Pittsburgh Steelers: Preview

Edition #724

Good morning!

Well that’s certainly been an eventful week hasn’t it. We have a new receiver in the building, the receiver we spent $10 mill on this pre-season is not practicing and is instead seeking a trade. The DE we signed who hasn’t played for us is also seeking a trade but it’s all gone quiet on that front, and the Jets have a must-win game Sunday.

This team is rarely good, but they’re never boring. The Steelers are quite boring, but then again they’ve had 11 playoff games since we last sniffed the post-season, so maybe we should be a little more boring.

The Jets have shoved all their chips into the middle of the table and they better hope this gamble pays off. If it doesn’t then there’s likely to be a re-build (another) at 1JD. I can’t see any way the GM keeps his job without the playoffs and with a new GM comes a new coaching staff and new direction.

Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Let’s hope that on Monday morning I’m writing a victory post for the first time in about a month.

• The Detroit Lions have touched based with the Jets about Haason Reddick following the injury to Aidan Hutchinson. If the Jets trade him to the NFC then the draft compensation they owe the Eagles instantly becomes a 2nd round pick. So logically, the Jets will be seeking a second round pick or equivalent from any NFC team looking to a deal. I don’t see that happening and I don’t see many suitors in the AFC. I still think Haason’s best bet is to show up, get some guaranteed money this year (it was on the table) and then sign wherever he wants in March.

• Garrett Wilson had some great quotes on the addition of Davante Adams "It's a great opportunity for me to learn a lot. Hopefully, we can get this thing rolling and start winning games." and when asked if he was worried about losing "Nah. At the end of the day, if I lose a few targets, that's fine. I got 22 the other day. It don't take that many to get where I want to get.".

• The Jets decided to waive Brandon Bates, as highlighted here last week…the guy was a pure disaster in terms of run-blocking and offered nothing as a pass-catcher. The Jets could decide to just run with Conklin and Ruckert on Sunday, or they could elevate Anthony Firkser to the 53. Remember Downing was Firkser’s TE coach in Tennessee so there is a lot of familiarity there.

• Brant Boyer spoke about Zuerlein saying “He knows he has to make those kicks.” - He used the words rut and digging himself out. Sounds as though Zuerlein is going to get another chance this week and honestly I think that’s the right call. He was outstanding for the Jets last year. But, there’s only so long you can wait when the kicks are costing you games. If he misses another on Sunday I’d expect the Jets to move on.

• I think Pittsburgh are making a mistake benching Justin Fields for Russell Wilson, but Fields is as gracious as he always is: “I don’t think I played good enough if I’m being real with you. “If I’m being real with myself, if I did play well enough, I don’t think there would be any sort of (question) who should be playing who should not.”

I know I’m a broken record, but I do feel as though this game is a must-win for the 2024 Jets. Fall to 2-5 and it’s a bit pit to climb out of, especially as I expect the Bills to win this weekend. You can manage a 2 game deficit the rest of the way, but a 3 game one? That’s a different story all-together.

Mike Tomlin has been coy on his starting QB this weekend, but with Russell Wilson taking first team reps yesterday all signs point to him taking over from Justin Fields.

With how Josh Allen breezed past Michael Clemons for the game clinching first down on Monday Night, I’d consider that a bit of a break for the Jets.

The starting QB conversation will dominate the headlines leading into the game alongside the reunion of Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers. But the biggest key to the game is likely to revolve around how well the Jets offensive line block T.J Watt and that Pittsburgh defensive line.

This week with the preview I’m going to do it a little differently. So instead of matching both offences side by side, I’m going to match the competing units. So this first chart showcases the Jets offense vs the Steelers defense: