3 important notes Steelers must take from this year's Super Bowl teams

3 important notes Steelers must take from this year’s Super Bowl teams

By Tommy Jaggi | Feb 12, 2023

COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 1445115801, 1195611619 - GRADIENT ADDED) In this composite image a comparison has been made between quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles (L) and quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs (R). They will meet in Super Bowl LVII on February 12,2023 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. ***LEFT IMAGE PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 27: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Financial Field on November 27, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 22: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs walks across the field in the third quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 22, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

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JuJu Smith-Schuster #9 of the Kansas City Chiefs. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

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.

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