Steelers legend Jerome Bettis reveals biggest question surrounding Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh

Before embarking on his first training camp as a member of the Pittsburgh steelers, Aaron Rodgers will first be setting him up in the American championship of the century, a celebrity golf tournament that will also set foot the Steelers Hall of Fame Running Back Bettis.

Bettis, who retired shortly after helping the Steelers to win the Super Bowl in 2005, hopes that Rodgers can have a similar story write in 2025. There is however a potential obstacle in Rodgers and Steelers.

“I think the only big question you need to ask yourself is: Can you protect it?” Bettis said in a head-on-head interview with CBS Sports. “I think it will be the number one priority for the Steelers. Obviously, you know that Rogers as a quarterrier is a talent. Even at 41 years old, it will be much above average as a quarter.

“If you can protect it, then you can get the full value of it and this position. If you cannot protect it, then whatever you put there. You can play two young guys, it doesn’t matter. You will get the same productivity. So I think the goal is to protect it. If you can protect it, then I think you benefit from all the advantages of having a quality football player.

Although it has the potential to be a very solid unit, the Steelers offensive line is extremely young. Apart from Isaac Seamalo, 31 years old, the choice of first round 2023 Broderick Jones is the only other starter expected on the line which has more than a year of experience in the NFL. The Zach Frazier center and the McCormick Mason right guard are second -year players who have started for the majority of their recruit seasons. Troy FAUTANU, a choice of first round in 2024, should start in the right tackle after having missed most of his recruit season after being injured in the week 1. Jones, who started right tackle last season, replaces Dan Moore Jr. (who signed with the Titans during the Libre agency) in Left Tackle.

Bettis hopes that the Steelers have done enough to protect Rodgers, who did not receive the best protection during his brief mandate with the New York Jets. But if this is not the case, Bettis said that the Steelers should be proactive in terms of line improvement before week 1.

“I think it must be the point of emphasizing fall,” said Bettis. “They must ensure that they get things on the offensive line. … I think that is the only way they are successful in the future is that this offensive line is solidifying.”

In addition to stellar protection, Bettis also stressed the importance of the Steelers who succeeded on the ground with Jaylen Warren and the recruit Kaleb Johnson. The duo will have to replace the production that Najee Harris has given to the Steelers in the past four years which included four consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards on the ground. Harris signed with the loaders in free agency after the Steelers let him test the free market.

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“You needed an excellent racing game for sure,” said Bettis. “Najee Harris, his development every year, we could see him. You saw him become a really, really talented ball carrier. So, yes, the loss is significant, but I like the choice of recovery of Kaleb Johnson. Kaleb is an excellent punch 1-2 in this position.

“And I think that is something you need to give to Aaron Rodgers. You have to give him a racing game. So now you don’t ask him to back up 35, 40 times with an offensive line that is probably not the best offensive passage line. So, you think you are creating a big mixture to protect Aaron Rodgers.”

Apart from the quarter, Bettis believes that the Steelers have done a fairly good job of this off-season in terms of resolution of their two other major problems: depth in the receiver and the improvement of the race defense. Regarding the position of the receiver, the Steelers lost George Pickens, but they acquired the double receiver of the Pro Bowl DK Metcalf via a business with Seattle. Pittsburgh also has great hopes for the veteur veteran Calvin Austin III and second year Wilson Roman Wilson (who missed all his season recruited after being injured during the training camp). The Steelers (who have also signed the veteran Robert Woods in a free agency) should also obtain their tight ends – in particular Pat Freiermuth – more involved in the game of passes with Rodgers under the center.

Regarding the team’s expectations, Bettis believes that “the qualifiers are the ground” for the Steelers 2025, assuming that Rodgers is adequately protected and everything that happens as planned.

“Once you have arrived at the playoffs, anything is possible,” said Bettis. “I think that is what you need to think. Gel well enough to arrive at the playoffs. We were a sixth seeded and we won the championship. So I think that should be the priority, hinder the playoffs and then become the best version of yourself that you can be.”

It is clear that Bettis always has the faith that Rodgers can always play at a high level if his support cast is quite good. Bettis also believes in the Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who, despite all his success (including a record of 18 non -losing seasons consecutive to start his career) has his share of criticisms among the base of the Steelers fans, largely because of the current drought of Pittsburgh without victory in eliminatory series, which dates from the end of the 2016 season.

“He does everything he can do with the talent given to him,” said Bettis about Tomlin. “If he made all the decisions and wrote all the players, then yes, you must keep him more responsible in a more important way. But this is not the case. He does a large part, but he is not THE part of it. So, that being said, you draw him responsible for his capacity as a coach. I think that when you look at the coaching work, he did each year to be where they were at the end of the year, I think that has always been an excellent work in terms of coaching.

“So, can you hold it responsible for losses when you don’t get the quarter game you need so much? You have what you have. Everyone can see it. It is not like you have to get a quarter. From, it will take possession to say:” Hey, we have to go up and get a guy, and we want to abandon a few resources to do it. “Well, it will not be a decision of chief coaching.

As Rodgers apparently did, Bettis had already arrived at the conclusion that he was going to retire at the end of his last season. He believes that Rodgers who will already arrive at this decision will actually benefit him and the Steelers this season.

“It’s not at all difficult, in fact,” said Bettis when he was asked about the challenge of playing in your last season. “You feel free because, you say to yourself:” Hey, no expectations, let’s go and do our best that we can do. “So I think it’s a set of mind.

Bettis and Rodgers will try to give everything during the American Century championship, which will take place from July 11 to 13. Bettis, who said that his goal was to try to finish in the top 15, is in an area that also includes tight chiefs Travis Kelce, his professional football colleague, Steve Young, Charles Woodson and Marcus Allen, the current Bills quarterrier and the MVP of the Josh Allen league and the Golden State Warriors, the Garde Stephen Curry The event in 2023.

“When you look at the benefit of the event, you know, collect $ 8 million for charity in and around this region, it makes a big difference and it allows you to spend a week up there and enjoy and have a good time,” said Bettis. “It’s a great experience. … I am delighted to be part of it.”