Steelers' Mike McCarthy Has A Unique Way To Unleash His Biggest Weapon

The Pittsburgh Steelers have an offensive player who looks like he should be helping move furniture, not leaving NFL defenders chasing him down the sideline. His size has never been a secret, but a subtle coaching adjustment is turning that size into a new kind of headache. Opponents are discovering that stopping him requires more than standing in his way.

At 6'7" and an officially listed 264 pounds, Darnell Washington doesn't exactly disappear into a formation. Yet Head Coach Mike McCarthy has found a way to make opponents lose track of the biggest skill-position player on the field. The trick involves sending him in motion and forcing defenders to make a decision before they know whether he's blocking or running a route.

That approach produced Pittsburgh's loudest passing play in Sunday's 27-6 win over the Cleveland Browns. Aaron Rodgers found Washington for a 58-yard catch-and-run down the left sideline, setting up a touchdown one snap later. A man built to move defensive ends spent the play outrunning defensive backs. It's a pretty unpleasant mismatch when you're wearing the other uniform.

Cleveland hadn't simply forgotten Washington. Pittsburgh had shown similar motion earlier, using a short-pass threat to influence the coverage. On the big gain, the offense sold that look before Washington released upfield and Rodgers found him.

During a recent episode of Locked On Steelers, Jenna Harner of WPXI explained why moving Washington around has become one of her favorite details in McCarthy's offense.

“Going back to what you said about the tight ends, I know it's kind of becoming nationally recognized. Like obviously we here in Pittsburgh know the strength that Darnell Washington brings and we see that week in and week out, but the way they're utilizing him in motion is a thing of whatever you want to call it, beauty, poetry. It is spectacular,” Harner said.

There's actual football behind the poetry. A defense that sees Washington attached to the line has to respect his ability to seal an edge or drive somebody backward in the running game. Start moving him across the formation, though, and the same defender has to sort out whether to follow, pass him off or adjust the front. Get that exchange wrong and a 264-pound tight end suddenly has a running start into open space.

Pittsburgh used the concept for more than one chunk play against Cleveland. Washington also caught a 24-yard pass off a related look, and his three receptions produced a career-high 94 yards. The 58-yarder began at Pittsburgh's 41 and ended at the Browns' 1-yard line, with Jaylen Warren finishing the drive on the ground. Washington did almost all the traveling; Warren handled the last yard.

Harner also loved the disbelief in the broadcast booth as Washington rumbled downfield.

“If you get him moving and Aaron Rodgers finds him the way that he's been finding him, I mean, again, he's unstoppable to the point where Kevin Harlan is saying, ‘How can a man this big be so nimble?’ The way that he's moving down the sideline. Like he is such a unique weapon,” Harner said.

Through eight games, Washington has 19 catches for 254 yards and three touchdowns, matching his 2024 reception total and exceeding his receiving yardage from that season. He's averaging 13.4 yards per catch without needing a dozen targets every week.

McCarthy praised Washington's natural hands earlier this season, while Offensive Coordinator Brian Angelichio highlighted his run-after-catch ability. Those traits explain Pittsburgh's plans for a bigger role even after a quiet opener.

It also helps that Pat Freiermuth can share the field with him. Two-tight-end personnel usually tells a defense to get ready for a physical run, especially with Warren behind Rodgers. But both tight ends can release into routes, and Washington can start as a blocker before ending up isolated against a linebacker. The offense doesn't have to announce whether it's running or throwing by changing who's in the huddle.

That flexibility helps while DK Metcalf and the receivers search for more consistent production. Washington doesn't need to run a traditional outside route tree. Defenders must account for the run, recognize the motion and then tackle a giant already moving downhill.

Opponents will study the motion package Pittsburgh used against Cleveland. Safeties can rotate earlier and linebackers can adjust their leverage. McCarthy must keep the run action and shorter throws attached to the look so the next deep shot doesn't arrive with a warning label.

Steelers Should Keep The Big Man Moving Around

Pittsburgh's answer shouldn't be to manufacture ten targets for Washington every Sunday. The smarter move is making defenses prepare for him on every snap, including the ones when he never touches the football. If a linebacker widens to follow his motion, the running game can attack the space he abandoned. If the defense packs the box, Rodgers has a massive target who can get behind the second level. Washington's blocking reputation makes the deception believable.

The Steelers return from their bye to face the Cincinnati Bengals on November 15. Cincinnati will have the Cleveland film and plenty of time to study it. That's exactly why Pittsburgh should keep evolving the presentation instead of putting the same trick on repeat. A player with Washington's size and hands is difficult enough to tackle when everybody knows where he's lined up.

Harner's praise is justified. Cleveland learned what happens when the defense guesses wrong on Washington. The fun part for Pittsburgh is that he can punish the right guess, too.

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