Welcome to the 5 Questions edition, a collaboration between SB Nation and other sites to preview upcoming Ravens matchups. Ryland Bickley, of Behind the Steel Curtain, is here to answer Baltimore Beatdown’s questions for Week 14. This week the Ravens will be playing the Pittsburgh Steelers.
1. What has been your experience with Aaron Rodgers so far? It seems that he is an upgrade over Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, but does he go far enough?
Recent years have been a bit chaotic. Rodgers had been a successful offensive distributor earlier in the season. He didn’t throw the ball far enough and his time was limited, but the Steelers were scoring and taking advantage of yards after the catch.
As the season progressed, and Rodgers became more injured, his play level has dropped. Rodgers is becoming increasingly uneasy in the pocket, and his accuracy on throws 10 yards or more beyond the line of the scrimmage has plummeted. He’s still better than Wilson or Fields but has clearly regressed in recent weeks and is now a weakness on the offense.
2. Mike Tomlin’s reputation is fading among Pittsburgh fans. What can Tomlin do to win back the fans, and would you consider trading Tomlin if the Steelers were willing?
Tomlin can win back some of the fans’ support in the short-term by winning one or two playoff games this season. The frustration is mainly due to the fact that Pittsburgh haven’t been competitive or won any postseason games since 2016-17.
Tomlin must modernize his team’s strategy, particularly when it comes time to hire coordinators and assistants.
Tomlin is not going to be fired or traded anytime soon. The majority of “reports,” on this subject, are unsubstantiated rumors which run contrary to the way the Steelers operate. Pittsburgh has only had three head coaches in the last 50 years and is known to be very loyal to their staff.
Tomlin could be on the way out of his Steelers seat, given the current situation. If the two sides do part ways it is likely to be after Tomlin’s contract expires in 2027.
3. What are the main reasons for the Steelers’ inconsistency on defense this season? What is their performance compared to the Ravens offense from last season?
I’ve described these issues as a combination of the Steelers defensive star losing their step and the overall scheme not doing much to help out the players.
T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward are still great players, but not as dynamic as they used to be in their prime. Pittsburgh’s failed Darius Slay strategy is perhaps the most extreme case of how a veteran-heavy approach can go wrong. The team signed the 34-year old to start, but benched and waived him at midseason.
The front seven has struggled to execute run defense, particularly amongst the younger defensive linemen and the interior linebacker room. In coverage, the team struggled to adapt to the opposing offenses. However, this has improved in the second part of the season.
The Steeler’s defense has slowed down due to injury, and the Ravens offense is also a step backwards from their electric 2024. Derrick Henry is showing signs of ageing, Lamar Jackson has slowed due to an injury and Baltimore lacks high-end receiver talent. I do not see Baltimore being able to put over 450 total yards on Pittsburgh as they did in the wildcard round last year.
Even with Jackson not 100%, the Steelers have enough defensive firepower to stay competitive. I’m worried more about the Pittsburgh offense.
4. Derrick Harmon was not available for the Steelers’ run defense against Buffalo. The Ravens’ offensive line has also had trouble getting up front and running the ball this season. What do you expect to happen in that matchup?
As long as Harmon is out, I’m not confident in Pittsburgh’s personnel to defend the run against Baltimore. Therefore, I’d give the Ravens the slight advantage. Last week, it was bad enough. The Bills may have the top rushing offense in the NFL, but the Steelers were able to gain a yard or more through the holes they created against them during Week 13.
It is important to note that the Steelers had some success in the past when it came to figuring out ways to stop Baltimore’s modern offense. It will be fascinating to see the outcome of Sunday’s matchup.
5. Will Adam Thielen be playing on Sunday? Will he have an impact? If not, who else (besides D.K. Metcalf will step up.
Tomlin has often said that it is difficult to jump on a moving train, which has become a bit of an ironic meme among Steelers fans.
Pittsburgh’s decision to claim Thielen this week, rather than wait to add him to the practice squad, shows that they intend to use him as soon as possible, especially given his experience.
Thielen, who is 35 years old, is not the same player he used to be. Rodgers was frustrated with the young receivers he had last week. The addition of an experienced presence could prove beneficial. Although I do not see a 35 year old wide receiver as the missing piece to revitalize the Steelers’ stale offensive, it is still worth considering.
Roman Wilson is another player to keep an eye out for in the receiving area. He’s the third-round selection of Pittsburgh in 2024. Wilson has shown success in recent weeks in getting separation and is due for an increased role in the offense, if Rodgers gets the ball to him.