Tim Benz: 6-pack of questions (and some answers) about Steelers heading into bye

The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into their bye week at 6-2. In a weird sort of dichotomy, that is exactly where they have to be, but we also don’t have much of a right to expect them to be better than that.

Given their offensive line issues, new faces on defense, new offensive coordinator, quarterback changes and a lack of receiving depth, expecting any team to be 7-1 or 8-0 in the NFL, after eight weeks is unreasonable.

Then again, man, they really shouldn’t have lost to the Colts … right?

At any rate, here’s a six-pack of questions to ask about the Steelers heading into the bye at roughly the halfway point of the season — and maybe even a few answers to the questions that we’ll pass along as well.

1. How will they handle the brutal second half of the schedule?: The Washington Commanders are far better than what anyone anticipated at the start of the year. The Eagles are getting healthy on offense. The Chiefs don’t look great, but they never lose.

Those three teams are combined 18-4. That said, if the Chiefs have the AFC West virtually locked up by Dec. 25, how excited are they really going to be to play in Pittsburgh for a Wednesday game on Christmas?

The six AFC North games are always toss-ups, but the Steelers usually play well within the division. The Ravens have questions on defense, but that run game should be scaring the Steelers’ defense based on some recent issues they’ve had in that regard.

The Browns actually looked refreshed, with Jameis Winston replacing Deshaun Watson. However, a turnover-prone Winston is a bad matchup against the Steelers defense. And while the Cincinnati Bengals are often better late than they are early, they are showing little signs of life right now.

I’ll say the Steelers go 5-4. They’ll go 4-2 within the division. They go 1-2 outside of it. They’ll finish 11-6 and likely be the top wild card in the playoffs.

2. Will Omar Khan trade for a No. 2 receiver?: He better. The trade deadline is Tuesday. Clearly, the biggest story in America that day will be if the Steelers add a wide receiver. I mean, I can’t think of anything else that’s going on that day, can you?

Hopefully, Khan can swing a deal because I don’t want to be lulled into a false sense of security about Calvin Austin and Van Jefferson perking up a bit over the past two games with Russell Wilson at quarterback.

That’s just a natural evolution of having a more polished passer than Justin Fields under center. I still don’t think that the receivers’ room is all that great.

“I just focus on who’s up this week. What is the plan for the guys,” offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said. “Whoever (coach) Mike (Tomlin) and (general manager) Omar send my way, I’ll coach ‘em up. I don’t worry about that other stuff. It’s irrelevant. It’s like wasting energy. Overall, the group just needs to continue to get better and improve.”

By the way, if you liked what you saw from Darius Slayton roasting the Steelers’ defense, I’ve got some bad news. According to the NFL Network, he is not going to be traded.

Baltimore just made a WR move, acquiring Diontae Johnson. The Steelers need to do the same, not just because it’d be great to give Wilson another weapon. But also because the Steelers need insurance for any George Pickens injury.

C’mon, “Khan Artist.” Make the Steelers’ receiver room deep again!

More sports

• Marc-Andre Fleury touched by warm reception, ovations from Penguins fans in farewell game
• 5 things we learned in Steelers' win vs. Giants: Offense breaks out with switch to Russell Wilson
• New players see stability at Duquesne despite coaching change, roster makeover

3. Can they fix Broderick Jones?: That’s probably not possible over one bye week. Hopefully, they can at least make improvements.

If not, the Steelers might have to go back to Fields whether they want to or not because Jones might get Russell Wilson smooshed.

Jones had another adventure of a game when it came to missed blocks and penalties on “Monday Night Football.” That strikes me as a concern that’s not getting better. If it stays that way, the better teams the Steelers are facing down the stretch will exploit Jones’ shortcomings, especially in pass protection.

Tomlin, however, insisted Jones was on an improving path in advance of the Giants game.

“Largely looking at the trajectory of his play, I’m pleased with it,” Tomlin said last week. “I like the professional approach that he brings to work, and I just think it’s moving in the right direction, and it needs to continue.” 

Getting Jones over to left tackle might be (emphasis on “might”) the best fix, but they have to make a decision on Dan Moore’s future and Troy Fautanu’s health first.

Those are 2025 issues. Jones’ play is a 2024 problem.

4. What’s going to happen at slot corner?: Beanie Bishop has made some big plays lately — three interceptions over the last two weeks.

Beanie Bishop Jr. with the INT to seal the @steelers win! pic.twitter.com/YS8hN3dZM1

— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2024

“Every guy knows when it’s their turn, it’s time to step up,” Bishop said after the win on Monday night. “Nothing is mystical about what is going on here. Just putting the work in. Whenever it is your turn, you have to step up.”

Bishop was surprisingly strong early in the season. Then, he had some wobbles later in September and early October. He has picked it up again lately, and it looks like there is a pretty high ceiling for Bishop to reach, even though he is just an undrafted rookie.

The thing is, Tomlin loves veterans. Cameron Sutton was brought back to Pittsburgh for a reason. It didn’t go great for Sutton in Detroit, largely because he was put in too much of a high-leverage position too often, especially outside the numbers. He can probably still handle the slot.

I wouldn’t mess with Bishop’s playing time. My guess is that Tomlin will. If he does, I’m also guessing we’ll see more of Bishop again before the season is over. I’d prefer to see Sutton resume the super-utility role he used to have when he was a Steeler the first time around, as opposed to being hammered into a full-time starting role.

5. Can the Steelers get out to better starts?: Eventually, I’m going to have to start accepting the mounting evidence when it comes to this question and just say: “No.”

I know the Pittsburgh coaching staff has been excellent when it comes to adjusting at halftime. The Steelers now have a plus-76 point differential in the second half of games this season.

Unfortunately, the club is only averaging 8.25 points per game before halftime. Against teams like Baltimore, Philadelphia and Kansas City, that’s not going to be good enough.

6. Do we need to start wondering about the defense?: Yeah. A little bit.

Over the past five games, the Steelers are yielding 359 yards per game. That tracks at a pace that would put them 24th in the NFL. Their net passing yards allowed of 257 yards per game over that stretch would be 29th in the NFL. They’ve had 10 sacks over the last five games after getting nine in the first three.

Those are weak numbers. Fifteen takeaways on the season is great deodorant for that. But turnovers can be fickle.

On the ground against the Giants, Colts and Cowboys, the Steelers’ defense has been a bit leaky. Jets’ running back Breece Hall hurt the Steelers catching the ball out of the backfield.

Breece lightning for 56 yards!

????: #NYJvsPIT on NBC/Peacock
????: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/yMh9Sr74xz

— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2024

In general, tackling has been somewhat spotty early in games the past few weeks.

It wouldn’t hurt if, during the bye week, a little extra self-scouting was done in some of those areas.

Listen: Tim Benz and Chris Adamski discuss the state of the 6-2 Steelers heading into the bye.