‘I feel like we’re kind of getting that identity back’
Team raring to get to the real thing after near-flawless preseason
It was a combination every coach desires to see, even if the games don’t count. It is a formula that all but guarantees success, although relying on it happening all the time can be a whimsical notion.
Offenses that score touchdowns every time they touch the ball and defenses that don’t allow a point every time they are on the field are a coach’s dream, even if it is an unrealistic pipe dream.
But that’s exactly what the starting units did for the Steelers in three preseason games, the latest display coming Thursday night in a 24-0 victory in Atlanta. And that’s why optimism is higher than the Mount Washington overlook heading into the regular season.
“Not only through tonight but kind of through this whole process of development, I just can’t say enough about the group,” coach Mike Tomlin said after his team finished the preseason with a 3-0 record. “Hopefully, this is a catalyst for us as we transition out of preseason ball to regular season ball.”
And that will be the real test.
But, be advised:
It was only the preseason. Keep in mind, their three opponents — Tampa Bay, Buffalo and the Falcons — rarely used their top players. The Falcons rested nearly every starter and used players who won’t be on the roster Tuesday afternoon when teams have to cut to the mandatory 53-player limit. The quick starts, the explosive plays were nice. But, typically, it is not a portent of things to come.
Still, what the Steelers put on display in the preseason — offensively and defensively — was encouraging to the coaches and players.
The first-team offense scored a touchdown on all five possessions and averaged 11.6 yards per play in the preseason. The firstteam defense did not allow a point and yielded just 66 yards on 20 plays (3.3 average). The longest play they allowed was a 15-yard completion from Josh Allen to receiver Gabe Davis against the Buffalo Bills.
Now they get to see if it was a stepping stone or an aberration.
“We’re a gritty team,” said new cornerback Patrick Peterson, who is in his 13th NFL season. “The Pittsburgh Steelers history has been bully ball. I feel like we’re kind of getting that identity back, especially throughout this preseason. Hopefully that will carry over to the regular season.”
It’s almost as though the Steelers wanted to immediately deliver that point against the Falcons.
On the very first play, inside linebacker Elandon Roberts slammed into running back Godwin Igwebuike for a 4-yard loss. One play later, outside linebacker T.J. Watt sacked quarterback Taylor Heinicke for a 7-yard loss.
“I would always love to be the tone setter — that’s what I pride myself on,” Roberts said. “But with these guys, anyone can set the tone.”
Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith said he thinks the addition of several new defensive players has allowed the Steelers to recapture the swagger that every good defense needs to have.
“I just love the tenacity and the guys that I play with,” Highsmith said. “We got a bunch of guys who play nasty, aggressive. It’s important to have that. You’re not gonna be a good defense if you aren’t nasty aggressive.”
Peterson played his first 10 seasons in the league with the Arizona Cardinals, so he joked he knows what it feels like to be overlooked. And he thinks the Steelers are being overlooked as a possible contender in 2023.
He doesn’t agree. Not with the moves they made to add three new inside linebackers and strengthen the overall depth on defense.
“The expectations for this team are very, very high,” Peterson said. “We know a lot of people, the naysayers, are not really talking high about us. But, at the end of the day, we got to go out here and do our job at a high level.
“I believe we did, especially having so many new faces on the defensive side of the ball. I believe we did everything we wanted to do to end out the preseason.”
Then he added, “I feel like we’re in a good position. I feel like everybody’s ready, everybody’s hungry.”
The preseason whet their appetite.