Are The Steelers Finally Ready To Race?
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) catches a deep pass over Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton (21) in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 12 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. The Steelers took a 16-10 win over the Bengals in Cincinnati.
I drove a 1975 Buick Century in high school. Bright red with gold accent stripes on the sides, it jumped out at you when you saw it among the modern cars my friends drove. My dad and brother found it in Cleveland for pennies on the dollar. The woman had a son who didn’t want anything to do with it (typical Cleveland), so we piled in my dad’s pickup and crossed the border to pick it up.
It was fun to drive it around town as a young kid. It was a tank, but it looked like a muscle car to the uninitiated. We joked that we should get a vanity plate reading “ALLSHO-NOGO”. It was a flashy car but didn’t do flashy things. There was talk about dropping a bigger motor into it and turning it into the car it appeared to be, but ultimately we never pulled the trigger.
Over the past few years, the Steelers’ offense has reminded me of Rhonda (that’s what I named her). They have made acquisitions, built rosters, “addressed the O-line” and used first-round draft picks on a running back and quarterback. They have all the look of a flashy muscle machine. There has been anticipation, speculation, and even outright expectation that the Steelers would recovered from their slump and start to excel. But still, through this season, they have looked confused, uninspired, and pathetic on many of their outings.
But the organization has finally done what my Dad and I never did. They have attempted to address the engine.
Of course, we are speaking of he who shall not be named. A man whose sir name is that of a country to the North of the United States of America. On November 21st, 2023, on the South Side of Pittsburgh, the Steelers relieved that man of his duties as the Offensive Coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I received messages and texts from friends and family when the news broke. The wording varied, but the message was consistent: “Good riddance, ya jag-off”
I’ll admit, I’ll remember that day for years to come. I was relieved. I was also concerned. What if it’s Kenny, I asked myself– It isn’t. “What if the OC wasn’t the problem?” – It was.
The Steelers shattered their 400-yard roadblock on Sunday against the Bengals. They had a perfectly balanced 33 run plays to 33 pass plays. Kenny threw short, Kenny threw long, Kenny threw TO THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD for a season-high total. The running backs ran tough, breaking free on multiple occasions. The Muuth was looth all game with career numbers as well. Yet they finished with a mere 16 points against a Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati team.
Some individuals have let that point total dampen their excitement. They see it as cause for concern, citing the 25% conversion rate in the red zone as a glaring weakness for the Steelers, and calling for the dismissal of Diontae Johnson because of his zero-effort play after his touchdown was called incomplete.
I, however, have chosen to be excited for what’s to come. Let me tell you why.
For starters, this has been building, in spite of ineffective offensive coaching this season. The predictability of the Pittsburgh offense has led the league in average rushing yards per game in recent weeks. They have developed continuity on the offensive line since the introduction of Broderick Jones, and they have shown no signs of slowing down.
The pass protection is improving, and with it, Kenny Pickett’s happy feet will likely be remedied. Say what you want about the Bengals, they have a solid pass rush and are tied with the Steelers in the turnover margin category. For the most part, Kenny stayed poised in the pocket and once again did not turn the ball over.
Finally, the offense has finally found some sort of rhythm. The division of passes to runs is important, but they are also applying pressure, something Mike Tomlin enjoys doing. They will force opposing defenses to cover the entire field (a novel concept) and they will be able to dictate personnel matchups with a threatening tight end.
The road ahead isn’t as daunting as the first half of the season. This should prove valuable to a developing offense trying to find its mojo. This was the bounce-back game the Steelers needed in the wake of a loss to the Browns and a coaching change. They’re showing real improvement, and it should continue. Who knows, maybe they have dropped a new engine into this car, and they’re finally ready to race.
Up Next