It has been a rough year on all fronts for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team sits at not just the bottom of the AFC North, but is almost the worst team in the conference as well. All three phases of the game have underperformed, but the hardest part to watch has been Matt Canada's offense. The unit is averaging 15 points per game and has been very difficult to get excited about week in and week out. One of the biggest disappointments has been second-year running back, Najee Harris. He is averaging just 3.3 yards per game, but hasn't had too much of a chance to get going based on play calls and game plans.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 23: Jevon Holland #8 of the Miami Dolphins hands the ball to Najee Harris #22 during the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
In what world would anyone expect one to recommend Pittsburgh to take a look at what the Houston Texans are doing this season. The team sits at 1-6-1 after a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football. Until, late, Houston hung in there and it was solely because of a rushing attack that they lean on each week. Like it or not, the Texans and Steelers are both in the same boat, but the team in Texas is approaching the season much better.
What does that mean exactly? Well, for starters, both teams have young quarterbacks. Kenny Pickett and Davis Mills aren't going to 'wow' anybody this season with career-defining comebacks or flashy plays. Pickett may have more of a future as Houston is likely to draft one of the top tier quarterbacks coming out of college in 2023 such as C.J. Stroud from Ohio State or Bryce Young from the University of Alabama.
Heading into the season, according to Sharp Football Analysis, the Texans were ranked as the 4th worst offensive line in the league, while Pittsburgh landed right behind them as the 3rd worst. The difference since Week 1 has been Houston's constant commitment to running the football despite the fact that they are trailing in the majority of games they play in. On the contrary, the Steelers and Canada are forcing Pickett to learn the hard way and making him throw the ball 40 times a game.
Steelers starting quarterback Kenny Pickett (#8) prepares to take a snap at Acrisure Stadium in his first regular season action against the New York Jets on Oct. 2, 2022. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Back in 2004 during Ben Roethlisberger's rookie season, the offense did not have over 30 pass attempts once in the regular season. Instead, they committed to running the football. This team in 2022 was never going to go 15-1 as Roethlisberger did, or have the big men up front that the team had 18 years ago, but consistently throwing the ball and averaging just 5.8 yards per attempt as Canada's offense has done with Pickett is pointless.
The head coach back in 2004, Bill Cowher, recently ripped the plan to let Pickett sling it instead of running the football:
"You have to somehow shorten a game with that quarterback and it goes back to running the ball. I’d put him back there under center. Don’t put him back there to get sacked six times [against the Eagles].”
The Texans are making a legitimate effort to simplify the game for Mills by giving the ball to rookie, Dameon Pierce over 18 times a game. The Steelers are only handing the ball off to Harris 13.5 times per game. The staggering difference is Pierce's 678 yards rushing to Harris' 361. The Texans offensive line isn't good, have a young quarterback at the helm and are going run first. The record may not show for it, but it is certainly admirable how committed offensive coordinator, Pep Hamilton is to running the football.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 30: Davis Mills #10 of the Houston Texans hands off to Dameon Pierce against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium on October 30, 2022 in Houston, Texas. The Tennessee Titans defeated the Houston Texans 17-10. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Of course, we would all love Pittsburgh to emulate what the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs do offensively, but that isn't realistic. Head coach, Mike Tomlin needs to take a look at what Houston is doing. They are doing what they can to keep an inexperienced quarterback confident and have a running back averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Whether it's Harris or undrafted rookie, Jaylen Warren, this is an approach the Steelers' offense should take. Pierce had 27 carries that went or 139 yards in a 29-17 loss on Thursday.
It goes back to what Cowher said after the team's beat down of the Eagles. The only reason the Texans stayed in it on Thursday night was because of longer, run-heavy drives. One could argue that Houston would have either won the game, or made it much closer, if they hadn't put the ball in the hands of Mills when he threw two interceptions. Pickett is throwing the ball way too much and as Cowher implied, confidence is everything:
"What’s in the best interest is to develop this quarterback, who’s your quarterback of the future, without destroying his confidence,” Cowher said.
Steelers running back, Jaylen Warren (#30) warms up prior to a 2022 preseason game at Acrisure Stadium. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
One of the most ineffective things during Canada's tenure has been the RPO and inability to run the ball out of the shotgun set. The offensive line and Harris deserve blame, but the only way a passing game will become successful is if you have the most dynamic quarterback in the NFL like Josh Allen or your offense poses some sort of threat running the football. The Texans and Steelers both stink and while Pittsburgh has one more win, Houston's offensive model is better given the state of both teams.
Fans should want to see a dominant run game with the potential of big plays down field after utilizing the play-action pass. That isn't happening and certainly will not happen out of shotgun. Canada and Tomlin need to take a look in the mirror and figure out a way to shift the offense's approach. Throwing the ball 40+ times a game isn't good for any rookie quarterback. Allen only threw over 40 pass attempts once during his rookie season while the Bills rushed for almost 2,000 yards as a team.
Do you think the Steelers could learn something from the 1-6-1 Texans? Let us know in the comments below!
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