Steelers' Pat Freiermuth Blames Others Not Arthur Smith For Poor Offense

The Pittsburgh Steelers knew they needed a serious change on the offensive side of the football. After a dismal showing in the 2023 season, the front office made bold moves, bringing in Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith and reshaping the quarterback room with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. While the offense has shown flashes of improvement in 2024, lingering issues, such as missed opportunities in the red zone and slow starts, have prevented the unit from reaching its full potential.

One player feeling the impact of these changes is tight end Pat Freiermuth. Though his production hasn’t reached the level he or Steelers fans envisioned, his role within Smith’s system has highlighted his potential as a dynamic playmaker. Freiermuth’s route-running and reliability as a target have made him an integral piece of the offense, even as the team works through its growing pains.

Despite the struggles, Freiermuth has expressed confidence in Smith's vision for the offense. He recently explained that the coordinator’s scheme and play-calling are not the root of the team's issues, suggesting that execution on the field remains the primary challenge. 

"It's execution, I believe in the calls," Freiermuth said. "I believe in the coaches. The players have got to do better. We'll be alright."

Freiermuth’s comments reflect a belief in the system and a commitment to helping the Steelers turn things around as the season progresses. 

The goal has been to jump out to early leads and avoid playing from behind, but Freiermuth acknowledged that this goal fell short in the Steelers' 24-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football.

"We put our defense in bad situations [against the Browns]," Freiermuth said. "That was the goal, to get up on them early. We didn't do that. We gave ourselves a chance at the end. It happens. We'll move past it."

The Steelers' offense has shown flashes of promise throughout the 2024 season. When Wilson was named the starter, the offense came alive in ways Steeler Nation hadn’t seen in years, but there are still plenty of flaws to address. At times, the play calling has been questionable, and Smith has been working through some growing pains as he looks to get the offense fully up to speed.

Freiermuth, a player with immense potential, has been held back by a struggling system and inconsistent quarterback play, with the exception of his rookie season when Ben Roethlisberger was under center. Now, with Wilson at quarterback and Smith—who has a strong track record of utilizing tight ends—working tirelessly to fix the offense, Freiermuth is working to become a key focal point. While it hasn't always been smooth sailing, there have been clear improvements, and Freiermuth is confident that with better execution, the offense will continue to grow.

Steelers Need To Beat The Bengals To Get Bad Taste Out Of Their Mouth

Freiermuth doesn't believe Smith is the problem. He’s happy in the system and eager for the offense to put together a complete game, showing Steelers fans exactly what they’re capable of. 

The entire team is focused on bouncing back against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. While it's not technically a must-win game, it certainly feels like one. A victory over the Bengals would help erase the disappointment of the loss to a struggling Browns team and get the Steelers back on track.

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