The Steelers Are Still Learning About Themselves
Credit: Barry Reeger-USA TODAY Sports
It’s been observed by both friends and family that I am not fun to fish with until I’ve caught my first fish of the day. I’m not proud of this, but I suppose this trait is a fixed, unchangeable part of me by now. There is something about waiting to get that first one under my belt that piles pressure on me, and only that first catch can allow me to settle in.
Steelers fans across the country are apparently grappling with a similar feeling. After two preseason losses, the Black and Gold faithful are getting antsy and frustrated while they wait to reel in that first win. The offense has performed poorly, which is especially deflating after many had hoped Arthur Smith’s offensive scheme and playcalling would bring enlightenment with each play. Instead, sacks, fumbles, missed throws, and poor offensive line play have plagued the offense. It’s a far cry from last year, which might be a good thing.
Without going too far back down memory lane, the expectations going into the 2023 regular season for Kenny Pickett and Matt Canada were high. The offense was electrifying in the preseason, so much so that national media members picked the Steelers vs. San Francisco 49ers matchup as one of the most intriguing matchups of Week 1. The 30-7 loss brought Pittsburgh back to reality.
In further contrast to last season, the Steelers open up with a “mild” schedule. The Atlanta Falcons have certainly improved, especially in recent weeks with the addition of Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons. Nevertheless, they are not a likely Super Bowl representative for the NFC as San Francisco was last year. The Steelers then go on to play the Denver Broncos who have a promising young quarterback (at least if we’re talking stock in two preseason games), but the roster isn’t intimidating. I fully expect the Steelers’ coaching staff and elite defense to handle business in their first two road games.
The home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers should have been their first real test, but Justin Herbert’s injury and the mass exodus of offensive skill players in Los Angeles will be a project that will take some time to figure out. Pittsburgh will then head to Indianapolis to play an offense led by Anthony Richardson. He is undeniably talented, but at that point, he will have started just seven NFL games.
I can’t sit here and say the Steelers will be 4-0 after Week 4, but it isn’t out of the question that they win two or three games, even with an offensive unit that is still learning to gel.
Mike Tomlin and Smith are looking at this preseason as a growth opportunity, and it shows in their decision-making. There is no question that Smith’s offense will start on the ground. He was the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans the year Derrick Henry eclipsed 2,000 yards rushing. Yet, on Saturday night, the starting offense only ran the ball five times.
Unlike Canada (sorry, I had to!), Smith uses his propensity to run the ball to his advantage by calling a lot of play-action throws. There was little of that on Saturday. There were also very few deep balls thrown, despite it being a key weapon in Russell Wilson’s arsenal.
Tomlin is asking his players to make plays. The coaching staff is gathering information that they can use to put together real game plans for real games. If they were to deploy their entire offense just to beat the Bills in a preseason game, they would learn that their regular season offense would work pretty well against a preseason base defense. Or, put another way, they’d learn nothing.
Expect this learning process to linger into the regular season, but with more success as the offense gels and the coaches open things up. As Wilson grows more comfortable and the offensive line continues to find chemistry, things will turn around. Thankfully, they will have the easier part of their schedule to iron things out for an extra buffer against the lack of cohesion we’ve seen thus far.
Whether or not Tomlin says they take things one week at a time, it’s undeniable that they are looking at Week 11 with anticipation. That begins the eight-week gauntlet in which they play all six division games, along with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. That will be the story of the season, as long as they can handle business early on. With Tomlin’s record against division opponents and the expectation of high-quality offensive play by midseason, there is no reason for fans to despair after Saturday night.
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