Steelers Breakdown from PennLive.com

Entering 2023 with sophomore quarterback Kenny Pickett, the rebuilt Steelers’ defense looks ready to step up and take more of the weight. They want to be the team who runs the ball (behind a rebuilt offensive line, I might add). They’ll let Pickett pick his spots for big plays. But a running clock will be the Steelers’ ally.

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Your 2023 Steelers report for training camp today at historic St. Vincent College in Latrobe. And one must wonder, given all the offseason hype, speculation and criticism, which Kenny Pickett will we see there?

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Optimism is reigning supreme in the Steel City as the beloved 2023 Steelers are about to convene training camp at historic St. Vincent’s in Latrobe. With 2nd-year QB Kenny Pickett seen as the second coming and the new GM brain trust of Omar Khan and Andy Weidl having retooled the roster from top to bottom, Steelers Nation believes 2023 will be the season they’re riding high once again.

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Many are predicting 2023 will be the year Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth makes the final leap to be mentioned in the same conversation as superstars such as the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce, the Ravens’ Mark Andrews and the 49ers’ George Kittle. After all, Freiermuth has established himself as quarterback Kenny Pickett’s most clutch target, especially on third down. 

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It’s the biggest question surrounding the Steelers’ 2023 season. The answer will largely determine whether the Steelers are a playoff team -- or Coach Mike Tomlin has his first losing football squad. As has been said so often this offseason full of anticipation: So goes 2nd-year QB Kenny Pickett, so goes the Steelers.

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Steelers’ ‘Speedy Smurf’ Calvin Austin III never got out of the starting blocks in 2022. At 5-foot-8 and 162 pounds, Austin was sidelined all last season by a foot injury that eventually led to surgery last fall. Flashforward to summer 2023, and Austin says he’s feeling both healthy and fast. He’s lined up at the Steelers’ starting line, finally ready to flash his 4.32 40-yard dash speed on the football field. Anticipation is sky-high among Steelers Nation for what amounts to Austin’s Pittsburgh debut after a red-shirt year of working extensively to develop chemistry with QB Kenny Pickett, despite having yet to appear in a live game.

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Despite all the 2nd-year Steelers’ players packed with potential in 2023, the biggest Steelers’ sophomore surprise could be the player who was the biggest surprise as a rookie. I’m talking about none other than the undrafted running back out of Oklahoma State, Jaylen Warren.

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QB Kenny Pickett, entering his all-important sophomore season, says the Steelers’ offense is night-and-day compared to this point last year. “I went back and watched our first OTA last year. It’s a different team, honestly, not just player-wise but in terms of plays and how much we have (installed) already,” Pickett was quoted as saying. 

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In 2022, the much-heralded George Pickens out of Georgia put up four touchdowns as a Pittsburgh pro, while grabbing 52 catches for 801 yards, having played in all 17 games. Yet, he topped 100 receiving yards just once on the season. There were many reasons for this – all of which the 2023 playbook, coupled with second-year progress by both Pickens and his sophomore QB, Kenny Pickett, will look to correct. 

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Don’t look now, but Mason Rudolph is back in the black and gold. Right now, he’s penciled in as the No. 3 QB behind starter Kenny Pickett and his backup, Mitch Trubisky. But if one does the math, the Steelers’ No. 2 QB just might be too expensive, especially when the team is looking to sign star linebacker Alex Highsmith to a big new deal before the start of the regular season. Thus, Mason’s return to the team that drafted him in the third round back in 2018 just may make Trubisky expendable. 

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