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5 takeaways from Pittsburgh Steelers training camp

By Paul Yanchek

Updated August 3, 2023 2:24 PM

Najee Harris runs for daylight during Wednesday’s training camp practice. Chris Pugh/Mahoning Matters

High expectations.

These two words resound over St. Vincent College in Latrobe every summer for the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp.

But after a string of disappointing seasons, is it fair to set high expectations on a team built behind second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett?

Watching training camp on Wednesday left me with five takeaways that, I believe, can give Steelers fans hopes that high expectations are valid for this team in 2023.

Kenny Pickett

Pickett showed some promising signs during his rookie campaign after taking over the starting position from veteran Mitch Trubisky. After an entire off-season to prepare himself and bulk up, Pickett looks confident heading into the season as the starting quarterback. His throws were crisp, and he showed precision on some deep balls during drills. He also threw some bullseyes into tight coverage situations. Yes, Pickett may have a few glitches as he enters his second season, but he continues to show that he has what it takes to captain this ship for years.

The defense

No surprise here, but the Steelers have an excellent defense. The defensive line wreaked havoc on the offensive line during team drills and showed marked improvement when it came to stopping the run. With the addition of veteran players like linebacker Kwon Alexander and cornerback Patrick Peterson, the defense now has far more depth than in the past two seasons.

Offensive weapons

The Steelers offense is good in potential. The question will be how much that potential is realized and how Matt Canada decides to run the offense. Rookie Darnell Washington is an imposing presence at tight end but needs more development time. He garnered enthusiasm from Coach Tomlin for his blocking potential and was used exclusively as a blocker in Wednesday’s practice. Fortunately, the Steelers have excellent depth at tight end, including Connor Hewyard, who, while undersized for a tight end, plays with a heart larger than his frame. Receiver George Pickens continues to dazzle with his spectacular catches. Still, time will tell if he can rise to be a top-tier receiver. Anthony McFarland Jr. and Calvin Austin III show impressive speed and incredible ability to separate themselves from defenders. Add to this mix the running ability of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren; Matt Canada has plenty of options to create a creative offensive plan. This is the year for Canada to show what he can do as an offensive coordinator.

Deeper offensive line

The line has been less than impressive over the past couple of years. With added depth and more time to gel together as a unit, there is reason for hope that the line will have a stronger 2023 campaign than 2022. If so, the running game improves, and Pickett has more time to find open receivers. At least, with added depth, any injuries to starters will not derail the season.

Coach Mike Tomlin

The Steelers are known for consistency. They stay with their coaches through the highs and the lows. Watching Tomlin on the practice field on Wednesday, one thing is clear - he still has a passion for this team. As long as Mike Tomlin is the coach of the Steelers, fans can rest assured he will push for the best in his team. After Big Ben hung up his cleats, fears loomed that the Steelers would endure several frustrating years of trying to rebuild. After a surge in 2022 that fell just short of the playoffs, Steelers fans have every reason to have post-season expectations for 2023.