Steelers Just Getting Started in Adhering to Their ‘Urgency’ Edict
They appear to have won free agency and the draft. But team president Art Rooney II and head coach Mike Tomlin know that’s a long way from winning the Super Bowl.
When he made it clear back in late January that it was time to apply “urgency” to a run of seven seasons and counting that have ended without a win in the playoffs, Steelers president Art Rooney II also acknowledged it was going to take more than that.
“We need to have another good draft class,” Rooney emphasized.
In the wake of hiring a new offensive coordinator and three new quarterbacks, after signing a high-profile and prolific inside linebacker, after getting a decorated return specialist and after trading their second-leading receiver for a cornerback in an offseason that can best be described as urgent and aggressive, that subsequent draft box appears to have been checked.
So far, so good.
The Steelers’ draft class is being universally lauded.
But for this team at this time, that’s far from the end of the process.
Rooney acknowledged that, as well, last Friday during an interview with Fox Sports Pittsburgh 970 and SNR after the Steelers had selected offensive tackle Troy Fautanu but before they had subsequently gotten their hands on center Zack Frazier, wide receiver Roman Wilson and inside linebacker Payton Wilson.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” Rooney maintained. “We’re in an extremely competitive division and conference.
“It’s an interesting time to be a team trying to contend in the AFC, that’s for sure.”
Kansas City, among other teams, has seen to that.
Related: Steelers Should Get What They Need, But Not Get Greedy
While the Steelers were remodeling their offensive line, adding much-needed speed and explosiveness at wide receiver and changing the way they’ll be capable of playing defense at the NFL’s Annual Selection Meeting, the Chiefs were drafting the fastest wide receiver in the history of the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Chiefs have won three Super Bowls and appeared in four since the Steelers last won a playoff game.
So this is no time for the Steelers to exhale and admire all their offseason and draft have accomplished in terms of reshaping their roster.
Fortunately for the Steelers, that, too, appears to be understood.
Head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed as much when he was interviewed by Peter Schrager of the NFL Network during the draft.
Schrager asked Tomlin a softball question about how it was going in the early going with new quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Tomlin’s response made it clear the “urgency” edict still applies.
“All three, to be really transparent, are somewhat scalded,” Tomlin recognized out loud. “They have something to prove professionally. But we as a collective feel the same way. We have some things to prove and I just think that is a good frame of mind to be in as individuals and as a collective as we prepare for the 2024 season.”
“It’s not fun to relocate or get fired or things of that nature but as competitors, man, it always motivates us in the right way. I’m excited about working with the men that you mentioned. And we as a collective have some questions to answer. I’m excited about that, as well.”
The Steelers needed to be urgent in free agency and the draft.
They’ll need to be urgent again throughout OTAs, mandatory veteran minicamp, training camp and the exhibition games.
And if they’re fortunate enough to get back to the playoffs, they’ll need to be more urgent than they’ve been since urgency wasn’t an issue (seven years ago and counting).
They’ve taken the necessary steps initially this offseason.
But they have miles to go before they can get to where they want to be, individually and collectively.
Losing sight of that prematurely would be the quickest way to ensure they never get there.
