As the Pittsburgh Steelers navigate their preseason schedule, glaring issues on offense have taken center stage. Over the course of two games, the offense has managed to muster only 15 points, a statistic that underscores the team's current struggles.
A Stumbling Offense
The bleak performance during their 9-3 loss on Saturday night highlighted these offensive woes. Notably, only three of those 15 points came when Justin Fields was on the field. Persistent issues in pass protection have hampered any opportunity for Fields to find a consistent offensive rhythm.
Pass Protection Woes
Russell Wilson’s struggles were evident as he failed to orchestrate a single scoring drive across five series against the Buffalo Bills. Wilson was sacked three times, a clear indication of the offensive line's vulnerabilities. Head coach Mike Tomlin emphasized the negative impact of inadequate pass protection, pointing out that the first three series of the game resulted in three-and-outs.
"It's somewhat of an incomplete study because you just don't get a chance to see them operate or us operate or us establish rhythm and personality when you're not winning possession downs," Tomlin remarked. "And we weren't. The first three or so series of the game, it was three and out, and you're not going to get an opportunity to establish rhythm or play the way you'd like as an individual or a collective."
Key Injuries Adding to the Challenges
The inexperience on the offensive line was palpable as Greg Rousseau from the Bills took advantage of Broderick Jones, who had been moved to right tackle for the game. Fields himself was sacked once during his time on the field. The situation is further complicated by key injuries: veteran center/guard Nate Herbig is potentially out for the season with a torn rotator cuff, and rookie first-round pick Troy Fautanu is also currently sidelined.
Tomlin was candid about the issues. "We've got to do a better job in pass protection than we did -- not only in possession downs but just in general," he stated. "I was really upfront with the group about it in that regard, that can't be a problem for us. We've got to be better than we were tonight in that area."
Looking Towards the Preseason Finale
With the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions fast approaching, all eyes will be on the Steelers' offensive line. Tomlin will be closely monitoring their performances as he makes a crucial decision on which quarterback will start in Pittsburgh's final preseason game. The hope is that by addressing these issues head-on, the team can find a way to establish offensive rhythm and set a more promising tone for the upcoming season.
The Steelers' journey through this preseason has been anything but smooth. However, identifying and confronting these early challenges may provide the insights and adjustments needed to improve before the regular season kicks off.