4 moves the Pittsburgh Steelers must make as soon as possible

1. Steelers should incorporate more intermediate passing plays into the playbook

Thus far into the season, the Steelers have been extremely predictable in their play calling. Obviously, running the ball successfully will help in being less predictable, but when they are in obvious passing downs they have still been predictable.

Much of this has been pinned on Ben Roethlisberger as many are concerned his arm strength isn’t where it used to be. However, I think the game plan is the issue. The Steelers have thrown the ball a significant amount this season, and the large majority of those throws are screens, dump-offs, slants, and shallow crossing routes. They have also mixed in a large number of deep balls, with Chase Claypool, James Washington, and Diontae Johnson being targeted downfield.

The issue is not Roethlisberger’s arm strength, as while it may not be as strong as it once was he still has thrown the ball downfield and has the arm strength to do it, but doesn’t have quite the same accuracy deep as he once did. What the offense has lacked is an intermediate passing game that uses the middle of the field.

Roethlisberger has rarely made throws that have been beyond the chains that aren’t deep shots down the sideline. The issue with this is, many teams have resorted to playing tight coverage and daring Roethlisberger to throw downfield, while also having two deep safeties to protect the deep ball on the sidelines.

If the Steelers can start to run the ball more, and/ or incorporate intermediate passes into the middle of the field that should open up the shorter passes that the team likes to do, and help the playcalling from being so predictable.

If the Steelers look to make some of these changes, the team could possibly improve its prospects this year and make a run at a playoff birth this year.