On this episode of Steelers Central, it is time to look at the Steelers back and fourth victory and analyze what went right (Aaron Rodgers and the passing offense) and wrong (the battle of the trenches) in the team's 34-32 win against the New York Jets.

As always, there are players who standout in good and bad ways in football games, this game was no different. Aaron Rodgers, the battle in the trenches, Chris Boswell, and Broderick Jones were among those discussed.

The trenches are an area that needs to be talked about and addressed for the entirety of the week, and I'll explain what went wrong, the importance of Derrick Harmon, and what they need to do to get better at doing on both sides of the ball.

Lastly, I briefly touch on my frustrations with the Cam Heyward saga, and why this should have been figured out months ago.

0:00-21:14 Jets vs Steelers Breakdown

21:15-39:09 Winners and Losers of Jets game

39:10-52:50 Battered in the Trenches

52:51-59:32 Cam Heyward Saga

On this episode of Steelers Central, it's time for our first Steelers Game Preview as the Steelers take on the New York Jets at Met Life Stadium.

We'll take a look at some keys to victory for the Steelers that include controlling Breece Hall, winning the line of scrimmage, and creating turnovers.

After that, there is always the game withing the game. We'll be analyzing some key match-ups for both sides that includes both sides' tackles against their respective edge rushers as well as the play of the linebackers, and why I think the Steelers could have an advantage with their tight ends.

I also give my reasoning on why I think the Steelers will start the season off on a high note, winning this game.

Lastly, it's time to touch on some other Steelers headline including the Cam Heyward saga, and why I can't see him not playing this Sunday. I also touch on Jaylen Warren's new deal, and why it's a bargain for the Steelers and Arthur Smith hyping up some middle-of the-field play design.

0:00-18:25 Steelers Win if...

18:26-33:50 Matchups to Watch

33:51-39:05 Official Game Prediction

39:06-48:43 Other Steelers Headlines

On this episode of Steelers Central, it's time to discuss what the Steelers' record will be finally. Is this finally the year they go under .500? Do they win the division? What are the ceiling and floor of this team? Are they just the safe team again? All these questions will be answered in this episode!

We will also go over the timeline of the Steelers' lack of movement at WR. From the moment they traded DK Metcalf, and fans were on top of the world, thinking about the Metcalf Pickens duo to when they traded Pickens for a third-round 2026 pick. Is this room actually better than last year, and the reasons why they haven't added a WR yet, and don't seem in any hurry to?

Lastly, I give my two things to worry about on both sides of the ball. I'll tell you why fans should be concerned about the short-yardage situations on offense and the potential veteran fatigue that could plague the defense with a tougher ending slate.

0:00-34:30 2025 Steelers Record Prediction

34:31-48:17 Lack of WR Movement

48:18-60:06 Worries to Start the Year

On this episode of Steelers Central, we break down the Steelers initial 53-man roster. Surprised how many defensive lineman the team kept, a little light in the secondary, and two rookies going on IR, we have it all.

Next, one question that has not been brought up as much has been the uncertainty at the tackle position. The early play of Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu has eased fans concerns a bit. Could their performances mean the offensive line is making the long awaited jump that we've been waiting for?

The WR rumors have continued, the latest being about Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers requesting a trade. How the Steelers approach addressing this position will tell me just how much they care about this season. I'll tell you why I think they should be willing to move some draft capital for this move to gain a WR of Meyers or Pierce's caliber.

Lastly, we go over the Steelers practice squad and highlight their deep secondary along with some other players they brought back like Robert Woods and Demarvin Leal.

0:00-16:58 Steelers 53-man Depth Chart

16:59-27:02 Tackle Stability

27:03-37:48 WR Rumors Continue

37:49-46:53 Steelers Practice Squad

On this episode of Steelers Central, it’s crunch time as rosters need to be cut down to 53 by August 26 at 4:00 p.m., so we look over the last preseason game and see what players helped their case to make the Practice Squad or Active Roster.

I then give my prediction of what the 53-man roster will look like with some tough cuts at RB, WR, ILB, and CB. Some decisions include whether to keep Beanie Bishop or Cory Trice, which punter the team goes with, and whether Trey Sermon or Lew Nichols did enough with their preseason reps. The Steelers will have some tough decisions to make, and it will be interesting to see how they go about them.

Then it is time to see what moves the Steelers will make after the roster cutdown, with some holes remaining across the board. I’ll give some options for the team to look at in the WR and offensive line rooms, two rooms that lack depth and star power.

Lastly, with Derrick Harmon expected to miss one game at least to start the year, where do the Steelers turn up front? Two names should be expected to fill the void as the rookie recovers from an MCL sprain.

0:00-17:26 Steelers Panther takeaways

17:27-42:50 Steelers 53-man Roster

43:25-50:40 Post-53 Roster Needs

50:41-55:51 How to Replace Harmon

On this episode of Steelers Central, it's time to look at the surprising pass-blocking performance on the offensive line. Fautanu has looked like a first-round pick, Jones has had an improved showing despite the inconsistency, and Frazier and McCormick have been able to deal with the interior push. The downside is that the team has struggled to open running lanes for whoever is in the backfield. How will this affect the team's early-season game planning?

Next, Roman Wilson has been the sparkplug of this WR room so far this preseason. He has made three plays of 19 yards or more in his first two games and has firmly established himself as the other boundary receiver alongside DK Metcalf. Now, with that being said, the team should still look to add another outside playmaker, and I'll explain why.

With the preseason being over, it is now time to trim down the roster. I'll give you four names who could be on the bubble, despite WR seemingly being a lock before training camp starts, and one CB with upside, but can't stay healthy.

Lastly, what to watch for ahead of the Steelers' preseason finale against the Panthers. The offensive line needs to open holes, Kaleb Johnson continues to get up to NFL game speed, the front 7 gets after the QB, and lastly, who wins the punter battle?

0:00-12:10 Pass Blocking > Run Blocking?

12:11-21:20 Roman Wilson, Sparkplug

21:21-31:50 Veteran Cut Candidates

31:51-47:15 Steelers vs Panthers: What to Watch for

On this episode of Steelers Central, I’ll give my thoughts on the team’s Preseason Week One win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The QB\’s executed the offense at a high level, pass protection was above average, and the depth pieces in the secondary proved their worth. Some UDFA WRs made their case battling for the last spots as well. Why was I not impressed with one key area of the Steelers' offense, though?

Next, it’s time to look at joint practices and the preseason game against the Buccaneers. Bucs WRs vs Steelers DBs should be a must-watch, as well as how the two Steelers tackles do against Haason Reddick and Yaya Diaby on the exterior offensive line. This should be a good test for the Steelers' offensive line against an excellent run defense as well. One position group can prove itself by going against a physical but inconsistent secondary against the Buccaneers.

There is currently a contract dispute in Pittsburgh, too, with two well-respected veterans holding out, demanding a pay raise. This is an easy solution for Pittsburgh; give it to them. They deserve it. Chris Boswell has won countless games and is coming off another AP season, but is outside the Top 10 in average value. Cam Heyward took a team-friendly deal with two non-guaranteed years on his contract, and made an AP team, arguably being the team’s best defensive player. Easy solution that will get done by the Steelers Front Office.

Lastly, the Steelers should play Aaron Rodgers in the last two preseason games despite him not being a preseason QB. The offense needs a jolt and to get some reps before week one. If Rodgers is all-in and committed to this team, he will buy into this. Pittsburgh’s offense needs as many reps as possible going into a season with inexperience all around, particularly at the WR and offensive line positions.

0:00-23:13 Preseason Week One

23:14-32:57 Looking Ahead to Tampa Bay

32:58-41:20 Veteran Contract Dispute

41:21-49:17 Rodgers Should Play in the Preseason

On this episode of Steelers Central, the Steelers offense has gotten off to a slow start, is it time to start worrying? The WR core has struggled outside of DK Metcalf, the offensive line has not opened consistent running lanes, and Aaron Rodgers has even looked shaky at times.

It's time for some mid-training camp takeaways including a standout rookie class. The Steelers rookie class has really impressed thus far each with their own standout plays. Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick have each looked improved off their rookie years, and lastly, there is still a concern about the WR 2 position.

The feeling around the team between the national and local media has been a little out of proportion as well. The national media seems to think this team will go on some kind of fairy tale run, while the local media think the team is improved, not to the extent of a Super Bowl run though. This team has improved, but glaring holes will keep them from making a deep playoff run.

Lastly, I got to feel for Will Howard. The guy leads Ohio State to the National Championship, puts up big numbers throughout the playoffs, and falls all the way to the 6th round of the NFL Draft. Then he balls out in training camp, breaks a bone in his hand, and then could be out for three weeks, not seeing a preseason camp. Why I feel bad knowing this could be his only legitimate shot.

0:00-12:43 Time to Panic About the Offense

12:44-25:50 Midway Training Camp Takeaways

25:51-31:51 Discrepancy Between Local and National Media

31:52-36:49 Feeling for Howard

On this episode of Steelers Central, we take a look ahead to see if Broderick Jones could get benched in the middle of the season. Despite Pittsburgh’s lack of depth at the position, I think it is more likely that people believe that, given the improved play of Dylan Cook and Calvin Anderson throughout training camp, and also the Steelers' urgency to win. If Jones doesn’t perform well in the preseason, the Steelers could be looking for other options to protect Aaron Rodgers.

It is time to take a look back through the training camp lens and discuss some of the trends over the recent practices. The energy at camp has been infectious, thanks to the Pat McAfee Show and the Friday Night Lights. It has brought some of the best players, including Joey Porter Jr., who set the tone with some improved run defense and jawing with his fellow wideouts, a theme the secondary has brought this year. The tackles have also improved their play with Broderick Jones out, with players like Dylan Cooke, Calvin Anderson, and even Troy Fautanu stepping in. The linebackers are the group that sets the tone, dominating in the backfield against the running backs, with the RBS bouncing back on Friday, particularly Kaleb Johnson. The offense also still has a long way to go to catch the defense.

Next, here comes the WR rumors with 29-year-old Terry McLaurin requesting a trade from the Commanders. The Steelers have inquired about the move, and I think they should do more if this situation escalates. I don’t think it would be an overwhelming trade package either, similar to the D.K. Metcalf deal, and maybe less if you throw in Calvin Austin or Roman Wilson.

Lastly, with Hall of Fame Weekend coming to a close, I give my Steelers that should be considered for the HOF or given consideration when the time comes. No, I’m not talking about the obvious Big Ben or Maurkice Pouncey. Give me players like Hines Ward, James Harrison, Cam Heyward, and a former disgraced Steeler who ended on bad terms.

0:00-12:05 Broderick Jones Benched?

12:06-23:00 The Energy Shifting in Camp!

23:01-35:00 McLaurin, Future Steeler?

35:01-52:11 Steelers Who Should Get to the HOF

On this episode of Steelers Central, although it’s early to say in training camp, is this Steelers defense on the path to being elite? There have been some promising schematic changes, including disguising coverages and moving edge players, but some people are saying it’s just early and they're testing it out. I’ll tell you why I think these changes are only a sign of things to come.

Speaking of putting the pads on, Broderick Jones has gotten off to a slow start, being put on highlight reels two practices in a row by Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. Getting off the ball seems still to be a problem for the gifted first-round pick, but why should people not hit the panic button yet?

Backs vs. Backers also kicks off on Wednesday after practice was rained out on Tuesday, and I’ll give you the matchups to look out for, including the obvious Jaylen Warren vs Patrick Queen. Kaleb Johnson still needs to get his feet wet against a young up-and-coming second linebacker, who has a chance to improve his blitzing skills, as well as a shifty running back going up against that same linebacker in the passing game, after he said he thinks he is one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL.

The same goes for offensive linemen vs defensive linemen. We’ll delve into why the young offensive tackles going up against arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL are the most critical matchups in training camp. Then, a center that quickly rose in the ranks and cemented itself among the best in the NFL, going up against Cam Heyward and another former Badger interior pass rusher looking to have a bounce-back year, could sharpen some steel on both sides of the ball.

0:00-13:05 Steelers Defense Elite?

13:06-19:00 Broderick Jones’s Slow Start

19:01-28:40 Backs vs Backers

28:41-41:14 O-Line vs D-Line