1. Rookie rundown

For the first time in more than a decade, the Pittsburgh Steelers had eight of their draft picks make the initial 53-man roster. No undrafted rookies made the active roster headed into Sunday’s season opener for the first time since 2017, but the eight rookies is the second-most since nine made it in 2012 (nine also were on the opening-day roster in 2019).

The most recent time eight Steelers draft picks made the 53-man roster to open their rookie season was 2010, when a stellar group that included a pair of potential Hall of Famers in Maurkice Pouncey and Antonio Brown numbered eight.

But Brown was inactive for the season opener. In fact, four of the eight rookie draft picks did not dress for that 2010 game against the Atlanta Falcons. This season, it’s assured six rookies will be in uniform — that’s the most since 2012. But of those 2012 opening-day rookies who played, only three were draft picks. In the 15 years of the Mike Tomlin era, never have six rookie draft picks been active for the season opener.

This year, five might start, including four on offense, and that doesn’t even count punter Pressley Harvin III, who won’t be credited with an official “start” (defined by being on the field for the first play on offense or defense). For perspective on how rare that is, the Steelers haven’t had a draft class in which five players were the primary starter for them for any season (rookie or otherwise) since that 2010 class.

Rookies will start Sunday against the Buffalo Bills at left tackle (Dan Moore Jr.), and center (Kendrick Green). Barring a peculiar personnel package on the game’s first play, first-round running back Najee Harris will start, too. Depending on the package or coaches’ decision, second-round tight end Pat Freiermuth could start. On defense, Tre Norwood could be part of a sub-package that’s on the field for the first play.

Fourth-round linebacker Buddy Johnson and fifth-round Isaiahh Loudermilk are on the active roster but might be healthy scratches.

As evidenced by the preseason workload, the #Pittsburgh #Steelers plan to count heavily on their rookie class in 2021. https://t.co/X7IiUg3NDv

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) August 30, 2021

2. Mad Capper

Though a restructure is always possible — even likely — over the next 12 months, the 2022 salary cap hit for T.J. Watt is $31 million under the terms of the extension signed this week. If that stands, the $31 million figure would account for a minimum of 14.05% of the Steelers salary cap.

For point of reference, Ben Roethlisberger has the Steelers’ highest cap number this season, and it’s 13.8% of their cap (per data from spotrac.com). Roethlisberger the previous three seasons had cap allocations of 11.83%, 12.66% and 12.8% — all smaller than Watt is scheduled to account for next season, when the team cap will be no higher than $208.2 million (teams also are able to rollover space from a previous season).

In 2021, there are only four players who account for more than Watt’s 14.05% share of a team’s salary cap, and all are quarterbacks. The highest allocation of any team’s 2021 salary cap for a non-QB is Frank Clark, who is taking 13.69% of the Kansas City Chiefs’ cap.

It's official: Steelers confirm a new contract for linebacker T.J. Watthttps://t.co/Xc6V1icYp8

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) September 10, 2021

3. Bill vs. Mike

Bill Cowher’s induction into the Hall of Fame this year coincides with Mike Tomlin’s tenure as Steelers’ coach matching Cowher’s 15 seasons. If the Steelers go 5-12 or better this season, Tomlin (145-78-1) would have a better record than Cowher (149-90-1).

But the Steelers would need to win the Super Bowl this year for Tomlin (8-8 playoff record) to match Cowher (12-9) in playoff wins. Tomlin also needs to make the playoffs and win a division title this season to match Cowher’s 10 postseason appearances and eight division crowns.

Najee Harris on making his NFL debut pic.twitter.com/zmo5ACtOwY

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) September 10, 2021

4. Why Najee now

Data compiled by a Kansas City-based correspondent for The Athletic revealed a truth fans and onlookers probably knew already from anecdotal observation:

The Steelers offense in recent years has been very good passing but very bad rushing.

The specific data involved measured expected points added (a per-play all-encompassing metric) when a team was trailing from 2018-20. It suggests that only one team has been worse on rushing plays than the Steelers, but only three teams have been better on passing plays.

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