3 things the Pittsburgh Steelers need to address in 2022

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 09: Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reacts after Chase Claypool #11 caught the ball over defender Patrick Peterson #7 of the Minnesota Vikings in the third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 9, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

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PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 08: Dan Moore Jr. #65 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action on against the Chicago Bears on November 8, 2021 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

1. Continue to upgrade the offensive line

The franchise used the 24th overall pick on University of Alabama running back Najee Harris last April. The hard-charging performer ran 307 times for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns. He finished second on the team with 74 catches, good for 467 yards, and three more scores.

That’s a total of 381 touches with scrimmage and Harris did not fumble. Of course, the latter changed when he coughed up the ball in Sunday’s wild-card loss to the Chiefs.

Despite Harris’ efforts, the Steelers wound up with the fourth-fewest rushing yards in the league. They averaged just 93.1 yards per game on the ground. The biggest problem was a revamped offensive front that had plenty of new faces but lacked efficiency. Rookie tackle Dan Moore stood out among the various changes but this was far from a fearsome unit. And this team has finished in the bottom fourth of the NFL in rushing yards each of these last four straight years.

Harris has already proven to be a physical runner and certainly capable of bigger things. But he was stymied too many times thanks mainly to that aforementioned offensive front that couldn’t get the job done. Like the defensive front, the work on the offensive line must continue as well. It’s a high priority this offseason.

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