With the Steelers exit from the postseason, the offseason awaits. What FA will go, which will be re-signed? What moves will be made on the staff? Tomlin will be back, that’s about as close to a 100% guarantee as you can get in the NFL, so once we accept that, what comes next? I think Pat Meyer for sure is gone, and good riddance. Some defensive coaches have to be let go after those last 5 games. Maybe Austin. I’m conflicted because he really brought that turnover mindset to the team. Personally I think he stays. Dunbar is interesting. I like him, and you can argue his cupboard has been pretty bare for awhile, but he might get forcibly retired. I like the DB coach, so I think is down to Dunbar or Austin being let go. The offensive coaches are all pretty new, I could see Faulkner being let go. I hope they re-sign Fields over Wilson at QB. My personal wish would be to bring Najee back, but that’s not likely. The Steelers need to get at least one quality WR, probably two. Pickens I think sticks around next season but probably won’t get a new deal. Really hope a new position and new coach turns Broderick Jones around.
Once again, who on our coaching staff will get interviewed, let alone hired by another team? I can’t think of one, except maybe Arthur Smith, who’s not from the Tomlin coaching tree, so can’t give any credit there, not that I’d be sad to see him go. We need innovative coaches that can develop our players. You hardly ever see any growth with our players, especially offensive linemen. I think our offensive scheme was to be able to pound the ball, and, honestly, didn’t really see much of it. Whether due to injuries on the oline, the group never came together as I expected. I’m not sure if having Washington next to him so often hid some of his issues, but Jones played no where near the level we all were expecting. I really like the kid and hope he turns things around next season, we need him to. with all the complaints about the QB play, we paid like 7.5 million for our entire QB room. I don’t think Wilson is the answer, but because of the guaranteed money from Denver, if he wanted to stay, I think he’s the most likely to stay due to finances. The question is, how much are we going to spend to fill that room. There aren’t really any out there I’m banging the table for, or willing to trade for. same with our RB room. We paid a combined 4 million for Jaylen and Najee, I’m expecting either one of them to cost close to that much alone, and after how Henry and Barkley played this season, heck, most of the good free agent RBs. I think we are in a quandary where do we trade some of our best players and rebuild, or live in purgatory and hope we win the lottery. its frustrating seeing a team like the Rams, mortgage the “future” to get a Super Bowl ring, and they’ve already rebuilt their team and have won more playoff games this year than we have in 6 years, and they’re playing the eagles extremely tough through 3 quarters. All I know is, something has to give.
