The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled out a big 24-21 win in Ireland against the Minnesota Vikings last week. For three quarters, it looked like their most complete performance of the season as they handled the Vikings with ease. But the fourth quarter told a different story, with Minnesota storming back after some questionable decisions from Mike Tomlin and breakdowns in execution and communication that nearly cost Pittsburgh the game.
Still, this was the Steelers’ most impressive win so far. Both sides of the ball looked sharper than in previous weeks, and the offense finally found balance thanks to an effective run game. The use of jumbo packages, something we had not seen yet this season, gave the ground attack new life.
Now the question is whether this was a one-time spark or the start of something sustainable. Here are three changes the Steelers offense needs to work on during their bye week.
3 key changes that can improve the Pittsburgh Steelers' offense
The offense can’t rely solely on the quick passing game
The Steelers' passing attack so far has relied heavily on a quick passing game, with most throws traveling under ten yards or caught at the line of scrimmage. There are several reasons for this approach. The offensive line has struggled early in the season, Aaron Rodgers has the fastest snap to throw time in the league to avoid taking hits, and the team wants to get the ball into their playmakers' hands so they can gain yards after the catch.
It is working so far. The Steelers are 3-1, but eventually it could catch up to them. In a timing-oriented offense, opposing defenses will begin pressing coverage on receivers to disrupt timing, disrupt route concepts, and play cover two with flat defenders sitting on short routes. That will limit the effectiveness of quick throws.
As the offensive line improves, as we saw in their best performance against Minnesota, the Steelers need to open up the passing game. That means using more play action and taking advantage of the speed they have at receiver to attack defenses downfield with deeper shots.
Darnell Washington must become a consistent part of the offense
The Steelers' running game finally came alive, largely thanks to Darnell Washington moving Vikings defenders off the ball. The more snaps he gets, the more effective the run game becomes, and for a team trying to establish a ground attack, he needs to be on the field more.
Even in the red zone, where Pittsburgh is already one of the most efficient offenses in the NFL, Washington’s size should make him the go-to target. He is one of the biggest mismatches in the league with his rare combination of size and strength, and the Steelers would benefit greatly by getting him more snaps regularly.
Arthur Smith needs to make the jumbo package his signature move
Against the Vikings, we saw the Steelers use the jumbo package for the first time this season, bringing in an extra offensive lineman in Spencer Anderson, along with Darnell Washington as the tight end. They ran this personnel grouping often, and when they did, they dominated the Vikings' defense, running the ball with great efficiency.
This jumbo package should become a staple of the offense moving forward. It was highly effective and physically wore down the defense. As the offensive line continues to improve, this package can be a powerful weapon and a morale booster for a Steelers offense that wants to impose itself by pounding the football.