Jul 25, 2025 4 min read

By Dale Lolley

For the Observer-Reporter

LATROBE – And away we go.

The excitement that surrounds the start of Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent College is always palpable. You can feel it rustling through the hills of the Laurel Highlands.

It’s also the time when players are asked about goals and assessments.

New Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked Thursday following the team’s first practice at Chuck Noll Stadium if he had set goals for himself and the Steelers this season.

Of course, he answered. But he wasn’t about to share them – until he did.

“I think that there’s really only six to eight that really have a legitimate chance,” Rodgers said. “Sometimes it’s 10 to 12, and there’s teams that surprise you, but I would say on paper we’re probably one of those 10 to 12.”

Every player in that locker room should believe that. But voicing it into reality needs a different voice. And Rodgers, one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, can be that guy.

There are those who have a particular view of Rodgers because of his political beliefs or any number of things surrounding him – fair or unfair. But if he makes the Steelers a Super Bowl contender, Steelers Nation will love him.

• The Steelers are very excited about their revamped secondary. Very excited.

While everyone is caught up on who will be the free safety, the real question is which cornerback – Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey or Darius Slay Jr. – might be off the field on running downs.

The correct answer is none.

The Steelers plan to play all three corners on a full-time basis. Call them what you will, but they’ll all just be defensive backs. And you can expect all three will be announced starters all season – because they will be.

“This is a coverage league,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. “You need unbelievable depth and talent at the cornerback position because people have it in their receiving corps.

“We will use a variety of schematics in an effort to minimize passing offenses.”

The Steelers were doing some of that with smoke and mirrors in recent seasons. They could show certain looks, but they couldn’t consistently run them because they just didn’t have the personnel to do it.

Now, they could line up and play man-to-man coverage 90 percent of the time if they so choose – against anybody.

That should lead to an increase in sacks, putting the Steelers back at the top of the league in that very key statistic.

It all works hand in hand.

• And people were concerned about the Steelers getting a contract done with T.J. Watt.

When the player and the team both want to get something done, something usually gets done.

• I’m not sure I’m believing the hype surrounding the Bengals again this season.

Where did they improve?

Sure, the skill-position players are good, but they’re the same group from a year ago. The offensive line? Worse. The defense? Atrocious, with its best player still holding out along with the first-round draft pick selected to one day potentially replace him.

The Bengals won nine games a year ago. They lost several shootouts. They’ll be exciting to watch. But being exciting to watch and being good are two different things.

• The Pirates are a question wrapped in an enigma. Sweep this good team, get swept by that bad one.

Largely their issues have been based on home-road splits.

It shouldn’t matter that much, but with inexperienced teams it just seems to always be the case.

Once they fall behind, they get into chase mode instead of just letting the game come to them. Chip away instead of looking for a three-run home run – especially when you have no power as a team.

There’s absolutely nothing worse than losing 1-0 baseball games. In nine innings, you have to be able to scratch across a run or two.

Dale Lolley hosts The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio and writes a Sunday column for the Observer-Reporter.