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None of these sound too off the mark based on what we are seeing/hearing at camp:
1. No room to run
The most optimistic Steelers fan might tell you that Rodgers isn’t in his prime, but the team doesn’t need him to be with a tenacious defense and consistent running game supporting him. That argument falls apart if the Steelers can’t run the ball effectively.
Only six teams averaged fewer yards per carry than the Steelers (4.1) last season. Even after the Steelers invested heavily into their offensive line, they still aren’t the kind of team that can line up and bully an opponent at the line of scrimmage, as the goal-line period showed.
2. Vertical passing game not in sync
While Rodgers’ quick release has married well with DK Metcalf’s ability to win on slants, the QB hasn’t been able to unlock his big-play threat downfield. During Sunday’s practice, Rodgers did find Metcalf on a deep cross thanks to some blown coverage. But that touchdown is the outlier in an offense that’s relied overwhelmingly on short, quick passes or checkdowns.
During a seven-on-seven period, Rodgers overthrew Metcalf on a pair of vertical routes. This comes days after Rodgers and Metcalf failed to connect on a go route during the two-minute drill to end Friday Night Lights. The only other memorable deep ball between the two in team periods also fell incomplete about a week ago, when Rodgers’ pass fluttered out of bounds as Joey Porter Jr. stayed in Metcalf’s hip pocket.
Last year, Rodgers completed 35.4 percent of passes with 20-plus air yards, which ranked 23rd. Compare that to his two most recent MVP seasons, when he completed 42.9 percent and 40.3 percent of such passes in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
3. WR2 connection missing
The most noticeable receiver not named Metcalf? Scotty Miller. The 28-year-old, 5-foot-9 receiver had another strong day Sunday, winning several two-on-two reps during a competitive receivers-on-DBs period.
While that’s good news for Miller, it’s not so much for an offense that was counting upon development from Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson. On Sunday, Rodgers looked for Wilson on a corner route. The uncatchable ball skipped well in front of the receiver. Either the throw was errant or they weren’t on the same page. It was a similar story last week, when Rodgers looked for Wilson along the sideline and threw it well out of bounds. After that misfire, Rodgers walked Wilson through how to run his route the way the QB wants. Meanwhile, Austin missed his second consecutive practice with an injury. If defenses game plan to shut down Metcalf, someone needs to step up and start forming chemistry with Rodgers.
4. Young tackles taking their lumps
Starting left tackle Broderick Jones needed to have a strong camp to quell concerns after he allowed the second-most sacks in the NFL last year (11). He’s missed a significant chunk of camp (including the first two padded practices) with a groin injury, robbing him of valuable developmental time. The moments that Jones has played in lower-contact environments, he’s been beaten by Alex Highsmith and others.
Meanwhile, Troy Fautanu has been better. But he still looks like a redshirt rookie going against the Defensive Player of the Year when facing T.J. Watt and admits the knee injury is still causing a mental hurdle. The Steelers will need to use Washington to help their tackles if they’re going to slow down the AFC North’s best edge rushers.
In 2024, Rodgers was the worst QB in the league (minimum 300 attempts) against the blitz with a -0.20 EPA, according to TruMedia. Teams that bring pressure could present significant problems for the offensive line. Countless passes have been batted at the line of scrimmage, as Rodgers has had little time to throw in pass-under-pressure drills.
The most optimistic Steelers fan might tell you that Rodgers isn’t in his prime, but the team doesn’t need him to be with a tenacious defense and consistent running game supporting him. That argument falls apart if the Steelers can’t run the ball effectively.
Only six teams averaged fewer yards per carry than the Steelers (4.1) last season. Even after the Steelers invested heavily into their offensive line, they still aren’t the kind of team that can line up and bully an opponent at the line of scrimmage, as the goal-line period showed.
2. Vertical passing game not in sync
While Rodgers’ quick release has married well with DK Metcalf’s ability to win on slants, the QB hasn’t been able to unlock his big-play threat downfield. During Sunday’s practice, Rodgers did find Metcalf on a deep cross thanks to some blown coverage. But that touchdown is the outlier in an offense that’s relied overwhelmingly on short, quick passes or checkdowns.
During a seven-on-seven period, Rodgers overthrew Metcalf on a pair of vertical routes. This comes days after Rodgers and Metcalf failed to connect on a go route during the two-minute drill to end Friday Night Lights. The only other memorable deep ball between the two in team periods also fell incomplete about a week ago, when Rodgers’ pass fluttered out of bounds as Joey Porter Jr. stayed in Metcalf’s hip pocket.
Last year, Rodgers completed 35.4 percent of passes with 20-plus air yards, which ranked 23rd. Compare that to his two most recent MVP seasons, when he completed 42.9 percent and 40.3 percent of such passes in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
3. WR2 connection missing
The most noticeable receiver not named Metcalf? Scotty Miller. The 28-year-old, 5-foot-9 receiver had another strong day Sunday, winning several two-on-two reps during a competitive receivers-on-DBs period.
While that’s good news for Miller, it’s not so much for an offense that was counting upon development from Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson. On Sunday, Rodgers looked for Wilson on a corner route. The uncatchable ball skipped well in front of the receiver. Either the throw was errant or they weren’t on the same page. It was a similar story last week, when Rodgers looked for Wilson along the sideline and threw it well out of bounds. After that misfire, Rodgers walked Wilson through how to run his route the way the QB wants. Meanwhile, Austin missed his second consecutive practice with an injury. If defenses game plan to shut down Metcalf, someone needs to step up and start forming chemistry with Rodgers.
4. Young tackles taking their lumps
Starting left tackle Broderick Jones needed to have a strong camp to quell concerns after he allowed the second-most sacks in the NFL last year (11). He’s missed a significant chunk of camp (including the first two padded practices) with a groin injury, robbing him of valuable developmental time. The moments that Jones has played in lower-contact environments, he’s been beaten by Alex Highsmith and others.
Meanwhile, Troy Fautanu has been better. But he still looks like a redshirt rookie going against the Defensive Player of the Year when facing T.J. Watt and admits the knee injury is still causing a mental hurdle. The Steelers will need to use Washington to help their tackles if they’re going to slow down the AFC North’s best edge rushers.
In 2024, Rodgers was the worst QB in the league (minimum 300 attempts) against the blitz with a -0.20 EPA, according to TruMedia. Teams that bring pressure could present significant problems for the offensive line. Countless passes have been batted at the line of scrimmage, as Rodgers has had little time to throw in pass-under-pressure drills.
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