Steelers Stock Watch: Fallers after preseason game one win at Buccaneers

Just because the Pittsburgh Steelers left the sunshine state with a win on Friday, it doesn't mean it's all sunshine and rainbows in the 412. Excited? Sure. Optimistic? Definitely. But following the 27-17 win over the Bucs' there are a few holes that desperately need to be patched on the Steelers' ship. And one of […]

Rob Gregson — NFL News Writer

Aug 12, 2023 1:14 AM EDT

Just because the Pittsburgh Steelers left the sunshine state with a win on Friday, it doesn't mean it's all sunshine and rainbows in the 412.

Excited? Sure. Optimistic? Definitely. But following the 27-17 win over the Bucs' there are a few holes that desperately need to be patched on the Steelers' ship.

And one of them just so happens to touch the ball on every play:

The “Center” of Attention

No position leaves tonight's game with more question marks than center. Whether it be starter Mason Cole, backup Kendrick Green, or even rotating interior offensive linemen behind them, the center position is in flux.

That could be a problem seeing as that's the player along the line that has to be the most in sync with QB Kenny Pickett, not to mention capable of protecting him from the 300-pound behemoths aiming to hunt him down from five yards away.

So for the sake of Kenny Pickett and the sanity of Steelers fans, let's just hope it was some early-season jitters.

Health is Wealth

The Steelers' defense was already down two players in defensive lineman Larry Ognjobi and rookie CB Joey Porter Jr., with both being ruled out in what HC Mike Tomlin called the "11th hour" before tonight's game.

That was only magnified when rookie DT Keeanu Benton left the game with an ankle injury, especially after the night he was having.

Later in the game, CB Duke Dawson went down with a serious-looking knee injury that we will await the details on.

Hopefully, these are mostly minor bumps and bruises with everyone good to go come week one.

No planner for Tanner

Tanner Morgan played the majority of the fourth quarter on Friday. But the undrafted free agent QB struggled to keep the ball on the right side of the field.

First, a bobbled exchange that was overruled, giving Morgan and the Steelers another shot at things, Morgan threw an interception the very next play.

Seeing as he had an uphill climb to beat out Mason Rudolph before tonight's game, things only got more difficult for Morgan after that performance.

And that's a wrap on preseason week one for Pittsburgh. There's no reason to be pessimistic about the result from last night, especially given the final score. Rather, this is just a look in the mirror that Pittsburgh needs to have, especially when it comes to the center position.

Arguably the weakest starting spot on the whole team, the line is only injury away from serious trouble on the interior, something Pittsburgh wants no part of.