Falcons vs. Steelers: 5 questions for the opponent

Did the Pittsburgh Steelers make the right decision at quarterback? What about the offensive line? I asked Ryland Bickley these and other questions this week on Behind the Steel Curtain to get a taste of the Atlanta Falcons' opponent in Week 1.

My questions and Bickley's answers can be found below, as well as my answers to his questions at Behind the Steel Curtain.

Tre’Shon Diaz: The Steelers have revamped their quarterback room this year with the additions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Wilson won the battle in training camp and is expected to start in Week 1. Do you think the Steelers made the right decision?

Ryland Bickley: For now, yes. Wilson is a little more comfortable in the pocket and is more experienced, while Fields is equally dynamic and error-prone. Both quarterbacks are more similar in terms of strengths and weaknesses than you'd think — and neither of them rocked the world in the preseason — but for now, I can't blame the Steelers for going with the veteran. If you ask me again in a few weeks, my opinion might change.

Wilson has looked good this year, but he's definitely not the Pro Bowler he was in Seattle. Add in a lingering calf issue, a struggling offensive line and razor-thin wide receiver depth, and you see an offense that could be most successful with Fields as the hero. But for now, it's best to see what the more consistent Wilson has to offer.

Still, look for a Justin Fields package on Sunday. He's a dynamic runner and the Steelers will want to take advantage of that.

Tre’Shon Diaz: Pittsburgh has parted ways with OC Matt Canada. What are the expectations for Arthur Smith, whose offense struggled to move the ball through the air and score touchdowns in Atlanta?

Ryland Bickley: The Steelers offense struggled mightily for most of the preseason, but it was hard to blame Smith. With the exception of running back, Pittsburgh's offensive position groups just aren't that strong this year. And to be fair to Smith, I'm willing to bet he limited plays to the standard formula in games that don't count.

Of course, Smith doesn't have a great reputation right now given his struggles in Atlanta, but he was a good coordinator in Tennessee and already looks like an improvement over the chaos that was Matt Canada's tenure in Pittsburgh. Smith seems less stressed and tense than he was last year with the Falcons — there's a reasonable chance he's a competent coordinator who just isn't cut out to be a head coach.

Compared to last year, Pittsburgh's offense looks more purposeful and the running game has been strong enough so far to allow for a number of successful long play-action passes. As for expectations, I'd say they're not too high going into Week 1 given the Steelers' preseason performance. But the years in Canada have set the bar so incredibly low that the performance on the field on Sunday could still be better. In my opinion, there will be offensive growth this year, but probably not until a while after Week 1.

Tre’Shon Diaz: The Falcons didn't use Kirk Cousins ​​and most of their starters all preseason, a stark contrast to the Steelers. Do you think Atlanta is at a disadvantage with this approach?

Ryland Bickley: These are professional athletes who still trained during the summer, so I find it hard to believe rust will play a significant role in Sunday's outcome. That being said, the Steelers' front seven is a fearsome unit this year, with deep, talented spaces at edge rusher, defensive line and inside linebacker. They were all over the field during the preseason, even when TJ Watt and Cam Heyward sat out.

Therefore, Atlanta's offense will need to get off to a strong start if it wants to move the ball early. This Steelers defense is a strong candidate to lead the NFL in sacks in 2024, which is not an ideal opponent for Kirk Cousins ​​​​in his first game since October of last year.

Tre’Shon Diaz: The Steelers' offensive line has suffered a lot of injuries, especially on the interior. How much confidence do you have in the players who will replace them?

Ryland Bickley: The Steelers' offensive line is a huge problem this year, which I'll summarize as best I can. At center, Pittsburgh lost presumed starter Nate Herbig for the season. However, his replacement was this year's second-round pick Zach Frazier, who far outperformed Herbig in the preseason and was ultimately projected as the starter. So depth suffers, but it's actually an improvement for the starting lineup.

The biggest loss is left guard Isaac Seumalo, the Steelers' best lineman, who will be out for the game against the Falcons and probably for a few weeks afterward. Second-year utility lineman Spencer Anderson, who looked solid in the preseason, will take over, but he's a former seventh-round pick making his first NFL appearance. There's some uncertainty there. At least the other guard spot will be filled by James Daniels, a reliable veteran who is one of the better players on the Steelers' offense.

As for tackles, Dan Moore Jr. is the Steelers' projected starter at left guard. He had a solid summer but has been one of the worst Steelers linemen in pass defense over the past few seasons, allowing eight sacks in 2023 according to PFF. On the other hand, Broderick Jones (2023 first-round pick) and Troy Fautanu (2024 first-round pick) are battling for the starting spot (Jones will likely start in Week 1). Both had a rough preseason and have battled injuries this summer. The two are also college left tackles who play right guard, which has definitely hurt Jones' development.

In short, the Steelers' offensive line is inexperienced, injury-plagued and shaky. That's Pittsburgh's biggest concern heading into Sunday. The group is better in the run game than in pass defense, which is good news for Arthur Smith's philosophy, but overall there isn't much confidence.

Tre’Shon Diaz: The Falcons have only beaten the Steelers twice in their team history, with their last win coming nearly 20 years ago. Will the Steelers continue their dominance or will the Falcons get their third win? Give us your final score prediction before the game.

Ryland Bickley: Despite the history of the matchup, I think the Falcons will take win No. 3 here. Still, Mike Tomlin's Steelers teams have a habit of dragging games down to their level. Pittsburgh is inferior on paper, but their defense is an impressive group and I believe this game will remain close until the end. 20-17, Falcons.