The Pittsburgh Steelers showed some promise in their Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, but the offense still mirrored many of the struggles from last season, leaving questions about their new identity unanswered.
With Russell Wilson sidelined just 90 minutes before kickoff, quarterback Justin Fields stepped up and performed well. Despite this, the Steelers managed to score only 18 points, raising the question: what went wrong?
One major issue was their inability to capitalize in short-yardage situations. The Steelers moved the ball effectively between the 30-yard lines, dominating time of possession and avoiding frequent three-and-outs. However, their drives consistently stalled, preventing what could have been a decisive victory.
A significant factor in their struggles was wide receiver blocking—a crucial aspect of the Steelers’ offensive scheme that failed to deliver. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s system emphasizes wide receivers playing a role in the run game, blocking near the tackle. Unfortunately, the poor performance of Pittsburgh’s receivers in this area, particularly Van Jefferson, was evident on Sunday. Jefferson struggled to block even cornerbacks, a situation that will cripple the run game if not corrected. Although the Steelers still found some success on the ground, much of it was due to the efforts of Fields and running back Najee Harris.
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Jefferson wasn’t the only culprit. Both Calvin Austin III and George Pickens had their own issues, contributing to a missed opportunity on a bubble screen that should have led to a touchdown or at least a first down. Instead, it resulted in a 4th-and-1, which the Steelers failed to convert.
Fortunately, the Steelers may have solutions on the practice squad. Ben Skowronek and Brandon Johnson could help address the blocking deficiencies and bolster the team’s rushing attack. If Pittsburgh doesn’t improve this fundamental part of their offense, their ground game will continue to struggle in the weeks ahead.
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