The Steelers have gotten incredibly young on the offensive side of the ball, with an average age for their projected starters of 26.8 on that side of the ball.
The old guy: Fullback Derek Watt, at 29.
He also happens to carry the highest salary cap hit of any of the team's offensive players this season at $4.713 million.
That's not a huge number and the Steelers' 11 presumed offensive starters -- if Mitch Trubisky wins the starting quarterback job -- would come in at $31.9 million. By comparison, star outside linebacker T.J. Watt, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, will count $31.118 million against the team's salary cap this season.
But Derek Watt, who played 86 offensive snaps in 17 games in 2021, isn't worried about what people say about him being the team's highest-paid offensive player.
"Salary cap doesn’t really mean a whole lot," Watt told me this week. "People can say what they want about that. That means they value me. I appreciate that and I try to provide that value for them."
Watt feels he does that on special teams. The team's special teams captain in 2021, he played 332 special teams snaps last season. The Steelers signed him largely for that role in 2020, giving him a three-year, $9.75 million contract.
He's responded with 22 tackles in 29 career games with the Steelers, also recording a safety in 2020.
Watt had an NFL-best 16 special teams tackles in 2019 for the Chargers, but that also has drawn more attention from opponents.
"There’s a lot to it. I don’t set goals like I need this many tackles this year or I need two tackles in this game because we can kick fair catches and touchbacks all day," he said. "You’re not going to get any tackles. They could kick the ball away from me or the return could go away from me. I’m getting to the point in my career where certain teams game plan to double me or avoid, basically try to eliminate you, like we do with good players on other teams. You can’t judge it based solely on numbers because there are so many things that go into it."
MORE STEELERS
2. Watt can't do much about his lack of activity on offense. The Steelers haven't used a fullback on more than 10 percent of their offensive snaps since Roosevelt Nix played 16.4 percent of the snaps in 2017. That's still a low usage number. But many Steelers fans would like to see more fullback usage.
"I see people rip me for not being part of the offense, and that is what it is," Watt said, noting he can't put himself on the field. "I can’t do that. People can say what they want. I feel like I can play special teams at a pretty high caliber, so that’s a big reason why I’m here. That’s what I take pride in. I was special teams captain last year. I’m trying to take that and build on that, just like I did the year before and try to build on my special teams success. If that’s where I’m playing, I’m trying to do my best to help the team. If it’s on offense, same thing." And, he hinted we might see more of him on the field in the second year of Matt Canada's offense. "There’s definitely — we’re early in the offense and the install — but there’s definitely a role. We’ll see how it expands. I’m just going to do whatever they tell me to do. I’ll do whatever I can and it will play itself out." -- Lolley
3. Despite capologist Omar Khan's elevation to general manager, the Steelers are largely keeping the same power structure in place that was there with Kevin Colbert. Over the years, whenever Colbert had a question about monetary issues, he would contact Khan. He didn't handle that part of the job. So, Khan will continue in that role, while assistant general manager Andy Weidl, who has yet to be announced as the hire, will handle the scouting side of things, which was Colbert's job. But Art Rooney II gave Khan the top title because he didn't want to elevate Weidl above Khan, who has been with the organization more than 20 years. -- Lolley
4. I'm told Khan and Weidl have a history together. Weidl is a Mt. Lebanon High School graduate and has several brothers who went there, as well. I'm told Khan is friendly with the Weidl brothers. Their working relationship should not be an issue. -- Lolley
5. NFL teams had unlimited usage of bringing a player from injured reserve the past two years as a nod to COVID-19. And they could be placed on IR for just three games before returning. That was a step up from the previous few years when they could designate two players for return and the players had to be in injured reserve for at least eight weeks. With COVID-19 a little more under control -- or at least with the league having a better understanding of the virus and the issues it causes -- the NFL is getting rid of unlimited IR usage. This year, the league is easing up from its previous rules, but limiting players to returning to eight and having them spend at least four weeks on IR. Why does this matter? The reason the league didn't have unlimited IR returns in the past was because it didn't want teams hiding a player on injured reserve and then having that team activate him if he wound up being needed. Teams still do hide players on IR. But this is a nice compromise between the old rule and the COVID-19 rules. -- Lolley
6. Anthony Miller was a second-round pick of the Bears in 2018 and has 140 receptions for 1,589 yards with 12 touchdowns in his career. But many wondered why he couldn't get on the field after the Steelers signed him to their practice squad last Oct. 12. Miller was active for just one game for the Steelers, catching one pass for two yards. "Coming in during the middle of the season, Ben (Roethlisberger) had a rapport with the other receivers that had been here," Miller told me. "I just told myself I would bide my time and put my best foot forward this year." To Miller's point, as a practice squad receiver, he didn't get on the practice field much with Roethlisberger. He won't have any such issues with Mitch Trubisky. The two played together three seasons in Chicago, with Miller. "I don't think that gives me a leg up on anyone," Miller said. "I can't treat things that way. I've just got to continue to work hard." Don't be surprised if Miller makes a strong push to make this roster. -- Lolley
7. Give Chuks Okorafor credit for this: He sure doesn't sound as if he's about to get fat off that three-year, $29.5 million extension he recently signed. When I asked this week what he's got to improve this season, he replied, "Everything. Just everything." And when I thought that might've been some canned, clichéd answer, he kept right on going: "I need to be better at everything, and I know that. Especially the push on the run. I've got to lead the way out there. I know that. And I'm going to work so hard to make that happen." -- Dejan Kovacevic on the South Side
PIRATES
8. The most puzzling thing about Bryan Reynolds’ slump this year is he is struggling mainly against the fastball. His batting average against it is .197 (compared to .339 in 2021) and he's whiffing at it more, hitting it softer and not getting it in the air as often. Even in 2020, Reynolds posted decent results and good peripherals against fastballs. That’s not happening this year, and teams have taken notice. The last time opposing pitchers threw him this many fastballs in a month was in his rookie season. -- Alex Stumpf
9. If there is a bright spot in Reynolds’ slump – and boy do you really have to look hard to find one – it’s unlikely that any team will meet the asking price to acquire him at the trade deadline, seeing how his perceived value is lower because he isn’t hitting. And that trade value was sky high last year. One source told me a proposal was discussed last July that involved two top 100 prospects coming to Pittsburgh for Reynolds, but that obviously didn’t result in a deal. -- Stumpf
10. Adding to the above, I had a good talk with Reynolds about his struggles at the plate and, though he was anything but eager to elaborate, two terms that rose above the grunts were "timing" and "aggressive." Read into that -- as well as his surly mood -- whatever one will. He knows. -- Kovacevic
11. Derek Shelton sure has been tipping his hand in postgame availabilities for when a player is in danger of being optioned or having their playing time reduced just by the way he refers to them. Cole Tucker and Bryse Wilson both were optioned, and justifiably, criticized for their performance by the player-first manager shortly before they were optioned, as was Mitch Keller before he moved into a hybrid role. -- Stumpf
12. Speaking of those hybrid pitching roles, that is the brainchild of Dewey Robinson, the former Rays pitching guru who joined the Pirates’ player development team this winter. I’m working on something bigger on this, but wanted to put that in here first. -- Stumpf
13. Roberto Pérez wants to re-sign with the Pirates for next season. That would be a mutually beneficial reunion, but if the Pirates want to go with a different defense-first catcher to hold the fort down before Henry Davis is promoted, they have a couple options. Tucker Barnhart, Austin Hedges and Mike Zunino should all be available on short-term deals and bring solid defensive reputations. Prospect Carter Bins, who was acquired for Tyler Anderson, could also profile as a major-league backup next year. One thing is clear, though: They can’t go into the regular season with as little catching depth as they did this year. -- Stumpf
14. I spotted Davis leaving the Curve locker room with a mesh wrist brace when I made the trip over there Saturday. He has a small fracture in his left wrist, and while the Pirates are optimistic he’ll be back sooner rather than later, a hitter needs that bottom hand to hit. Makes it all the more impressive that Davis was able to crush a homer in Altoona with that fracture. -- Stumpf
15. Altoona Curve manager Kieran Mattison is a big-league coach – if not manager – in waiting. He checks the boxes you would want from the coaching standpoint while also creating a great learning/team-oriented culture in the clubhouse. Whether it’s having a WWE-style belt in the dugout for hitting home runs or having themed days (Wu-Tang Wednesdays last year in Greensboro was a favorite), it’s a fun environment that encourages growth. It’s why Mattison is a rising star in the system. -- Stumpf
16. Mattison is going out of his way to get Andres Alvarez into the lineup right now. Designated hitter, infield... he made his first appearance in the outfield a couple weeks ago. A .295 average and 1.005 OPS can be a great motivator for a manager to give you at-bats. A hamate injury last year sapped his power, but Mattison managed him in Greensboro last year and knew he had some pop, which was a motivator for him to be promoted despite playing in just 39 games. Originally drafted as a slick fielding infielder on the left side of the diamond, he could be a late-bloomer at 25. -- Stumpf
PENGUINS
17. Don't dismiss the chance that Casey DeSmith would return as Tristan Jarry's backup. That's what I'm hearing from the inside. Although DeSmith's had his issues -- both in terms of performance and durability -- he just came cheap on a three-year term with an AAV of $1.25 million, he's still only 30 years old, he's beloved by teammates and ... well, did I mention he just came cheap? Cap considerations are only everything this offseason, as Ron Hextall has acknowledged. -- Kovacevic
18. Negotiations for the extensions for Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin go beyond just term and salary. Structure could be a real sticking point. Both players are older than 35, and are seeking multi-year extensions. If the extensions have front-loaded salaries (more salary early in the deal than later years) or have signing bonuses beyond the first year, it adds risk for the Penguins. If a 35+ multi-year extension has either of those elements, and the player retires before the contract ends, the cap hit remains. If you're Letang or Malkin, you would want those signing bonuses, though, because they are exempt from escrow payments, which remain high as a result of the league's lost revenue due to COVID. -- Taylor Haase at PPG Paints Arena
19. With the deadline for World Championship rosters closed, Marcus Pettersson will be the Penguins' only representative in the tournament, which is taking place in Helsinki, Finland. As of the Penguins' cleanout day, Sidney Crosby hadn't been asked by Canada. Latvia made a push for Teddy Blueger to join the team, but Blueger chose to not participate. -- Haase
20. Most people know about Da Beauty League, the offseason league in Minnesota for professional and college players. One of the other big summer leagues is the Jersey Pro League, set to play out of the Devils' Prudential Center this summer. Full rosters for the four teams haven't been released yet, but I've been told that Drew O'Connor and Zach Aston-Reese are among those who have committed to the league. The season opens June 21 and runs through Aug. 11. -- Haase
21. Don't expect goaltending prospect Joel Blomqvist to make to the move to the AHL from Finland next season. Director of player development Scott Young told me that they'd like Blomqvist to spent a year as a starter in the Finnish league first before moving over. With the previous starting goaltender for Blomqvist's Finnish team being a free agent this summer, the door is wide open for Blomqvist to take over. Plus, with goaltending prospect Taylor Gauthier making his professional debut next season, and Filip Lindberg essentially being a rookie next season after being injured most of this year, as well as the Penguins still likely adding a veteran No. 3 in free agency, there's just no room or need for Blomqvist just yet. -- Haase
