That’s natural. every. single. time. Comparable to the reaction of parents when asked about their new baby. Shortly after releasing a new draft class, NFL general managers and coaches routinely sit behind the microphone, smiling and cracking up when asked about the outcome of the three-day draft. If you listen carefully, you might hear the sound of “Home On The Range” in the background.
“Rarely heard, discouraging words
“And the sky won’t be cloudy all day.”
General manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin expressed disappointment as the Steelers met with the media inside the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Saturday after the Steelers finished selecting and adding seven players in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He didn’t say anything like that. But at no time during the 20-minute session did anything they say seem insincere. And the reason had to do with the “why” of that atmosphere.
No. 1 Troy Fautanu, No. 2 Zach Frazier, No. 3 A Roman Wilson, No. 3 B Peyton Wilson, No. 4 Mason McCormick, No. 6 A Logan Lee, and No. 6 B Ryan Watts are draft candidates. However, there are many unique people. With different skill sets, they are all tough, football enthusiasts who take the sport physically, and are finishers, but in this context it should be understood as a coach’s word for a mean losing streak.
• Fautanu said, “There’s only one way to play, and that’s mean and violent. You have to enjoy imposing your will on someone.”
• When asked by Cam Heyward during the draft day party at Acresure Stadium, “What is Pittsburgh getting?” Peyton Wilson said: Wilson replied: “If there are 75 downs, I want to be in all 75 and I’m going to rip someone’s head off with every one of them.”
• Roman Wilson is a speedy, big-play receiver, but when it comes to the grueling physical labor that comes with the position, he has revealed his motto: “No block, no lock.”
• Frazier talked about the benefits of being a four-time heavyweight champion as a high school wrestler. From using your hands to understanding leverage to how to move people, that’s exactly what an offensive lineman does. ”
• Lee talked about how and why he grew up a Steelers fan: “I had a friend and his father, Austin and Rich, and they were big Steelers fans, so they started it.” So I started getting interested in history. I loved the NFL, I loved watching Mel Blount hit people over the head, and I was a big Steelers fan ever since I was a kid.”
• Asked to describe his approach as a run blocker, McCormick said: “I always have the same intensity and effort. So it’s a matter of pride. It’s about getting things going on offense. I feel like it’s an exciting time to be a Steeler. ”
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement given the past two draft classes and the moves made during free agency.
Coach Kahn reiterated his core beliefs Thursday night upon selecting Fautanu, saying, “I’ve said it from the beginning: Offensive line, defensive line, those are the big priorities. Big man. That’s the start. We want to be a top-notch, physical football team, and we have to start from there. ”
In fact, for the first time since the inception of many rookies, it looks like the Steelers will be able to assemble an offensive line with the same attitude as their defensive teammates. Fautanu and tackled Broderick Jones. Guards Isaac Seumalo, James Daniels, and now McCormick and Frazier join the interior.
They say there is strength in numbers, but in the world of professional football, strength and attitude can be contagious within large groups. As it was said about Mike Webster’s presence influencing other offensive linemen, “It’s like walking down a dark alley with a big stick.”
The Steelers are working to rebuild their offensive line after finishing the regular season with a 10-7 record in 2023. The new coordinator was previously competent enough to translate the job into a head coaching job. A major overhaul of the quarterback depth chart. A completely different complement at wide receiver. And now he has another year to assemble a group of mobile, agile, and hostile offensive linemen. Throughout Tomlin’s tenure, it hasn’t been fun for opponents against the Steelers’ defense. Going against the offense is starting to look less funny for opponents.
The Steelers will need a starter-caliber center, wide receiver help, at least one more capable cornerback, additional capable backups along the offensive line, and a variety at the first two levels of the defense. We went into the draft needing depth/complementary players.
Now that they’re in the post-draft/offseason program phase of the calendar, they’re still missing that cornerback and having another receiver would certainly be reassuring. To that end, the Steelers restructured Alex Highsmith’s contract days before the draft, saving about $7 million in cap space. Just keep some extra ammo in case the opportunity presents itself over the next month or so.
Khan brought up the topic several more times in his media sessions during the draft, saying he was open and willing to listen to ways to improve the roster and, since taking the job, make realistic plans to mitigate the risks involved. That was his ability. I chose a proactive path that motivated me to make positive changes. The Steelers are still three weeks away from starting his OTAs, which are just non-contact football-like activities in shorts anyway. There’s still time, so it’s better to act wisely than recklessly.
Fifty years ago, the Steelers put together the best draft in NFL history, but another player in their draft class could rival it in the categories of star power and impact on both the team and the league. It would be absurd and cruel to suggest or predict that. as a whole. Rather, what they’re looking for is a return to the style of play that was the Steelers’ trademark.
In that sense, the 2024 draft class certainly looks like a step in the direction of returning to that style. Of course, returning to that style doesn’t mean having his 10 Hall of Famers in the building, but with a love for the sport and a passion for competing for championships within it. If you assemble a roster of players who are in this current version of the NFL.
To put his face on it, Troy Fautanu.
“His commitment to the game, his passion for the game was very evident in my communications with him,” Tomlin said of the franchise’s newest No. 1 pick. “That’s been told to us by people who had the opportunity to coach him, and we’ve talked to a lot of the players who played with him. His passion is real. It’s his calling card. Combined with incredible athleticism.”
And right after choosing a seven-man class that filled some of the needed positions and strengthened other areas of depth with dedicated and passionate players like Fautanu, we created a plan and implemented it. It is only fair to praise those responsible for implementing this thoroughly.
well done. We are now moving on to the next stage, where there is a lot of work to be done.
