The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched a thrilling victory over the Los Angeles Chargers this past weekend, further solidifying their winning streak. As they maintain their position at the top of the AFC North division, there are lingering concerns about the team’s offensive performance.
Before their highly anticipated matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, let’s delve into some “in progress” improvements the team still needs to make.
Offensive line injuries stall success
The O-line is a dynamic work in progress, poised to evolve into a formidable force. Despite the setback of Troy Fautanu being out for the regular season, this is a golden opportunity for Broderick Jones to step into the spotlight and synchronize his efforts with his other linemen.
The unit made significant strides with reduced penalties, and rookies like Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick helped protect Fields and showcased their potential with game-changing plays. McCormick’s performance is something to watch as head coach Mike Tomlin continues his Rubik's cube of mastery for his O-line to improve throughout the season. Looking ahead, the unit will face a tough challenge against the Colts.
The ongoing struggle for a WR2 continues
The Steelers offense recently incorporated Calvin Austin III and Scotty Miller into their playbook. However, the team is still searching for a clear WR2 behind George Pickens.
Van Jefferson has been unable to make an impact on the field. Granted he suffered an eye injury early in the game, but there has been a continuous lack of production from Jefferson. On the other hand, Austin III made a significant impact with a 55-yard touchdown, but the question remains whether he can maintain this level of performance throughout the season. Speedster Miller showcased his route-running abilities with 31 yards, but Steelers fans are eagerly waiting for him to hit the endzone.
There is a possibility that the Steelers may look to add another big name to their WR room before the trade deadline in November to strengthen their young squad.
Running Backs continue to start slow, but finish hard
The RB room faced a tough challenge early on as Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and Cordarrelle Patterson took on a stout Chargers defensive line. There is an ongoing trend of the running game starting painfully slow but tends to pick up momentum in the 4th quarter. In the first half, Harris only logged 3 rushing yards against the Chargers according to NFL play-by-play.
This slow start may be due to the O-line, but the RBs need to be more aggressive and physical when running north and south in order to dominate this season. It’s worth noting that Harris is averaging only 3.8 yards per carry this season.
Surprisingly, Patterson was not only involved in rushing but also notched a few receptions. However, there has been a decline in Jaylen Warren’s performance this season, which is unexpected given his usual impact. Furthermore, there are concerns that Warren may be dealing with an injury.
The Steelers’ traditional style of grinding out runs and overpowering defensive linemen needs to be revitalized with the contributions of Harris and Patterson for now.
Looking ahead to the Colts
With all of the above lingering issues, Steelers fans are hopeful that this rejuvenated and passionate team can overcome these roadblocks sooner rather than later. As the team prepares for the Colts, one question remains, can the Pittsburgh team secure a 4-0 record and maintain their position at the top of the AFC North? Here we go.