5 biggest questions as the Steelers head toward 2025 training camp
On the most recent episode of The Scho Bro Show podcast, Big Bro Scho and I continued our summer series of Top 5 Lists. This week, we looked at our top 5 biggest questions for training camp. While some of these questions will continue on beyond the Steelers time in Latrobe, where they begin is when the Steelers take the field in preparing for the upcoming season.
Several of of biggest questions were different, but a couple choices were on both lists. Surprisingly, the top choice from each of us was not on the other’s list.
To start, let’s look at the top five biggest questions as the Steelers head toward 2025 training camp according to my brother Rich…
Big Bro Scho:
1. Will the offense create proper mismatches?
2. Will the Steelers once again employ a vanilla defense?
3. Who will be the WR2?
4. When will T.J. Watt get his deal?
5. How will they work things at slot cornerback?
The two items on Big Bro’s list that also landed on mine had to deal with cornerback and T.J. Watt. Rich was focused more on slot cornerback as to how they will align all of their assets. Rich asked the question about who’s going be wide receiver two where I want see the Steelers simply use their tight ends to get better mismatches. He quickly had me shut down that conversation because that led to his top item. While I think there was an issue with the defense being vanilla at the end of 2024, I don’t know that we’re going to see something in the preseason that will make us feel better as that’s generally what teams are doing at that time of the year. But it is a very good point.
Because I was going on about getting certain matchups on offense, I regretted not having Rich’s top item on my list. Seeing the offense use creativity and produce mismatches is something the Steelers have the personnel to do. The big question is whether or not they will do it. The reason I left it off is I’m not sure how much that will be answered in training camp, but it doesn’t have to be.
Now let’s dive into my list…
Dave:
1. What’s the plan at safety?
2. Figuring out the log jam at cornerback?
3. Can the offensive line get it done?
4. Can Aaron Rodgers hold up, and how much will he participate in camp?
5. When and for how long will T.J. Watt join the team?
When it came to T.J. Watt, my question was when he would rejoin the team and how long will his contract be that he plays under. Will it be the final year of his current deal? If he gets an extension, how many years will it be?
I added questions about the quarterback position because when Aaron Rodgers takes his first snap as the Pittsburgh Steeler in the regular season he will instantly become the oldest player to ever play for the franchise. There has to be concerns as to if he will hold up, and it’s got to be concerning as to how much he is worked during training camp. Will he follow a similar schedule to that of Ben Roethlisberger his final seasons in Pittsburgh?
One key area that Rich and I disagree is with the offensive line. For some reason he is not worried about it and thinks that they are a quality unit, especially based on some of our previous top five lists. For me, they have the potential to be so, but are extremely unproven. They’ve got to prove they can come together as a cohesive unit across the board and I think that is a big question to answer.
I sort of combined my last two into one statement as I feel that the Steelers have a log jam at cornerback and uncertainty at safety. All in all, they have the defensive backs to cover everything. The question is how the Steelers are going to do it. The most important thing in my eyes is for the Steelers to have Porter, Slay, and Ramsey on the field together almost all the time. I’m curious how it will work, but I also acknowledge is that if I don’t know what’s coming then opposing offenses might not either.
So what do you think? Which list do you like better? What would be your top five biggest questions as the Steelers head toward 2025 training camp? Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below.
To hear a full breakdown o this topic and more, check out the episode of The Scho Bro Show podcast below:
Both lists are pretty valid. My concerns probably line up more with Dave.
1. Will Watt be at camp, and will he be happy to be there?
2. With the new players will they run the same lame vanilla D were all sick of, and everyone knows like a McDonald’s menu?
3. What is this O line? They could be good, but they could also be terrible. They haven’t proved anything to me yet.
4. What’s the run game look like?
5. Does Rodgers have anything in the tank physically? How about mentally?
#2 for sure. Same goes for the offense. We’re putting better talent on the field this year, time to jack up our goals beyond not turning the ball over.
Quite a number of valid concerns, some of which were self-created beginning years ago. Watt is not in my top 5, Rich correctly questions the coaching, Dave correctly notes the OL needs to put in some work, and neither address how this season’s defense, as a unit, will play to its potential for the entire season. I am uncertain that changing out two coaches and one defender will result in effecting that result. I’d like to see it happen. Post-2011 preseason doesn’t afford much time for this.
Corrections: three defenders plus three rotational defenders have changed, and perhaps an additional starter could still change.