As the Pittsburgh Steelers work their way through the preseason, their offensive struggles have become increasingly prominent. Over the course of two preseason games, the offense has managed to produce only 15 points, raising concerns as the regular season approaches.
Saturday night's 9-3 loss highlighted these offensive deficiencies. The performance was especially alarming as only three of those 15 points came when Justin Fields was on the field, underscoring the issues in establishing a consistent offensive rhythm.
Pass Protection Woes
A persistent lack of pass protection has significantly contributed to the struggles. Head coach Mike Tomlin emphasized the critical role of protecting the quarterback to enable the offense to generate momentum. "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 stated. "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."
Russell Wilson exemplified these challenges over five series against the Buffalo Bills, failing to orchestrate a single scoring drive. The talented quarterback was sacked three times, unable to find his footing behind an offensive line that struggled to protect him. Tomlin did not mince words about the detrimental impact of inadequate pass protection, stating, "We've got to do a better job in pass protection than we did -- not only in possession downs but just in general."
Injuries Adding to the Pressure
Further complicating the situation is the injury report. Veteran center/guard Nate Herbig may be sidelined for the season due to a torn rotator cuff, while rookie first-round pick Troy Fautanu is also currently out of play with an injury.
The inexperience in the offensive line was notably exploited by the Bills' Greg Rousseau, who took advantage of Broderick Jones being moved to right tackle for the game. "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," Tomlin asserted, pointing to the immediate need for improvement.
Observations and Adjustments
The Steelers’ offensive front will be under close scrutiny as they prepare for their preseason finale against the Detroit Lions. One of the critical decisions awaiting Tomlin is determining which quarterback will start, a decision heavily influenced by the performance of the offensive line. With the offense currently grappling with consistency issues and an inability to sustain drives, the focus will be on solidifying the line to give their quarterbacks a fighting chance.
As the Steelers look to refine their game ahead of the regular season, the lessons from the preseason have been stark. The emphasis on protecting the quarterback is paramount, given the current scenario where continuous three-and-outs disrupt the ability to establish any offensive rhythm.
With their final preseason test looming, the Steelers will aim to address these glaring concerns, striving for a cohesive effort that may provide a much-needed spark to their lagging offense. The onus will be on Tomlin and his coaching staff to foster rapid improvement, ensuring that the team finds its footing as the regular season draws near.