The Pittsburgh Steelers are under fire once again for their lack of offensive production. This time, it is with a different man in charge in Arthur Smith, and two new quarterbacks are involved in Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. The worry now is sparking up during preseason games, which mean next to nothing. There is little-to-no game planning done ahead of these contests, and Pittsburgh has a lot of new pieces on offense being integrated together. It's concerning the way the offense has looked, but it doesn't mean the season is over.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith during OTAs in 2024.
Neither Wilson nor Fields have run away with the starting job based on how the quarterbacks have both played in the preseason. They are adjusting to a new offense and a new team, however. Success isn't always going to happen immediately, the preseason is all about ironing out these kinks so the team is ready for Week 1. Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth spoke with the media after practice on Tuesday, and he was asked about the level of concern throughout the players on offense.
“There is no concern, that’s for sure. We want to go out there and compete and win, but at the end of the day, we have to get into our routine. We will be just fine.”
After the Steelers' 2023 offensive performance under Matt Canada, it's impressive players aren't a bit more concerned with the way things have gone so far in the preseason. It seems they trust their new coach, and rely on one another to turn things around before they kick off the regular season.
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Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth lines up against the New Orleans Saints in the 2022 regular season.
There are plenty of reasons as to why an offensive unit might look bad during the preseason. Everyone is shaking the rust off and new additions are growing their chemistry with everyone. Perhaps the most important thing though - teams don't want to put too much on tape. Smith doesn't want the entirety of his offensive playbook and certain schemes on tape before playing a meaningful snap.
Pittsburgh's starting offense with Wilson as quarterback struggled mightily against the Buffalo Bills during Week 2 of the preseason. The unit didn't get a first down until their third possession, and Wilson was under constant pressure. Freiermuth told Mark Kaboly more about the offense's mindset going into the last preseason game, what they are doing to go into the regular season on the right foot.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth on the importance of Saturday's preseason finale: “We talked about it as an offense finishing off this last game with a bang and executing so we don’t go into Atlanta second guessing ourselves. We want that good taste in our mouths.”
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) August 20, 2024
Fans certainly hope to see the starting offense find their groove during the last preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Saturday — that the optimism about the 2024 season will only grow, and Pittsburgh can roll into Atlanta for a Week 1 victory.
Associated Press
Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth celebrates Kenny Pickett's second touchdown pass in a 23-18 victory in 2023.
Steelers' Pat Freiermuth Still Patiently Awaiting Contract Extension
Freiermuth has had a bit of an up and down career so far, but the potential is there for him to be a major contributor on offense. He will likely be one of the Steelers' top receiving threats during the 2024 season, as long as no external additions are made. It has often been criticized how little Freiermuth has been involved in Pittsburgh's offense in recent years. Now, Freiermuth is in a new offense for the first time in his NFL career.
Smith loves to utilize his tight ends, which should only benefit Freiermuth. He is expected to have a great season, which makes it even more important that the Steelers sign him to an extension ahead of the season. Freiermuth had a down year in 2023 with injuries and an overall lack of production, but all signs point to him bouncing back in a big way in 2024.
What do you think of Freiermuth's comments on the offense? Let us know in the comments below!
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