30 Scenarios in 30 Days: The Steelers will eclipse 50 sacks in 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the 2025 regular season, but before the real games begin, the team has to head to training camp back at Saint Vincent College in order to fine tune their skills. As we here at SCN prepare you for the start of camp, we give you a series called “30 Scenarios in 30 Days” which gives you a Steelers scenario every day leading up to the start of camp.
It is simple how it works. We provide you the scenario, reasons why it will or won’t happen, and then our prediction for what we think will take place.
Let’s get to the scenario…
Scenario: The Steelers will eclipse 50 sacks in 2025
Why it will happen: In full transparency, I have done a version of this prediction the last two years. Last season I thought the Steelers would eclipse their 2023 sack mark (47), but they didn’t (40). There are a lot of factors which go into the team going in the wrong direction with their sack totals, and a lot of it has to do with the treatment of T.J. Watt by the opposition.
I know what you’re thinking. Won’t teams just do the same thing in 2025?
Yes, but I hope the team has adjusted accordingly and is prepared to move Watt around so he can continue to be an impact player in the sack category. When I look at the team’s sack totals from an individual basis last season, certain things stood out.
- Cam Heyward: 8
- T.J. Watt: 11.5
- Alex Highsmith: 6
- Nick Herbig: 5.5
Other than the aforementioned players, Preston Smith (2) was the only player who had two or more sacks in 2024. In total, the 40 sacks is a pretty easy bar to clear.
But that isn’t the prediction for 2025, the prediction is to get over 50. I still believe this is possible if this group can stay healthy. Last season both Herbig and Highsmith missed extended stints throughout the season, and Watt was banged up down the stretch. Jack Sawyer adding to the mix should help keep everyone fresh, even though it might not equate to many sacks in 2025.
If Watt can be at 15, Heyward at 8, and Highsmith and Herbig can both hit, or come close to, double digits, 50 should be a very attainable goal. This also is not including players like Patrick Queen (1 sack) who had a career low in that statistic in 2024. Throw in a player like Derrick Harmon chipping in more than Larry Ogunjobi (1.5) and it should be an upgrade. All in all, I think we see the Steelers return to form in the sack category, and get to 50.
Why it won’t happen: To be honest, on paper the Steelers shouldn’t have any issue with getting 50 sacks in 2025. They have the players along the defensive front and in the pass rushing category to reach that plateau. But what has been the main issue which they can’t seem to shake?
Injury.
As mentioned earlier, both Herbig and Highsmith missed extended time last season, and if that happens again this goal will become pretty unsustainable. Watt and Heyward staying healthy is paramount, and I can never bank on that happening considering they are players who are consistently dealing with those nagging type of injuries.
Throw in the fact the Steelers defense, or T.J. Watt himself, refused to adjust last season doesn’t have me feeling great from a performance standpoint, and I question whether they can reach this goal.
I hate to say it, but health is likely what would get in the way of getting back to the 50 sack mark.
Prediction: As much as I thought it was a no-brainer the Steelers would have 50 sacks, I was shocked by their sack totals the last two seasons. It isn’t as easy as I once thought with this team, but I do think they get back to their “Blitzburgh” roots and find their way back to the 50 sack plateau.
Miss a scenario? You can see the full list of scenarios below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for training camp.
The Steelers will go above and beyond their win-loss prediction in 2025
I think the acquisition of Slay will really help here. The Steelers have two outside corners that can play man. Getting just that extra beat by play man will allow some of those pressures to become sacks.
The pass rushing personnel has been fine. Adding to the second and third levels will be the difference.
This is a great point I should have included in the article. Thanks for pointing it out!
The better the coverage, the easier the pass rush becomes. Maybe they’ll even blitz, occasionally.
It comes down to coverage.
It felt like QBs were getting the ball out in well under 3 seconds the last half of the season. No team is going to get 50 sacks if teams can have success in the quick game. You have to get the QB to freeze and take extra time to get the sacks up.
2025 Predictions: