The Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff has absorbed its fair share of criticisms in recent years. Certainly, there has been a lack of execution from the players’ side, but a lack of creativity has been a true issue in Pittsburgh for many years.
While the team has made significant personnel changes, especially on offense with Aaron Rodgers and D.K. Metcalf in the mix, there are a few modern concepts the Steelers should implement in 2025 to get the most out of their star players.
Of course, these adjustments aren’t just on the offensive side of the ball. After all, the defense isn’t absolved from its failings down the stretch that led to such an unceremonious exit from the postseason yet again. Starting with the defense, let’s look at three adjustments the Steelers should be making in 2025 to get back into contender status.
3 ways for the Pittsburgh Steelers' coaching staff to fix last season's issues
Move TJ Watt (and the other pass rushers) around the defensive alignment
This one has been talked about a lot, and both T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith have alluded to the idea this offseason. After all, the predictability in the Steelers' pass rushing schemes was a big reason Watt and Highsmith both saw their production dip, especially as the season wore on. Still, talking about it and executing it correctly are two different practices.
Pass rushers like Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons, who have received more and more praise (and money) than Watt, have been doing this for years. Both can rush from either side or up the middle, with stunts carrying them across the offensive front as well. Pittsburgh’s pass rushing scheme for far too long has been ‘beat the guy in front of you,’ to which teams responded by loading up against Watt on the right side and betting on the fact that they can handle Highsmith or Nick Herbig one-on-one.
Of course, it isn’t as simple as just lining up Watt in the A or B-gaps for 10 plays a game. The stunts have to make sense, and so does the personnel to open up the rushing lanes – otherwise the guards and center will just swallow Watt up at a different point on the field. Bring in all three edge backers, stunt Derrick Harmon to the outside, or crash Cam Heyward inside and loop Watt behind him. A little creativity can go a long way with this defense and the talent it employs.
Use Calvin Austin III like Tyreek Hill in Miami
I suggested this last year, and the Steelers didn’t do it, so I’m ready to be disappointed again.
Calvin Austin III had a quiet but good second season with the Steelers last year, catching 36 of 58 targets. He won a lot more reps than his target share would indicate. Hopefully, with Rodgers slicing up the pie, Austin will get a solid share. One way to ensure he does is to utilize him in a manner that makes him open before the snap.
Austin has elite speed, but the Steelers don’t take full advantage of it. He doesn’t just have to win go-balls and post routes to be an effective deep threat. He can eat up volume receptions underneath and burst through the defense if set up properly. Miami does this with Tyreek Hill, bringing inside motion to set up a crossing route or outside motion to set up a corner. Austin isn’t as savvy as Hill, nor is his speed factor one-to-one comparatively, but he’s as good a candidate to replicate the idea as there can be.
While the team will no doubt continue to look for another receiving threat to open up the offense, Austin has been publicly named the No. 2 receiver. Hopefully, that means more plays are designed with him in mind instead of just simply lining up on the opposite side of the field from Metcalf and hoping for the best.
Use the tight ends more efficiently
This last one is not rocket science. Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington have not seen the ball enough in recent years. With Rodgers at quarterback, that could change, but that doesn’t mean that preserving the schematic status quo with these two is the path forward.
Even if it isn’t by the widest of margins, Pat Freiermuth saw the third fewest targets of his career last year. While he did tie his career high of seven touchdowns, his statline still paled in comparison to tight ends that share his skillset. He needs more plays that are designed with him in mind as a primary target, just like Austin. Similar motions aren’t wholly necessary, but targeting him intently goes a long way in establishing an identity offensively.
Like most tight ends, Freiermuth wins against zone more regularly than man. Allowing him to eat up those zones on the inside and become a volume receiver like other top tight ends around the league opens up opportunities on the outside by drawing in the safeties’ attention. His stats get a boost, the fans get to shout “Muth!” and the offense creates a rhythm that works within its skillset.
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As for Washington, his game should evolve beyond play-action rollout flat routes, and red-zone jump balls. He’s a guy few defensive backs want to tackle, especially late in the game. Utilize him in 12 and 22 personnel as a blocker, yes, get him easy catches off play action, yes – but also give him an opportunity or two down the seam, or curl him up between the zones for an easy first down.
While the Steelers have been pursuing Arthur Smith’s old tight ends, they can’t keep looking past the two guys they invested draft picks in who have more to offer. Freiermuth and Washington can make a difference if this new pass-centric offensive scheme keeps them in mind.