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All of Steeler Nation should brace themselves for a 2021 season that does not include quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Despite Roethlisberger’s desire to return, the front office seems to be more focused on sorting out the financials of a return and if the two sides can’t reach some middle ground, will move on from Big Ben.
At the same time, the front office has been steadfast in saying this team will not rebuild and plan to be a competitive team in 2021 whether or not Roethlisberger is a part of it.
How does this happen? First and foremost, the Steelers defense must return to their 2019 form. And they have to do it without edge rusher Bud Dupree. This defense carried the team to 8-8 with a combination of Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges under center.
This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on defensive coordinator Keith Butler. A consistent pass rush should’t be an issue with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, but minimizing mistakes in coverage and tightening up the run defense will be a top priority. Get teams off the field on posession downs.
What else has to happen? That rebuild of the offensive line we’ve been begging for has to come and it has to work. It’s one thing to bring in multiple new starters but this is no guarantee they will be any better than the guys they replace.
Finally, the skill players have to step up for whoever is under center. The Steelers led the NFL in dropped passes last season and the rushing attack was non-existent. A repeat of those to areas with Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins under center and the still will have their highest draft pick under head coach Mike Tomlin.
Last and probably least, the Steelers shouldn’t shut the door on a new quarterback. There are five franchise-level quarterbacks in this upcoming draft and should one of them fall to the Steelers at pick No. 24, Pittsburgh might be inclined to draft him to build for the future.
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