Steelers Great Ben Roethlisberger Discusses How He Would Help The Offense In Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been struggling over the last three weeks of the NFL season. The group has lost three games in a row and has given control of the AFC North to the Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh has been through an absolute gauntlet as of late as they had to play the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore, and the Kansas City Chiefs. Fans knew losing all three contests was a possibility, but Pittsburgh failed to even look competitive during its losing streak.

The Steelers have been struggling on both offense and defense. The defense has been extremely concerning, while the offense has failed to remain consistent and has gotten off to multiple slow starts. Quarterback Russell Wilson hasn't looked like himself as he has been forcing balls into coverage while taking too long in the pocket, which has led to drive-killing sacks. Former Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger spoke about what he would do to help the offense on the most recent episode of Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger.

"Again, I'd love to see moving forward, a little bit of intermediate throws," Roethlisberger said. "Whether that's designed or Russ throws it. Like I said, the deep ball is spectacular and you got George [Pickens] back, so you're able to, you saw that this week, you're able to get some of that. But, we've got to be able to block it better. When he wasn't out there and you still gave up that pressure, it's disheartening."

Wilson and wide receiver George Pickens have displayed great chemistry when it comes to completing big passes down the field, but Roethlisberger would like to see the offense utilize some more intermediate throws. The former quarterback also acknowledged how some of the offensive line has been struggling, which doesn't give Wilson enough time to get through his progressions and see the field.

Wilson is notorious for his ability to throw the deep ball, but he needs to start utilizing the middle of the field more and some of those intermediate routes. This is an area where tight end Pat Freiermuth could shine, as he has been one of the most reliable offensive players for Pittsburgh throughout the 2024 season. Intermediate passes can open up deep shots later on, while also opening up the running game for the offense.

Over the three-game losing streak, Wilson has been averaging just 183 passing yards per game, which just isn't enough to compete at the NFL level. With the offensive line struggling in pass protection, Wilson needs to look to get the ball out quicker, which is where routes in the middle of the field and routes that aren't as deep come into play. These routes take less time to develop, which means the offensive line doesn't need to hold their blocks as long. 

Wilson must perform better in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The offense needs to gain some confidence before going into the playoffs, where the group will more than likely be playing on the road thanks to the late-season losing skid.

Steelers' Russell Wilson Has A Lot To Prove Throughout The Rest Of The Season

The Steelers have a lot of hard decisions to make as an organization after the 2024 season. Wilson will be a free agent, and while it once looked like a no-brainer to bring the quarterback back on a new deal, it isn't looking like that would be the best idea after the way he has played in recent weeks. Wilson will be taking on a weak Cincinnati defense on Saturday, and the quarterback needs to play like he was earlier in the season.

Pittsburgh hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season, and Wilson will have a good opportunity to change that in the Wild Card round. If he can lead the Steelers on a playoff run, it is extremely likely he will be back in the black and gold in 2025.

What do you think about Roethlisberger's thoughts on the offense? Let us know in the comments below!

#SteelerNation