The Steelers Are In Need Of Calling Cards
Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
To win consistently in professional sports, you need calling cards. Not “calling card” singular, but “calling cards” plural. The general fan will often focus on the main thing a great team does well. I know this is a football column, but take the Golden State Warriors for example. To most, their calling card is three-point shooting, which they do better than anyone in the history of the league. But a true understanding of the game reveals that they also move the ball on offense at an elite level and play superior help-side team defense. It’s this confluence of calling cards that elevates them.
The 2023 iteration of the Pittsburgh Steelers is seemingly devoid of calling cards. With the exception of an all-world outside pass rush manned by two future Hall of Famers, it’s hard to list anything else Pittsburgh can hang its hat on.
With the bye week just a week away, now is the perfect time for Mike Tomlin and his team to do some soul searching.
Mike Tomlin asked if there’s going to be changes, he says emphatically, “Hell yeah there’s going to be changes.”
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) October 1, 2023
Pittsburgh needs to take a step back and try to develop a focus on what they are capable of doing well. What, in moments when they are spiraling out of control, can they lean on to get back on path? What are their calling cards?
There are a few simple options right in front of them.
The Steelers can run the ball in between the tackles. Against the Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, and Houston Texans, they found running room double teaming at the point of attack on inside zone plays. It’s when they decide to run wide that they ran into trouble. The line is built to maul, not chase. Najee Harris is a very skilled power back. Make it simple and continue to apply what works.
Run downhill and force teams to commit more people to the box to stop the run. Give your quarterback the freedom to audible (based on down and distance) to an inside run play every time they see a six-man box. Be the team that can always go to its power running game when things are drifting off course.
With a run game capable of presenting a consistent threat, the Steelers could finally take advantage of a quarterback’s best friend and properly execute the play-action pass game. This team needs more simple plays with simple looks. Make the defense respect your ground game and allow your young (or veteran back up) quarterback to get some easy throws under his belt.
Downhill running lays the foundation that the whole offense needs to be built on. Pittsburgh can be very good at it if they consistently commit and make it their priority.
For decades, the Steelers were known as a team that refused to allow an opposing running back to go off. It’s what the Steel Curtain defense was built upon back in the ‘70s. The 2023 version has missed the mark. The defense as a whole has been underwhelming, but the run defense has particularly struggled
Stopping the run is a must. Yes, you might get attacked on the back end by adding more people to the line of scrimmage on run downs, but teams are having their way with the secondary anyway. At some point, the Steelers must take a stand and eliminate something. The strength of the defense is their rushes off the edge. Why not try and get in obvious passing downs by stopping the run early. Bringing more run blitzes on run downs could allow the currently lackluster linebackers to stop runs before they get started.
Finally, owning field position is the goal of every NFL team. Pittsburgh just happens to be in the unique position to actually accomplish it.
Pressley Harvin III and Chris Boswell are two of the league’s best. Yes Harvin has struggled in years past, but not in 2023. The Raiders game alone (three punts downed inside the 20) is enough to show us he is coming of age as an NFL punter.
Pressley Harvin III punted 6 times for a 53.8-yard average with 3 downed inside the 20-yard line (including a 56-yarder that pinned the Raiders at their 15-yard line with 12 seconds left in the game). #Steelers #NFL
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) September 25, 2023
After a rough 2022 season, Boswell is back to his normal, ultra-consistent self and is a weapon up 57 yards. He’s also about as automatic as it gets with touchbacks on kickoffs.
The coverage units are also thriving. Pinning teams deep, reducing returns, and being able to get three points from long distances are the type of things that a team like this will need to win ugly.
Despite all the negativity floating around, the Steelers are still 2-2 with a long season in front of them. If they can find a way, over the next two weeks, to develop and commit to a couple of calling cards, there is still time to send this season in the right direction. But it’s up to the coaching staff and players to answer the call.
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