Pittsburgh Steelers hoping new offense leads to big results
After struggling mightily on offense in 2020, the Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping a fresh approach yields new results this season.
The winds of change are sweeping through Pittsburgh. Steelers fans are hoping its the warm breeze of success.
After watching their offense increasingly struggle throughout the 2020 campaign, the Steelers decided to change coordinators. Matt Canada has replaced Randy Fitchner, and the notion is more pre-snap motion will lead to good results in Pittsburgh.
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Of course, there’s more to the plan. For the Steelers to succeed, they’ll need a better year from 38-year-old quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger, who could be playing his final season, threw for only 3,803 yards in ’20, doing so on a paltry 6.3 yards per attempt.
On Thursday, Roethlisberger expressed his desire to play a decent amount during the preseason so he can adjust to the new offense. Per Brooke Pryor of ESPN:
“Because we’ve got a new system. There’s a new coach, player communication in terms of a new guy, the offense is different. He’s up in the box as compared to on the field.
“There’s a lot of newness. I think it’s prudent to get as much time as I can in under those circumstances.”
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With receivers Chase Claypool, Deionte Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster, along with rookie running back Najee Harris, the weapons are there. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ biggest issue is the offensive line, which is attempting to replace left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, guards Matt Feiler and David DeCastro and center Maurkice Pouncey, with all leaving via free agency or retirement in the offseason.
Should Roethlisberger be afforded the time to make plays, he’ll need to rediscover his ability to throw down the field. However, this is where Canada’s play-calling comes to the fore. Pittsburgh knows Roethlisberger’s arm is no longer capable of the deep shot down the middle. It requires too much loft, and a high ball between the hash marks means an interception.
Instead, Canada has to draw up shot plays that give Roethlisberger and his receivers a chance to make things work outside the numbers. If that happens, the Steelers can finally move the ball with chunk yardage instead of relying on long jaunts as was the case so often in 2020.
For Pittsburgh, hopes lies in the idea change will bring about a new look. If the Steelers are going to win the AFC North and be contenders once more in 2021, it’s a necessity.
