By: Brandon J. Wallace
SteelerNation.com
Play-calling vs. execution, I say. A lot of fans in Pittsburgh seem to be calling for offensive coordinator, Randy Fichtner's head lately after the Steelers have struggled the last few weeks to put up points. But how much of it is simply the team's inability to outplay the team in front of them? Fichtner took to the media on Thursday and addressed just that. When asked about "goal line physicality" specifically, Fichtner had this to say:
"There comes a time where that physicality has to be matched. We have seen some pretty good front seven folks, but we've seen good front seven folks before and never felt like 1st and 1 from the 1, you can't get the ball in from running the football. ...I know I can be more committing to running."
Fichtner was also asked about the disappearance of the jet sweep these last few games. He mentioned that practice time has been a big cause of that:
"A factor of shorter weeks, less practice time, I definitely believe it can help us moving forward. I know that there's a balance between that and the attempted things we're trying to do." Fichtner continued, "Getting a chance to practice three times this week, I do believe that we can get back to more of what we want to be and how we're trying to be."
Another big issue I feel is out of Fichtner's control is the amount of dropped balls we've seen lately. Fichtner voiced his thoughts on that as well:
"I really like the group. I think we all know it's a skillful group, capable of making a lot of plays. I do think that somewhere lost in this is a little concentration."
Finally, Fichtner was asked about the high number of pass attempts quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as thrown over the course of the last four games:
"We don't go in aspiring to throw the ball 50+ times. Sometimes it just seems to happen that way, but that's not what we're trying to do."
I get it, our offense needs to be better. But do I put all of the blame on the offensive coordinator? Absolutely not. This is a team game, and right now, we are not hitting on all cylinders. With running back, James Conner activated from the COVID/Reserve List this week, hopefully that sparks the run game again, along with some better "concentration" from our receiving core.
What do yinz think, Steeler Nation? Do we need better play-calling? Or better execution? Maybe both. Sound off in the comment section below.
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