The 2023 season for the Pittsburgh Steelers could have a wide variety of outcomes. A large portion of the roster has questions about how much they are going to improve. If good coaching and development prevails in the majority of the players, the Steelers could make a deep push into the playoffs. However, the most vital Steelers X-Factors are Kenny Pickett, George Pickens, Cole Holcomb and Patrick Peterson.
This should be the most obvious of the four players. Kenny Pickett is the quarterback and the leader of the offense. If Pickett is able to substantially build on his rookie season, the entire offense will change. In his 2022 season, Pickett steadily progressed as he played more games. By the end of the season he looked like a complete NFL quarterback winning his last six games.
The Steelers heavily invested in the offensive line to protect Pickett. Additionally, the Steelers picked up Allen Robinson and Darnell Washington, making the ancillary pieces the best they have been in years.
Regardless of how good the supporting cast is, the entire offense still runs through the quarterback. While Pickett looked good in his rookie year, he still needs to improve if the offense wants to perform at its ceiling. Pickett struggled with pocket presence, occasionally bailing from clean pockets. He could also stand to improve his accuracy and touch on further throws.
Bottom line: The Steelers go as high as Kenny Pickett takes them.
The receiver that Pickett clicked most with in 2022, was fellow rookie George Pickens. Although Pickens did not lead the team in receiving yards or receptions, he showed flashes of a true number one. Pickens was one of the best-contested catch winners in the NFL last season.
While Diontae Johnson was the top receiver last season, he works best as a secondary target. Pickens has the potential to be not only the Steelers’ number one, but one of the best receivers in the league.
Pickens clearly has the hands and the natural ability to find the ball. Combined with that, his 6-foot-3 frame and above-average speed give him sky high potential. If he can polish up his route running, Pickens could be one of the true Steelers X-factors at receiver that this team has been missing since Antonio Brown.
In 2022, the Steelers struggled to find quality players at inside linebacker. The combination of Devin Bush and Myles Jack clearly didn’t work out as planned. Omar Khan saw this hole in the roster and went out of his way to fill it, completely overhauling almost every player.
Cole Holcomb has been designated the top linebacker and will lead the group into 2023. Holcomb projects to be better than both Bush and Jack. With Elandon Roberts alongside him, the inside linebacker mistakes of 2022 should vanish.
Last year, the linebackers were missing gap assignments and allowing for big runs. With the two stars in T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward anchoring the line, Holcomb could make it almost impossible to run against the Steelers.
The Steelers have really been looking for anyone to fill the void at the center of the defense since Ryan Shazier went down. Inside Linebacker is one of the most important positions on this defense. If Holcomb performs at even an above-average level, he could push the defense into all time elite territory.
Another free agency additions rounds out the X-Factor players on defense. Patrick Peterson was brought in from the Vikings to start at corner. At the age of 32, he is definitely not the player he once was, but Peterson can still perform. Last season he intercepted five passes and was ranked as a top 32 cornerback in the league by PFF.
At this point in his career, he relies much more on his football IQ to make plays rather than his athleticism. Peterson won’t be a lockdown corner for the Steelers but he should make a big difference given the corner play from 2022.
Where Peterson will truly be one of the Steelers X-Factors is on the practice field. Peterson will play a huge role in the development of Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice Jr. If Peterson can play well himself and help create future stars at the corner position, the Steelers defense will be set up for greatness.
Stay tuned for more exciting NFL content, including roster moves, in depth analysis, and more news from around the league.
Feature image courtesy of Steelers.com
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