The Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty to evaluate during their bye week, but one of the biggest concerns surrounding the offense is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Despite showing an ability to move the football down the field, Pittsburgh has struggled to turn promising drives into touchdowns, and Offensive Coordinator Brian Angelichio appears ready to make some adjustments.
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Pittsburgh Steelers’ Brian Angelichio participates in training camp at Saint Vincent College in 2026.
Angelichio recently revealed that the coaching staff is using the bye week to review its red-zone approach, including its checks and run-pass options. Rather than simply accepting the team's struggles as an execution issue, the Steelers are questioning whether their current play selection is giving the offense the best chance to score.
"Do we have the right plays down there?" Angelichio asked while discussing the staff's evaluation of its red-zone offense.
That question is particularly important considering what happened during Pittsburgh's most recent matchup against the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers had two first-half opportunities inside the red zone, reaching the 2-yard line on one possession and the 8-yard line on another. Neither drive resulted in a touchdown, as Pittsburgh settled for field goals on both occasions.
Coming away with six points instead of potentially 14 is a significant difference, especially in a divisional matchup. Pittsburgh is converting approximately 50% of its red-zone trips into touchdowns, ranking 26th in the NFL. That puts the Steelers among the league's least efficient teams in one of the most important areas of offensive production.
For an offense that wants to compete with the better teams in the AFC, that ranking is concerning. Pittsburgh cannot consistently expect its defense to keep games close while the offense leaves scoring opportunities on the field. His comments indicate that the coaching staff is willing to examine its own decisions instead of placing the entire burden on the players.
Steelers Could Have A Different Offensive Approach After The Bye
The most important takeaway from Angelichio's comments is that Pittsburgh is specifically reviewing its red-zone checks and run-pass options. Those are areas where even small adjustments could make a difference in how the offense operates near the goal line.
When the field gets shorter, defenses have less ground to cover, making it increasingly difficult for receivers to find space and for running backs to locate openings. Offensive coordinators have to find creative ways to counter that advantage, and Pittsburgh has not consistently found the answers. One potential area of improvement is making the offense less predictable. If opposing defenses can anticipate whether the Steelers are running or passing based on their personnel and formations, it becomes much easier to prepare for what is coming.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers' experience could also be valuable during this process. Having a veteran quarterback who understands defensive tendencies and can recognize certain looks before the snap gives the coaching staff another resource when evaluating its offensive approach. Improving communication between Rodgers and Angelichio could help Pittsburgh become more effective in those critical situations.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers (8) converses with Head Coach Mike McCarthy in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers cannot afford to spend several more weeks experimenting while continuing to leave points on the scoreboard. Their remaining schedule will provide plenty of challenges, and inefficient red-zone production could become especially costly against stronger opponents.
Angelichio's comments also represent an important development for a coaching staff that has already faced questions about its offensive consistency. By reviewing the actual play calls and options available near the goal line, Pittsburgh is at least taking steps toward addressing the problem.
The Steelers do not necessarily need to overhaul their entire offense coming out of the bye. However, they need to find a more dependable approach when drives reach scoring territory. Pittsburgh needs to turn those opportunities into touchdowns, and Angelichio's willingness to question whether the offense has the right plays suggests that adjustments could be coming.
The next time the Steelers get inside the opponent's 10-yard line, the expectation should be to finish the drive. If the changes made during the bye week accomplish that, they could make a meaningful difference in how the offense performs down the stretch.
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