Tag: Steelers offense

What is going on with WR Mike Williams?

The Steelers’ wide receiver room has seen changes, but questions remain about WR Mike Williams’ role in the team’s offensive strategy.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Such is the life of the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers‘ wide receiver room. While the Steelers addressed potential depth issues through free agency, the draft, and the trade deadline with WRs Van Jefferson, Roman Wilson, and Mike Williams respectively, there has been almost nothing from these three to show for it.

Specifically, much of the hype surrounding the Williams acquisition leaves fans scratching their heads over why his usage has been so minimal.

His Week 10 debut saw him score the game-deciding TD, but he hasn’t received a single target in either Week 11 or Week 12’s contest.

In his recent disappearing act, Calvin Austin III has stepped up in a big way, but it doesn’t excuse the Steelers’ poor usage of Wilson.

The issue likely stems from the offensive scheme, much to the frustration of fans, as OC Arthur Smith’s predictable running calls have limited the Steelers’ passing opportunities in recent weeks.

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QB Russell Wilson describes what makes WR Mike Williams special

Russell Wilson is excited about what Mike Williams can bring to the Steelers offense as they prepare for his debut in Pittsburgh.

While Pittsburgh Steelers fans are understandably excited to witness what WR Mike Williams is capable of in the Pittsburgh offense, it appears Steelers QB Russell Wilson already knows what to expect—greatness.

Wilson, speaking during the team’s media availability on Thursday, responded to a question about how Williams’s impressive athletic qualities can help the team moving forward. “I think those are all truths,” Wilson stated. “I think when you look out there and realize the guy is 6’5″, can run the way he can, jump up and catch the ball, run past people, and he’s physical even in the short game.”

Wilson gave the most impressive compliment a quarterback could ever give a receiver: “He’s just a guy who’s been really special over the years.”

It’s safe to say the Steelers’ QB is more than excited to get Williams onto the field for his Pittsburgh debut, and fans of the Black and Gold may be in for an absolute masterclass once the Wilson-Williams combination takes off.

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Steelers OC talks ‘progress’ and the Pittsburgh offense

Arthur Smith feels like he’s trying to sell the fans and media a bill of goods about the Steelers offense.

NFL teams spend months together in the offseason working on their schemes and systems. There are no opponents to prepare for so the only thing teams need to do is get better at what it is they want to do during the season. That’s it. This is where progress is made.

But not for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense it would seem. It has been a recurring theme over the last several seasons that despite having the same amount of prep time when the season starts, the Steelers offense is still several weeks behind everyone else and constantly playing catch up.

Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith addressed the media on Thursday ahead of the team’s home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers and honestly offered up the most frustrating assessment of the Steelers offense. You can listen to the comments above and judge for yourself if you are satisfied with Smith’s evaluation of the offense’s progress.

Pittsburgh has scored one touchdown in eight quarters so far this season. The Steelers are averaging 15.5 points per game which is more than two points per game worse than last season.

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Steelers QB Russell Wilson politics for the offensive improvements after final preseason game

Russell Wilson made it seem as if the Steelers offense is all fixed after Saturday’s loss.

On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up an 0-3 preseason with a loss to the Detroit Lions. The starting offense was only on the field for one drive as a unit but they were able to march down the field and score a touchdown before quarterback Russell Wilson promptly left the game.

After the game, Wilson addressed the media and did his best to make the case that the single touchdown drive erased all the struggles this unit had through the first two games. Even in the second game when Wilson played multiple series, the offense was completely out of sorts.

This didn’t stop Wilson from doing the veteran thing and working hard to spin it all positive.

Wilson and the Steelers have to turn their attention to the the Atlanta Falcons in Week One of the regular season. We still have no idea how the new-look Steelers offense will perform this season and how long it will take for them to get going.

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Was the Steelers’ hire of Arthur Smith a mistake?

The new Steelers offense looks an awful lot like the old Steelers offense.

The biggest move of a very busy offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers was the hire of new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Despite his struggles as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, his tenure as the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator gave Steelers’ fans hope.

However, reports from training camp about how good the new offense has looked at practice, it’s looked just as bad in two preseason games. In fact, a case can be made this new offensive is worse than the old one under Matt Canada.

Perhaps more than the struggles, it’s the style of offense Smith is bringing in that is worrisome. The NFL has become a league that focuses heavily on scoring in bunches and throwing the ball. Smith’s offense feels ultra-conservative and almost a step backward.

Did the Steelers make a mistake hiring Smith as opposed to another offense coordinator this offseason? There were plenty of big names and up-and-coming young guys out there with more modern approaches to the offense. Have you seen enough to call your shot or do you want to wait and see? Cast your vote.

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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin once again laments subpar offense

It is more of the same for the Steelers struggling offense.

It feels like a broken record but on Saturday night, after the Pittsburgh Steelers loss to the Buffalo Bills, head coach Mike Tomlin wasn’t happy with the offense. Tomlin referred to the offense as “JV” which if you have been around this team is nothing new.

Pittsburgh played the team’s top two quarterbacks, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson for the entire game as well as several other starters.

The tandem combined for a woeful 139 passing yards and only netted three points. This wasn’t all on Fields and Wilson as the Steelers offensive line got pushed around all game long. This has been an ongoing trend for the Steelers offensive line for years and despite committing multiple high draft picks to the cause, doesn’t appear to be fixed.

Pittsburgh has one more shot in the preseason to show some improvement before the regular-season schedule gets started. Pittsburgh travels to Detroit for the team’s third preseason game next week.

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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin once again laments subpar offense

It is more of the same for the Steelers struggling offense.

It feels like a broken record but on Saturday night, after the Pittsburgh Steelers loss to the Buffalo Bills, head coach Mike Tomlin wasn’t happy with the offense. Tomlin referred to the offense as “JV” which if you have been around this team is nothing new.

Pittsburgh played the team’s top two quarterbacks, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson for the entire game as well as several other starters.

The tandem combined for a woeful 139 passing yards and only netted three points. This wasn’t all on Fields and Wilson as the Steelers offensive line got pushed around all game long. This has been an ongoing trend for the Steelers offensive line for years and despite committing multiple high draft picks to the cause, doesn’t appear to be fixed.

Pittsburgh has one more shot in the preseason to show some improvement before the regular-season schedule gets started. Pittsburgh travels to Detroit for the team’s third preseason game next week.

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Steelers WR George Pickens needs to brace for a down season

If George Pickens doesn’t get the football, he can be a problem.

2023 was a breakout season for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens. He had career highs in receptions (63), receiving yards (1,140) and receiving touchdowns (5). Pickens also averaged a league-best 18.1 yards per catch.

This offseason, the Steelers traded away wide receiver Diontae Johnson, leaving Pickens as the clear No. 1 receiver on the roster. Does this mean he is a lock to improve on his 2023 numbers? Not at all.

In fact, looking at the Steelers offense as it is currently constructed, we won’t be a bit surprised if Pickens doesn’t improve in any of his numbers from last season.

This could end up being a huge problem if we see Pickens  not seeing targets. Last season, when the passing offense was struggling and Pickens wasn’t getting the football, his level of effort tanked. This was the same for Diontae Johnson who the Steelers ended up trading away.

Pittsburgh has dedicated a ton of time, energy and resources into this new offense and we hate to think one guy could bring it crashing down if he doesn’t get the football as much as he thinks he should.

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CBS Sports unimpressed by Steelers trio of skill players

The Steelers triplets score lost on CBS Sports ranking.

CBS Sports ranked all the offensive trios in the NFL. This includes a quarterback, running back and wide receiver from each squad. Needless to say, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense should be better this year with the addition of Russell Wilson at quarterback but the CBS Sports panel didn’t seem impressed.

They ranked the Steelers’ offensive trio No. 26 under the tier of “too many question marks”. Here’s what they had to say about the Steelers ranking:

Our panel is, once again, not inspired by Russell Wilson — or by the Steelers’ triplets. Harris is likely to remain the lead back due to inertia and financial investment, but he has been outplayed by Jaylen Warren in each of their Warren’s two seasons. Pickens has a ton of talent, but we also haven’t seen him totally tap into it just yet, so it’s hard to say he should carry this ranking. 

If the Steelers can all get on the same page with the Steelers’ new offensive scheme under Arthur Smith, this offense will be much better. Russell Wilson is far and away the best quarterback the Steelers have had since Ben Roethlisberger.

As for Harris, he’s topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first three seasons and wide receiver George Pickens led the league in yards per catch in 2023. This is the group that is going to shock everyone this season with just how much better the Steelers’ offense is.

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Steelers run-first approach a worry for NFL analyst

The Steelers might need to lean heavily on the run game this season.

The biggest takeaway from Pittsburgh Steelers OTAs as it pertains to the new offensive under Arthur Smith is the run game. From the running backs to the offensive line, there has been nothing but good things being said about how this is going to be a run-first, smashmouth style of football.

But Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports doesn’t see this as a positive. According to him, the Steelers potential old-school style of football is one of the team’s big red flags.

Russell Wilson and Justin Fields give them must-see appeal at quarterback. George Pickens is talented out wide. And yet, with Arthur Smith at the helm of the offense, are they going to be conservative and run-heavy? The lack of proven top-tier running mates for Pickens may well demand it.

Establishing the run game isn’t a new concept for the Steelers, even if it is coming with new packaging this year. The problem, since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger has been the inability to throw the football when needed created such a one-dimensional offense, that they became predictable and far too simple. The addition of Russell Wilson should give the Steelers a far better option to throw the football when called upon and do more than enough to keep opposing defenses honest.

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