The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to turn the page on offense after being one of the worst units this decade. Since Ben Roethlisberger's 2018 campaign, the offense has never been able to regain its dynamic form. Mike Tomlin's last gasp to get the offense back on track was bringing in future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, which still wasn't enough to win a playoff game. With Rodgers returning for one final season and reuniting with his former head coach, Mike McCarthy, the organization is looking to get back on track and finally score more points.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers (8) converses with Head Coach Mike McCarthy in Latrobe, PA.
The previous offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, used tight ends heavily. With Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Jonnu Smith at his disposal, Pittsburgh was one of the biggest 13 personnel users in the NFL. Tight ends were heavily valued in Smith's offense, whereas McCarthy's were not so much. McCarthy's West Coast Offense has run more out of 11 personnel, meaning only one tight end is on the field.
Omar Khan inked Washington to a four-year, $42 million extension, locking him down for the future. They also have Freiermuth in a four-year, $48 million deal, giving them two tight ends on big contracts. One question going into the season was how they'd use Freiermuth and Washington given the scheme. The former Penn State Nittany Lion is a better fit schematically, but Washington's blocking ability is a weapon that needs to be exploited.
Recently, a team insider gave his take on how the team can adapt the McCarthy scheme and use both men to help out the quarterback. Christopher Carter of the Post-Gazette hosted the show Locked On, where he suggested the team run more 12 personnel groupings to keep the offense less predictable and help keep Rodgers clean.
"But one thing that hasn't changed is that when 12 personnel packages are out there, it's basically a coin flip. When it comes to running or passing the ball," Carter stated. "To me, that's the key that the Steelers are going to want to achieve for Aaron Rodgers. I don't think you need Aaron Rodgers to throw 40 times a game for the Steelers."
The Steelers have been heavy 12 personnel users since Smith became offensive coordinator, but he wasn't able to get the most out of either man. McCarthy has always been a great offensive mind, and he even ran lots of two-tight-end sets during a season with the Dallas Cowboys.
"But there was one season in particular where that was not the case, and that was 2022. And that was a year where he had Dalton Schultz and Jake Ferguson," Carter said. Schultz at that point was, like, I think, a four-year veteran who was a fourth-round pick who turned into a pretty good tight end... Jake Ferguson was a fourth-round pick rookie that year who they were excited to get going."
In the season when McCarthy deployed more tight ends, the Cowboys finished fourth in points for and 11th in total offense. McCarthy got solid tight end play out of a group that provides less versatility than what the Steelers have.
Tim Heitman / Imagn Images
Steelers' Mike McCarthy before a game as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
Now, with one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL and a great receiver, he may need to revert to his 2022 style.
Steelers Tight Ends Are Gearing Up For Huge Season
Freiermuth has already mentioned his excitement for the usage of the tight ends this season, and more importantly, the middle of the field. The offense has rarely thrown between the hashes over the past few seasons; now, with McCarthy calling plays, that will change. The tight ends should be opened up more up the seams and be able to find the soft spots against zone coverages.
Rodgers already built a great connection with Washington and began to build serious chemistry with Freiermuth down the stretch. If they can build on that cohesion, the tight ends should be a driving force in the offense.
#SteelerNation