It's been a very active offseason for the franchise. The Pittsburgh Steelers are still busy as they prepare for the 2023 NFL season.
The franchise has attacked this offseason looking to build on last season's 7-2 finish. The Pittsburgh Steelers missed the playoffs in 2022 despite a 9-8 record. The bigger picture has to do with the club's recent postseason failures.
Mike Tomlin's club has not won a playoff game since beating the Chiefs in the 2016 divisional round. New general manager Omar Khan appears determined to end the misery, one that has seen the club dropped four straight playoff contests and given up a combined 171 points in the process. As for some recent news…
Is it no longer Anthony Miller time in Pittsburgh?
The last time wide receiver Anthony Miller took the field was in Week 12 of 2021 at Cincinnati. He began that season with the Houston Texans but wound up with Mike Tomlin's club. In a 41-10 loss to the Bengals, the one-time second-round draft choice of the Chicago Bears caught one pass for two yards.
Miller did not play football in 2022. With the opening of training camps just over a month away, he chose today to send out this tweet.
Perhaps we will find out sooner than later what message he is actually sending. Stay tuned.
Steelers add another inside linebacker in Nick Kwiatkoski
This offseason saw the Steelers add some physicality to a defense that finished ninth in the league vs. the run but was very inconsistent in this aspect. Gone are Myles Jack, Devin Bush and Robert Spillane. Enter Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb and Tanner Muse. Now add another veteran to the mix.
A fourth-round pick of the Chicago Bears back in 2016, inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski is yet another example of the club's philosophy this offseason. The Steelers have bolstered their offensive line in recent years and that continued in 2023 with the signing of guard Isaac Seumalo (Eagles) and the first-round selection of tackle Roderick Jones (Georgia). The Steelers want to pound the rock this season.
Conversely, the club wants to do a much better job of stopping the better offensive lines in the league from pushing their defense around.
Kwiatkoski spent four seasons in the Windy City before signing with Las Vegas Raiders in 2020. His best NFL campaign came in his first year with the Silver and Black. He made a career-best 12 starts and led the Raiders with 81 total tackles despite missing four games. He played in only eight games in 2021 and did not start any contests.
Kwiatkoski played 12 games for the Falcons this past season, with all seven of his tackles coming on special teams. He adds experienced depth to the defense and kick coverage units.
Here's to you, Mr. Robinson: Kenny Pickett and Allen Robinson pair up
The Steelers did not draft a wide receiver this year, but that doesn't mean they didn't add one to the roster. Khan swung a deal with the Los Angeles Rams and picked up talented Allen Robinson in what amounted to a swap of seventh-round picks. He and quarterback Kenny Pickett plan to take advantage of geography and some "down time" over the next few weeks to work on their rapport.
"That is the plan," explained Robinson last week (via Joe Rutter of TribLive.com). We've talked it through. We're both in New Jersey, so it can happen."
"I love Allen," said the second-year signal-caller. "He shows up every day with the mindset that he wants to work and get better. When you have that, you're going to get there sooner or later. Definitely sooner with him because of his work ethic and how much communication he has with myself and the stuff we've been doing when no one's watching.
"I think those things go a long way," added Pickett. "We'll get caught up quickly. I think we're pretty much close to being there."
Intriguing times in the Steel City indeed. The Steelers seem to be making all the right moves. Will the work and aggressiveness pay off in 2023?
