The Steelers wrapped up their OTA sessions Thursday here at the UMPC-Rooney Sports Complex with the same question marks they had going into this three-week long event.
There are still questions surrounding the team's offensive line, defensive depth, what Ben Roethlisberger has left in the tank and what the offense will look like in 2021.
After watching this team the past month, we have a better feel for some of those things.
First, Roethlisberger looks great. And sure, it's the offseason. And he admitted last week that he got worn down late in the season last year.
But he's been able to take a much more measured approach to this offseason than he did a year ago when he was returning from elbow surgery. That should pay dividends later this year.
The offense and offensive line will be working in a completely different fashion. As new left tackle Chuks Okorafor, who is moving over from the right side, said Thursday, "This year it's more getting downfield. Last year, we kind of shuffled and held people -- not held people -- but now it's attack, attack, attack."
That's music to the ears of Steelers fans, or at least should be.
The Steelers had become a finesse offensive line over the second half of the past decade. But that was understandable. They were built to pass block for Roethlisberger and Le'Veon Bell didn't need linemen driving off the ball. He was so patient that the idea was to set screens for him and let him pick where he wanted to cut off of on a given play.
It worked great for Bell. It has worked great for Roethlisberger, who was sacked a league-low 13 times last season.
But with new faces at left tackle, left guard and center, it's a good time to change things up. Let the offensive linemen attack instead of catch blockers.
And with a power running back in Najee Harris, it should be a nice fit.
The Steelers might be an under-the-radar team now. But we'll see if that's still the case in October. Teams that play solid defense and run the ball effectively tend to do pretty well.
• It's not giving away any trade secrets that the Steelers are going to a more motion-based college-style offense.
By now, you've heard multiple players talking about it. And you've also likely seen the video clips of the Steelers practicing RPO handoffs and such.
But power running never goes out of style.
Watch Harris' feet here and how he then accelerates. He's going to be a good one.
You can hear Mike Tomlin telling Harris and the team's other running backs exactly what he wants as he watches the drill.
Much like the offensive line, the Steelers are looking for Harris to deliver blows rather than take them.
Forget what all of the analytics nerds say about selecting a running back in the first round. Harris was the right player at the right time for this team.
• By now, you've seen all of the pundits doubting this team. Heck, some of you are among those doubting it.
The Steelers have seen it, as well.
This is a team that's going to be playing with a very large chip on its collective shoulder in 2021. There might be no player with a bigger chip on his shoulder than Roethlisberger.
He's always had rabbit ears when it comes to the doubters. And this year, there are many, despite the fact he threw 33 touchdown passes against 10 interceptions in 15 regular season games in 2020.
"I think anybody that is told they can’t do something, they are going to be motivated to go prove people wrong," Roethlisberger said. "The other thing is I have been doing this for long enough that you let it motivate you but you don’t let it drive you or push you into just being so crazy that I have to prove that person wrong. Because at the end of the day you are just trying to win a football game and a championship. I’m going out to play for my teammates who are in this locker room and on this field, playing for the fans. That’s what it’s about."
The Steelers were a power-running team early in Roethlisberger's career, limiting his exposure because he was a young quarterback who was learning the ropes of being a pro. But they expected three or four high-level throws from their quarterback each game.
Now, at the end of his career, things will go back to a similar focus.
Run the ball with power. Don't force your quarterback to play hero ball.
It's the way things have to be -- for every aging quarterback.
Early and late in their careers, you build them a nest with the pieces around them to succeed. In the middle of their careers, when they are at the height of their powers, you allow the quarterback to be the show.
It's what the Saints did with Drew Brees. It's what the Patriots didn't do with Tom Brady, which is why he wanted out of New England to go to a place where the next was already built. And it's one of the same reasons Aaron Rodgers, who is now 37, is miffed at the Packers, whose only offensive skill player selected in the first round since taking Rodgers in 2005 was to select quarterback Jordan Love in 2020.
At some point, you have to get your aging quarterback help.
Roethlisberger certainly noticed the Steelers hadn't taken an offensive skill player in the first round since 2008 before selecting Harris this year. There had been a couple of offensive linemen -- Maurkice Pouncey in 2010 and David DeCastro in 2012 -- in that run, but the rest of the top picks had been used on defense.
His eyes lit up when I asked him about that last week.
"It’s been awhile since we’ve gotten so many weapons early on offense," Roethlisberger said. "Guys look great. But we are in shorts and t-shirts and we still are waiting to see what some of the guys can do, but what I’ve seen so far has been really impressive."
• These OTAs began with a lot of people -- including myself -- wondering how many players would show up. After all, two months ago, the players let it be known they wouldn't show up unless they got some concessions.
But these practices were very well attended, even though they were largely held with younger players in mind.
Some veteran players weren't in attendance, but they'll be at Heinz Field for the mandatory minicamp next week, and the coaching staff will get a look at what this mixture looks like in one big bowl.
The guess here is that they'll like what they see.
First and foremost, the Steelers made it through without any injuries. As we saw earlier this week when the 49ers canceled the remainder of their OTA sessions after two players went down with serious injuries, that's not always the case.
• It's just my opinion, but I think the Steelers will be better off at cornerback than many seem to think.
Yes, there are a lot of unproven commodities stepping into larger roles or at least battling for a role, but I do like what I've seen.
The other part of the equation is that those players will be backing a defensive front that is among the best, if not they best, in football, with an All-Pro free safety on the back end. And the defense rushes the passer very well, having led the NFL in that statistic for an unprecedented fourth year in 2020.
You don't need to Rod Woodson and Deion Sanders at cornerback when your front can get home like this one can. It's a nice luxury, but it's not a necessity.
