Pittsburgh Steelers: What to expect from Randy Fichtner’s offense
The Pittsburgh Steelers offense has a new man in charge, but how it is going to change the scheme of one of the NFL’s best units?
As Pittsburgh Steelers’ fans, Todd Haley’s offense was a source of frustration. Inconsistent! Never reaching its potential! So with Training Camp starting on Thursday. I wondered. Would Randy Fichtner give us more of the same?
Promoting QBs coach Randy Fichtner to OC was brilliant. He has an innovative mind, proven track record and penchant for scoring.
In his spread offense, the QB acts like an air traffic controller. Directing player movement. Mixing in the run and pass. Keeping defenses guessing. While racking up yardage and TDs.
For example, Danny Wimprine. Danny who? He was the starting QB at the University of Memphis under Coach Fichtner. According to Total Football Stats, he still holds these Tiger passing records: completions (808), attempts (1,469), yards (10,215) and TDs (85). Fourteen years later! Even Paxton Lynch and Riley Ferguson didn’t catch him.
At the same time Wimprine was making his mark, running back DeAngelo Williams was setting the career rushing total of 6,026 yards. Yep, the same DeAngelo Williams who played behind Le’Veon Bell for two years.
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The stats don’t lie. Coach Fichtner runs a well-balanced offense. Evidenced by his Memphis teams producing career leaders at both the QB and RB positions. While gaining over 5,000 yards per season. Impressive!
For the past eight seasons, Coach Fichtner has been around the Steelers’ offense. He knows it can be explosive. He understands the strengths and weaknesses of each player. He understands which players should be in what packages, to create the right combinations for success.
Therefore, he doesn’t need to re-invent the wheel. Instead, he’ll tweak it. By giving Ben Roethlisberger more game day responsibility and developing a situational RB rotation.
Ben’s expanded role
It’s well documented that Big Ben and Todd Haley didn’t get along. Haley didn’t even trust Roethlisberger enough to audible. What? Ridiculous!
I’m happy to report, Coach Fichtner and Ben have no trust issues. They’ve developed a solid rapport and know what each other expects.
Ben understands the playbook. He understands the objective of each play (5 yards, first down, etc.). He’ll be comfortable calling plays and audibiling pre-snap. He’ll open up the playbook in four ways.
- More no huddle to create defensive mismatches.
- More timing patterns to extend drives.
- More playaction to move defenders.
- More deep balls to open up underneath routes
The Steelers’ 2018 draft spotlights things to come. They didn’t pick deep threat WR James Washington, Jr. by accident. Nor did the mistakenly draft a RB with 201 catches (Jaylen Samuels).
Now that Big Ben holds the keys to the Ferrari. He and Coach Fichtner need to determine where the remaining puzzle pieces fit together.
RB rotation
It’s no longer just the Le’Veon Bell show. Coach Fichtner prefers using multiple RBs. Depending on the situation, formation and player’s strengths.
Expect RBs Le’Veon Bell and Jaylen Samuels to be used extensively. Between the 20s. Catching passes out of the backfield. Especially, in the red zone. The rookie Samuels will see a lot of action, in preparation of Bell’s departure after this season.
Because FB Roosevelt Nix is a great lead blocker. Expect him and RB James Conner to punish defenses this season. I also see Nix blocking for undrafted rookie Jarvion Franklin (6’0″, 239 Ibs) in short yardage and goal line situations.
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Pittsburgh’s 2018 offense may look familiar. But, make no mistake! It won’t be Todd Haley’s version. It will be the Fichtner Spread Offense. Take a deep breath! Hold on tight! Enjoy the ride Steelers Nation!