As the Pittsburgh Steelers press forward into their preseason schedule, the spotlight is harshly illuminating their offensive woes. Through two preseason games, the Steelers’ offense has mustered a paltry 15 points, a statistic that has set off alarm bells for Head Coach Mike Tomlin and his staff.
The 9-3 defeat against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night crystalized these struggles.
Only a fraction of those 15 points — three to be exact — were scored with quarterback Justin Fields at the helm. The inability to protect Fields from opposing defenses has been a significant roadblock, preventing him from establishing anything resembling a consistent offensive rhythm.
Adding to the misery, veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, across five series against the Bills, failed to orchestrate a single scoring drive. His struggles were compounded by an oppressive Bills defense that brought him down for sacks three times. Head Coach Mike Tomlin was quick to point out the detrimental impact of this inadequate pass protection.
Tomlin remarked on the lack of rhythm: "It’s somewhat of an incomplete study because you just don’t get a chance to see them operate or us operate or us establish rhythm and personality when you’re not winning possession downs." The Steelers' inability to move the chains, particularly in those critical downs, stifled any chance of building momentum.
The first three series of the game, highlighted by Tomlin, were all three-and-outs. Without sustained drives, the team could not settle or execute its game plan. "The first three or so series of the game, it was three and out, and you’re not going to get an opportunity to establish rhythm or play the way you’d like as an individual or a collective," Tomlin noted.
In a specific example of the difficulties faced, Bills' defensive end Greg Rousseau took advantage of rookie Broderick Jones' inexperience. Jones, who was slotted into the right tackle spot for the game, found himself consistently outmatched. Unfortunately, Fields also felt the heat and was sacked once.
Compounding these performance issues are injuries to key players. Veteran center/guard Nate Herbig is potentially out for the season with a torn rotator, while rookie first-round pick Troy Fautanu is also currently sidelined with an injury. These absences have put additional strain on an already struggling offensive line.
With the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions looming, Tomlin's attention will be firmly fixed on the performances of his offensive line. Their ability to protect the quarterback will play a pivotal role in deciding which signal-caller will start in this crucial game.
In his feedback to the team, Tomlin emphasized the urgency of improvement. "We’ve got to do a better job in pass protection than we did — not only in possession downs but just in general," he stated. This honest critique reflects the gravity of the situation and the immediate need for corrective action. "I was really upfront with the group about it in that regard, that can’t be a problem for us. We’ve got to be better than we were tonight in that area."
The Steelers find themselves at a crossroads. Their struggles on the offensive front have not only hindered individual player performances but also stunted the overall team rhythm. The upcoming game against the Lions will be pivotal, providing one final opportunity to address these issues before the regular season kicks off.