A 6-pack of tasks that should be on Mike Tomlin's to-do list at Steelers training camp

There’s no doubt what the Pittsburgh Steelers’ top priority should be for their training camp when it begins Thursday.

It has to be expanding the offensive playbook and developing Kenny Pickett as the quarterback.

Hopefully, they’ve been working on those matters since the instant last season ended. But there are plenty of other boxes for Mike Tomlin and his coaching staff to check over the next few weeks at Saint Vincent College.

Here’s a six-pack of other items for the “Tomlin to-do list” while the team is ensconced in Westmoreland County.

1. Iron out communication in the secondary

With the additions of Patrick Peterson, Joey Porter Jr., Keanu Neal and Corey Trice, the Steelers secondary is deeper and more versatile. But there are a lot of new people playing together for the first time. A lot of those players — along with returning defensive backs Minkah Fitzpatrick, Damontae Kazee, Tre Norwood, Levi Wallace and James Pierre — are going to be in multiple positions at different times.

“It’s going to be a work in progress,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said of the communication in the secondary during minicamp. “The early returns, I would say, are good. I like the collective maturity and intelligence even with the young guys. … It’ll all pan out as we get in season but right now it looks promising.”

That better be the case. It’s going to be confusing, but communication breakdowns, mental errors and missed assignments can’t be an excuse. That’s how big plays happen. Think back to the losses in Buffalo and Philadelphia last year if you want to see how that looks.

2. Get Broderick Jones up to speed and capable of starting

By all accounts, the improvement of Dan Moore Jr. during this offseason isn’t just empty coach speak. He looks bigger, stronger and more confident.

“He’s improved as much as anyone I’ve been around,” offensive line coach Pat Meyer said last month.

But short of Moore morphing into the next Anthony Munoz, I want to see Jones starting in September, regardless of how much the Steelers and the media are pumping up the position battle at left tackle.

“It’s good for them to compete, because if you don’t have anybody to compete with, then you get a little complacent,” Meyer added.

Fair enough. But Jones was drafted in the first round for a reason. I don’t think it was to incubate all year and just be ready as the starter in 2024 if the club decides to save $8.7 million on Chuks Okorafor.

If the Steelers traded up to get Jones, my hunch is they wanted him to be a starter out of the gate. If Moore surprised them with his level of improvement to the point that Jones can’t crack the lineup, maybe they should’ve addressed another position with that pick and gotten a developmental tackle later.

All I know is that the Steelers face three of the best pass rushers in the game over the first three weeks — San Francisco’s Nick Bosa (18.5 sacks), Cleveland’s Myles Garrett (16 sacks), and Las Vegas’ Maxx Crosby (12.5 sacks). Either Jones needs to get on a fast track to start or Moore really better be reinvented. Otherwise, Pickett is going to be running for his life throughout the first three weeks.

3. Take a long look at Mark Robinson

I’m getting a little tired of hearing about what Mark Robinson is not at inside linebacker. I want to see what he can become. Because it appears that there is something there.

He’s still young. He’s still raw. He’s still learning the position. However, after flashing his athleticism in a few late-season games last January, I want to see more.

That said, the Steelers brought in two new starters at ILB in Elandon Roberts and Cole Holcomb. They also acquired two depth guys in Nick Kwiatkoski and Tanner Muse.

“We saw enough from Mark Rob that we could bring him along. Still a work in progress, still probably not quite ready, but really making good strides,” Austin said in June. “What you’re hoping for is, as he continues to improve, maybe next year he’s ready to really compete for that starting job.”

If Robinson isn’t going to get a lot of game action again this year, the Steelers better get him on the field a lot in Latrobe to decide if he’s worth another year of experimentation, after making the switch to the defensive side of the ball from running back in college.

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4. Figure out red zone roles

Sure, the Steelers need to score more from distance this year. Matt Canada’s offense had just two touchdowns from beyond the red zone last season.

But they need to be better in the red zone as well. Canada’s unit had a red zone TD percentage of 51.9, 24th in the NFL.

“We’re aware of those issues,” Canada during spring practices. “We had some missed assignments. It doesn’t matter why we weren’t successful. But the bottom line is we have to be more productive down there.”

Indeed.

Additions of big targets such as Darnell Washington and Allen Robinson should help. Using George Pickens in tight situations should be investigated more often, and Connor Heyward could be a tricky X-factor. Plus if the offensive line is going to be as improved as we keep hearing, maybe Najee Harris can just plow his way across the goal line on short yardage runs more frequently.

Whatever the case, it can’t be random. Canada must have a clear-cut offensive red zone plan of attack and a pecking order of who is going to get fed near the end zone.

5. Keep Watt and Najee Harris healthy

I know that in training camp practices, this isn’t entirely in their control. If players are going to practice at all, they might get hurt.

But they don’t have to play in the preseason. Why either one did in the preseason last year is still a mystery to me given Watt’s injury history and the injury that had been nagging Harris since early in practices last year.

At most, use Harris in the red zone for the reasons stated above and don’t even let Watt on the field until the opener against the 49ers.

6. Watch the kickers

Not just in your own camp, but elsewhere. Placekicker Chris Boswell isn’t likely to face any significant competition from B.T. Potter based on the $19.8 million in cap dollars remaining on his contract.

But based on his injuries and on-field ups and downs a year ago (a career-high eight field goal misses), maybe he should.

Regarding punter Pressley Harvin III, Braden Mann has three years of NFL punting experience and could provide a legit option if Harvin’s inconsistencies continue.