Between now and the end of August, TGS will offer up a quick snapshot of every NFL team heading into the 2016 regular season. Today, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
2015 in a nutshell: Despite injuries to top offensive weapons Ben Roethlisberger and Le’Veon Bell, they lead the NFL in big plays and win 10 games with the league’s third-ranked offense. But they lose to the Denver Broncos in the divisional playoffs.
Why 2016 could be different: Roethlisberger missed a quarter of the season, while Bell missed 10 games.
Major additions: They signed athletic tight end Ladarius Green to replace the retired Heath Miller, but Green has been out for due to a bad ankle. And it may go beyond that.
Major losses: Miller is gone after catching 592 passes in 11 seasons. He’ll be missed by Big Ben, especially if Green can’t get healthy.
Breakout watch: With Martavis Bryant suspended for the season, a lot will fall on fourth-year receiver Markus Wheaton in support of top gun Antonio Brown.
Position to watch: It was rather surprising to see them let offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum go in the offseason, leaving the question mark that is Alejandro Villanueva as the opening day left tackle. But they’ll get a huge boost in the middle, with Pro Bowler Maurkice Pouncey returning from a broken leg. Anyway, a line that has lacked consistency and continuity will be heavily scrutinized early in 2016.
Prediction: They’re better than Cincinnati, which had a tough offseason and was healthier while winning one more game than Pittsburgh did last season. I think they win the AFC North and make a run at the Super Bowl.
