
On Play 6, James Pierre got his point back from Darnell Washington, after Washington scored on him in Tuesday's seven shots. On an identical corner fade play that was run Tuesday, Pierre stuck onto Washington, high-pointed a Mitch Trubisky pass, and not only tip-drilled it to himself, but also made a toe-dragging interception near the sideline. Some might dispute if it was a legitimate catch, but it looked good to me. It is, easily, one of the most impressive non-Pickens plays of this entire camp.
Kwon Alexander rotated in with the first team and batted down a Pickett pass at the line of scrimmage on Play 2. Pickett fired an incompletion to Pickens on Play 1, with Sullivan covering, and found Allen Robinson for a touchdown on Play 4 after going through his second read and finding the veteran.
Calvin Austin bobbled a ball on the endline and it fell incomplete on Play 5, and Trubisky connected with Dez Fitzpatrick for a score on Play 7.
• T.J. Watt recorded two straight tackles for loss in a team period, and Tomlin followed it with a "hey, can someone block T.J., please!?” The whole stadium heard it and popped for it.
• A lot has been said and written about Robinson’s savvy off the field, but the man can still run routes. In a team period, he made a crisp connection out of the slot with Pickett on a corner route, which was combined nicely with the boundary receiver (Johnson) running a "go" route to take away the safety and the tight end (Washington) running a drag underneath him to absorb the linebacker. Robinson found the defense’s soft spot with ease for the catch.
• If you didn’t buy into what Pickett said Tuesday about Gunner Olszewski, the receiver took a couple of reps with the first team Wednesday. That’s not smoke and mirrors, either. He has had a phenomenal camp.
Tomlin complimented Olszewski's camp and willingness to do everything, and referred to him as a football player first, then a wide receiver:
"I appreciate him saying that," Olszewski said after Wednesday's practice. "That's kind of how I carry myself, too, in all facets of the game. Running, blocking, tackling if I have to, catching the ball, caching punts. I like every bit of it, and I try to do whatever's asked of me and I hope the coaches think I can do a lot of different stuff."
• Cam Heyward jumped into the final rep of a redzone 7 on 7 to make it 7 on 8, and his sole purpose to blanket his brother, Connor Heyward, in coverage. Fun moment.
• For my fellow WWE fans here, "Friday Night SmackDown" commentator Corey Graves and his wife, wrestler Carmella, spent Wednesday’s practice on the sideline. Graves is a Pittsburgh native.
