The Steelers Offense Doesn’t Need A Hero To Lead It
Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
It’s not an understatement to say the Pittsburgh Steelers have received lackluster quarterback play the last few seasons. The transition away from future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger has been tricky, to say the least.
Pittsburgh has a roster that can win now, especially now since they’ve upgraded the talent along the offensive line. They have rebuilt the wide receiver room around budding star George Pickens. The defense bolstered its star power by adding All-Pro linebacker Patrick Queen. This is a solid roster that can make a run deep into the playoffs.
The missing piece was finding a true successor to Big Ben. After watching a group that couldn’t cut it last year, the team from the Steel City completely turned over their quarterback room. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were added for their upside and to give them a fresh look. Both options should be able to take advantage of new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s system. Throw in the fact the AFC North is littered with good young quarterbacks, getting this change right is a must for the Steelers.
Head coach Mike Tomlin has all but given the job to Wilson, when he said Wilson is “in pole position.” Even without that endorsement, everything we have seen in OTAs and minicamp would lead us to believe Wilson is the guy. The real question everyone should be asking is what version of Wilson the Steelers need to be successful this season.
It can’t be 2022’s version, for sure. That was just an awful year all the way around. Bad stats. Bad leadership. Pathetic play. It was literally a throw-away season. Fast forward to 2023, things looked a lot different, yet some still believe it was a terrible season. They’d be wrong for many reasons.
For example, if Kenny “Babyhands” Pickett put up the exact same numbers (3,070 yards, 26 TDs, and 8 INTs) that Wilson did last season, he would still be on the team. Not just on the team, but fans, coaches, and executives would be excited about his progress. Mind you, Wilson did this in only 15 games, as he was benched for the final two games.
Second, the nine-time Pro Bowler had to endure an organization that very obviously didn’t want him there. Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton made that very clear from the day he took the job, and never let up in his disappointment with the 13-year veteran.
The Broncos front office also sent a clear message they no longer had a desire for Wilson’s services as they asked him to waive his injury guarantee, which the NFL deemed illegal. It’s not an excuse, but it makes it difficult to play football when your head coach AND your organization is publicly indicating they don’t want you around. So for him to put up these numbers under this type of distress isn’t a disaster. It’s commendable.
The narrative of Wilson being washed is an internet narrative that, frankly, is the definition of a Hot Take. While not the best season of his career, Pittsburgh would have won at least three more games if they had a quarterback playing to 2023 Wilson’s caliber. Instead, they got nowhere near that.
Moving forward, that’s all Wilson needs to do. Arthur Smith’s system should be tailor-made for him to have success: emphasizing a strong running game with lots of play-action. The former Wisconsin Badger doesn’t have to be the hero every week for the team to succeed, he just needs to spread the ball around. Will there be times that he will need to put the team on his back? Of course. That comes with the job. But if the Steelers can get another 2023-type season out of Russell Wilson, they will put themselves in a position to be an extremely dangerous team in the 2024 season.
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