Steelers' midseason position-by position report card

With the Pittsburgh Steelers at 6-2 and sitting idle this weekend, here’s a midterm report card for the team:

Quarterbacks: A-

Mason Rudolph’s 2023 late-season cameo noted, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson have given the Steelers arguably their best eight-game stretch of quarterback play since pre-elbow surgery Ben Roethlisberger in 2018. Each has performed as well as or better as could have been reasonably expected, based on their recent career resumes and low acquisition cost.

The offense under Fields wasn’t overly dynamic, but he avoided the turnovers that plagued his three seasons in Chicago and was a goal-to-goal weapon with his rushes.

Wilson’s two-game sample size has transformed the offense into one producing an average of more than 30 points and 400 yards per game in large part via his deft decision-making and beautiful “moon balls.”

Running backs: B

After something of a career nadir in which he was mocked by Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin as “soft” following a 13-carry, 19-yard effort during a Week 4 defeat in Indianapolis, Najee Harris has had the most productive three-game stretch of his career: 54 carries for 322 yards, two touchdowns, three victories. Perhaps never has Harris looked more like a first-round pick.

Backups Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson have navigated injury but flashed at times. If all three backs are playing at their peak, look out.

Wide receivers: C-

It’s perhaps not fair to ask the likes of Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III and Scotty Miller to be more than what they are. Given truth serum, management would acknowledge they’re more of a Nos. 3, 4 and 5 WRs than the Nos. 2-4 with, where they have been cast. But, that said, it’s not unreasonable to expect that those three would have combined for more than 30 catches and 427 receiving yards in eight games. Still, Austin has flashed big-play ability, and Jefferson is valued for the ancillary aspects of his role.

WR1 George Pickens, too, is who he is. One of the NFL’s most talented receivers, he wows with a catch in almost every game he plays. Of course, he ranks tied for 22nd in the NFL in catches (35) and tied for 84th in receiving touchdowns (one), though he is 10th in receiving yards (548) and 15th in yards per catch (15.7).

Now, about his mercurial demeanor…

Tight ends: B+

No team uses its tight ends more, albeit the Steelers TE corps is, on the whole, used far more often for blocking than receiving. Still, the unit has managed four receiving touchdowns, and Darnell Washington has turned into a pass-catching threat to complement his stout blocking.

TE1 Pat Freiermuth, meanwhile, has added capable blocking to his repertoire. MyCole Pruitt has been a good bargain free-agent add, and Connor Heyward remains a nice versatile piece for coordinator Arthur Smith to deploy.

Offensive line: B-

This unit gets graded on a curve because it has endured three season-ending (or close to season-ending) injuries and two other multi-week injuries to starters. The past two weeks, it was playing a third-string center after prior weeks featured a third option at left guard. Backups also are starting long-term at right guard and right tackle. Also, consider how inexperienced the line is: Three rookies and two second-year players have combined for 22 starts.

Through it all, the results have been — at worst — satisfactory. The running game has come alive, and the pass blocking objectively could be labeled adequate. It hasn’t been much better than that overall, but factoring in all the attrition and youth, that beats expectations.

Defensive line: B-

Call it recency bias, but this past Monday’s poor performance against the Giants’ rushing attack (rookie Tyrone Tracy had 145 yards, mostly on inside carries) lowers this a full letter grade.

On whole, though, this deep unit often has controlled the line of scrimmage as the first level of a defense that ranks in the top quartile of the league in most relevant statistics and has allowed just one opponent to surpass 20 points. Cameron Heyward, 35, has dominated like a player a decade his junior. Keeanu Benton continues to emerge.

Outside linebackers: A

Those Steelers fans who last year cited his 19 sacks were livid that T.J. Watt led the NFL in that category but was denied the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award? This season, many are taking a different approach while Watt — by the eye test — seems to be affecting games and disrupting opponents just as much with (by his standards) “only” 6½ sacks.

The rest of the position group has battled injury: OLB2 Alex Highsmith and OLB3 Nick Herbig have missed three games each, and OLB4 Jeremiah Moon has missed four. Still, each has had “splash pays” (Moon’s moreso on special teams). Collectively, the unit has rushed the passer well enough that the Steelers haven’t had to blitz all that much.

Inside linebackers: C+

It would be wrong to label Patrick Queen a “disappointment.” But it wouldn’t have been unfair for the Steelers to ask for more “splash plays” from the most lucrative outside free agent signing in team history. Still, that’s probably nitpicking for a (literal) every-down player who finally has brought some quality, reliable stability to the middle of their defense.

The coaches deserve credit for deftly deploying Elandon Roberts and Payton Wilson at times when each is best positioned for success. With Roberts in his 30s and Wilson a rookie, picking their spots and a “less is more” philosophy is paying dividends .

Don’t underestimate that all three have stayed healthy, too.

Cornerbacks: B-

Joey Porter Jr. has had a quiet first half — but that’s usually a good thing for a cornerback. Donte Jackson is much more noticeable, but sometimes it’s because he’s getting targeted so often as much as it is for his three interceptions.

Rookie starting nickel Beanie Bishop also has three interceptions (all over the past two games) and has seemed to bounce back from a rough patch earlier in the season. How the coaching staff handles his role after Cameron Sutton’s return will be a key storyline to follow after the bye.

Safeties: B

DeShon Elliott jumps off the game film on a weekly basis and has provided great value as a low-profile free-agent pickup. If a casual observer didn’t know any better, he or she might believe Elliott is on the $74 million contract whereas Minkah Fitzpatrick was the one making $6 million over two years.

But that doesn’t mean Fitzpatrick isn’t playing well. He is. One of the great debates among those who follow the Steelers concerns Fitzpatrick’s lack of “splash” and how much it matters. Fitzpatrick could put an end to the discussion with, say, a handful of takeaways in the weeks after the Steelers return to action.

Special teams: A+

What’s not to like here? A punt-return touchdown, a blocked punt, three blocked kicks (one nullified by a bogus penalty), the NFL’s best opponent punt-return average (4.8 yards), a near-prefect kicker, above-average and consistent (for a change) punting.

Take a bow, Danny Smith. Your unit is at the head of the class.