Soccer is a younger man’s sport, however the Pittsburgh Steelers look like relying on age and expertise to attempt to win in 2025.
Already an older crew, the Steelers grew to become even older Monday with the acquisitions of defensive again Jalen Ramsey and tight finish Jonnu Smith, whereas buying and selling away security Minkah Fitzpatrick. Ramsey is coming into his age 31 season, whereas Smith turns 30 in late August.
In NFL phrases, they’re graybeards.
Primarily based on what the Steelers have achieved this offseason, they match proper into Pittsburgh. That’s an actual drawback for former NFL offensive lineman Damien Woody.
Showing on ESPN’s UnSportsmanLike Tuesday morning, Woody mentioned the Steelers are making a mistake making an attempt to compete with a bunch of older guys.
“Three years in the past I’d’ve been excited. This does nothing for me. It does nothing, as a result of after I take a look at all of the items that the Pittsburgh Steelers have acquired, just about, they’re all previous,” Woody mentioned of the Steelers, in line with audio through ESPN Radio. “We’re relying on a bunch of older guys at essential positions to attempt to win a championship.
“You’re the Pittsburgh Steelers. I imply, you bought Aaron Rodgers, 41, okay? Cam Heyward is 36. T.J. Watt is on the mistaken facet of 30. Jalen Ramsey is on the mistaken facet of 30. These are some fairly essential items that you just’re relying on to raise you. And oh, by the way in which, you’re not higher than Kansas Metropolis, Buffalo or Baltimore. You’ve pushed your chips all in, however has it gotten you any nearer? I don’t assume so.”
From the surface wanting in, the strikes don’t precisely transfer the needle. The Steelers received older and dearer. Not often a profitable recipe.
Nonetheless, the gamers they acquired match the slim window the Steelers try to compete in with Aaron Rodgers underneath middle for the 2025 season, to not point out names like Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt and Darius Slay on protection.
Including a bunch of 30-plus 12 months previous gamers doesn’t appear to be an awesome marketing strategy in a younger man’s sport. However the Steelers are seemingly out of persistence with regards to making an attempt to develop younger items across the core group, resulting in the aggressive strikes this offseason, including a lot of skilled, achieved veterans to attempt to compete for a Tremendous Bowl.
Although they now have some huge names on the roster, it’s quite a bit to gamble on the well being and availability of a lot of growing older veterans with a number of mileage on them, particularly in such a bodily sport. The Steelers struggled with mushy tissues accidents final 12 months within the first 12 months underneath a brand new coaching workers, and now they’re returning to practices at 1:55 p.m. in coaching camp to cope with the warmth extra, whereas additionally making an attempt to work by means of some kinks with the coaching workers.
It looks like a harmful gamble for the Steelers, however they very clearly really feel they’re in a selected window to compete for a Tremendous Bowl. For GM Omar Khan, they’re doing all the pieces attainable to attempt to win, even when meaning loading up on growing older veterans.
That may not transfer the needle for Woody or different analysts, however the Steelers imagine they’re shut, and that’s all that issues proper now. They’re transferring with conviction and creating pleasure.
