Mike Tomlin talks about offseason growth from Spencer Anderson, George Pickens

Spencer Anderson and George Pickens are two players Mike Tomlin wants to see take a step forward heading into the 2024 season. With the Pittsburgh Steelers having kicked off training camp earlier this week, both players will have the opportunity to show where they’ve improved.

Anderson is a second-year guard who appeared in eight games last season as a seventh-round draft pick out of Maryland. He is one of many players fighting to make the 53-man roster this summer, where he’d likely be a reserve player.

With guard Isaac Seumalo sitting out Saturday’s practice, however, Anderson got the opportunity to run with the first team. Tomlin spoke on his expectations for the offensive lineman and how important days like Saturday are to earn the trust of the coaching staff.

“He hasn’t shown me a lot yet because it’s early in the process and we’re still football in helmets, but he’s an example of what I’m talking about,” the coach said. “We expect some growth from him being a second-year guy. So Isaac having the day off allows him to work on his skills and display his skills.”

Pickens’ spot on the roster is more solidified than Anderson. A receiver getting ready to enter his third pro season, he emerged as the Steelers’ top weapon this past season to finish with 63 catches for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns.

Pittsburgh will have a new quarterback as it brought in both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields this offseason. That added consistency should help Pickens, who played with three different starting quarterbacks in 2023.

The Steelers also lost Diontae Johnson, who finished second to Pickens in targets this past season. That has led to big expectations for Pickens as he will be the undisputed top option among the Pittsburgh skill players.

“I think that’s why we’re here,” Tomlin said. “We’re all carving out our roles and developing our roles specifically. Obviously from a George perspective, he’s got some unique talents and we just want that to show up extremely consistently.”

The Steelers are coming off of a 10-7 finish this past season and lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. They have never finished with a record below .500 in 17 seasons with Tomlin as their head coach.

For that to continue, Pittsburgh will need both Spencer Anderson and George Pickens to continue to make strides in their young careers. The Steelers open the preseason on Aug. 9 with a matchup against the Houston Texans.