What we learned from the Steelers' underwhelming preseason loss vs. Texans

Well, the Steelers 2024 campaign is 'officially' underway, but, honestly, from what we witnessed against the Houston Texans in our preseason home opener, I'm not entirely sure that I will be able to stay on the ride, so to speak, for the entire season.

Yes, I realize it's preseason, but when you open at home, regardless of whether it's preseason or the regular season, you want to win the game, if for nothing else to give the fans something to look forward to until the next game.

Instead, what we witnessed was nothing short of a horror show, one that I could not wait to see come to its end. Fortunately, we have another game right around the corner, so there's no time to dwell on this one, but, nonetheless, we need to review what transpired. Let's see what we learned on the offensive side of the ball.

The Steelers offense was inept as it was under our former offensive coordinator

Again, I completely understand and recognize that one preseason game into the 2024 campaign is a terribly small sample size and I also understand and recognize that Arthur Smith probably wanted to keep things as 'vanilla' as he possibly could considering the inexperience that was on the field, but that turnover on downs two yards from the endzone was abysmal.

With the Steelers trailing by seven in the first half, we drove down the field on a nice drive engineered by Kyle Allen, our free-agent QB we signed in the offseason. Allen looked sharp and put the offense in a prime position to tie up the game.

Alas, it was not meant to be. Smith called what I thought was a pretty good play on fourth down, but Allen just sailed the ball and we turned it over on downs, but the reality is it should not have gotten to fourth down to begin with, considering we had first and goal from the five-yard line.

After watching that series unfold, my first thought was this: are we trying to win this game or are we trying to keep the 'secret' plays a secret until the regular season? Nonetheless, I believe that is where the game was lost. Why not call the fourth down play on first down and give the defense something to think about?

The Steelers offense punted five times. Although we outgained the Texans in the total yards category and in time of possession, which usually equates to a win, we lost because of ineptitude and lack of creativity on offense.

Let's see what we learned on the defensive side of the ball.

Pittsburgh's defense could not get off the field on third down when it mattered

If you look at the 'stat line' of the game, on paper, the Steelers should have won, but we didn't. I would argue that part of the reason we didn't win the game was the fact that the defense could not get off the field on third down when we needed it the most.

Mike Tomlin always talks about 'the weighty downs' when talking about performance on the defensive side of the ball. Although the Texans converted only five of thirteen third down opportunities, there was at least one 'weighty down' that the defense surrendered that led to a touchdown.

We'll never know what would happened had the Steelers defense been able to stop the Texans on that drive, but I suspect the outcome of the game would have gone in our favor. Obviously, that's speculation but. we all know that momentum is a key component of the game in the NFL and is a key component of the Steelers game.

Let's see what else we learned.

The Steelers look 'out of sorts' on both sides of the ball

To say that the Steelers looked 'out of sorts' would be an understatement. There were problems with the exchange between Nate Herbig and Justin Fields which caused drives to stall, we had players playing out of position on the offensive line, namely the aforementioned Herbig, who is a guard by trade.

We also had Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu playing out of position, in my opinion. Jones, who was a left tackle in college, played right tackle in 2023 and did an admirable job, I must say. Fautanu, who also played left tackle in college, is not an NFL right tackle.

No offense to Jones or Fautanu but I have been watching Steelers football since the 1970s and I can tell you that neither Jones nor Fautanu are best suited on the right side of the line; however, I don't blame either Jones or Fautanu.

I blame Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan for thinking that two career college left tackles could play right tackle in the NFL. What was also evident to me was that our backup offensive linemen are not that good. With the exception of Herbig, whom I believe is a quality backup, I think everyone else is suspect.

We could go on and on, but I think you get my point. Things are not looking too good after one game into the 2024 campaign, but, fortunately, it's one game and there are plenty of other opportunities to get on the winning track.