The Pittsburgh Steelers ended their 2024 season much worse than it started. When the Steelers were 10-3, Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith were being celebrated, but after four straight losses to end the regular season, the tides have turned big time. One of the most frustrating aspects of this team for fans is the fact that the offensive scheme seems to have gotten away from what was working for them during their win streak. The momentum the team had earlier in the season has completely evaporated.
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Steelers' Pat Freiermuth tries to calm down George Pickens during a loss to the Bengals.
The Steelers' offense under Smith and Tomlin has reverted back to being very predictable, failing to adapt and leaving key players like George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, and even Calvin Austin III without the support needed to thrive. This lack of offensive creativity has become glaring, as the Steelers' playcalling has made it easy for opposing defenses to predict their moves, stalling the potential of their star players. What once seemed like a promising offensive overhaul has turned into a lackluster and uninspired game plan.
Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo went on 93.7 The Fan to reveal some wild insight, shedding light on the growing frustration among players with the offensive scheme. According to Fittipaldo, the issues aren't just surface-level; there is serious discontent within the locker room. The once-celebrated duo of Tomlin and Smith now faces increasing scrutiny, and if the offense doesn’t find its rhythm soon, the Steelers may be forced to make some tough decisions heading into the future.
"The skill position players want the ball in their hands more, and it's not happening," Fittipaldo said. "Maybe [their] pleas are falling on deaf ears. Maybe in the playoffs they're gonna spring something on us and they'll break some of their tendencies and they will start throwing the ball more. But I know people in that locker room want more responsibility on their shoulders. They think the passing game can help, and right now, they're still trying to play smashmouth football. As you guys can see, it hasn't been working for the last month or so."
Smith and Tomlin share a physical coaching style, aiming to dominate on the ground with smash-mouth football. The problem lies in the Steelers' personnel—despite the appearance of having the right pieces, they don’t quite have the talent to fully execute this approach.
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Steelers' Arthur Smith talking with QB Russell Wilson during practice.
Early in the season, when Russell Wilson was allowed to air it out, utilizing the middle of the field, checkdowns, and intermediate passes, the offense was hard to stop.
Steelers' Arthur Smith Got Beat By A Fired Defensive Coordinator
However, since reverting to a more predictable offensive scheme, defenses have had little trouble shutting them down. A prime example of this is the Cincinnati Bengals defense. Despite their struggles throughout the season, the Bengals' Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo was fired after his defense held the Steelers to just 17 points, exposing the flaws in Pittsburgh's game plan.
Now, with opposing defenses easily predicting the Steelers' moves, the offense has become increasingly ineffective. What was once a promising attack has been stifled by the return to an overly simplistic and predictable system, leaving the Steelers scrambling to find answers.
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Steelers' George Pickens celebrates with his teammates after a big time touchdown.
That’s a clear sign that whatever the Steelers have been trying to do on offense just isn’t working. Changes are needed, and it starts with getting Pickens open more often, involving Freiermuth earlier in the game, and finding creative ways to utilize Austin's speed. The Steelers have the talent to make their passing game click, but they need to stop playing it safe and start taking calculated risks to maximize their potential.
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