2. Steelers must aid their QB with yards after the catch
It’s important to have a very good quarterback to win in the NFL — that much is hardly debatable. However, you don’t necessarily need a top-tier QB to win a Super Bowl. This is especially the case if you have a game plan that aids your signal-caller.
The Eagles are a good example of this. Jalen Hurts isn’t in the same tier as Patrick Mahomes, but Sirianni’s offense fits Hurts’ skill set perfectly. The Eagles allow Hurts to use his mobility to his advantage. However, the biggest thing that each Super Bowl team does for their QB is greatly aid them in yards after the catch.
This is a part of the passing game that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough. Both the Chiefs and Eagles have game plans designed to get their skill players in space with the ball in their hands to chew up yards after the catch. JuJu Smith-Schuster is a perfect example of this. After playing four years for the Steelers, Smith-Schuster saw a career-high in YAC per reception (6.0), per ESPN stats This resulted in the most yards per target he has seen since his efficient rookie year back in 2017.
JuJu didn’t suddenly become a great player in Kansas City this year, but the team knows how to utilize their pass-catchers in space. This is a department the Steelers were historically bad at in 2022, and they must aid Kenny Pickett next year by allowing his receivers to create big plays in space with the ball in their hands.