Steelers Offense Among The Elite Units In The NFL

When Randy Fichtner took over as Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator back in January, the expectation was a high-scoring and highly-efficient offense, reminiscent of his offensive units from his days with the University of Memphis. If the current offensive numbers say anything, it seems that he is true to form.

After three games, the Steelers offensive unit is ranked 2nd in total offense with 453.3 yards per game,  2nd in passing yards 363.3 yards per game, and 7th in points with 29.3.  For starters, second-year receiver Juju Smith-Schuster is currently ranked 3rd in the NFL in receiving yards with 356, after posting his third straight 100-yard receiving performance.

For the first time in a long time, the Steelers offense produced tight ends with back-to-back 100+ receiving yards. Fourth-year tight end Jesse James had his breakout game against the Kansas City Chiefs in week 2, accounting for 138 receiving yards; meanwhile, tight end Vance McDonald exploded for 101 receiving yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has established himself as a force on offense.

For quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, he is currently setting new benchmarks in passing yards. According to ESPN senior NFL writer Jeremy Fowler, his 1,140 passing yards through the first three games, ranks him 4th all-time for a quarterback in his first three games. His performance Monday against the Buccaneers earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

As a unit, few possess the same amount of weapons on offense. Considering that All-Pro and arguably the best receiver in the NFL Antonio Brown has yet to record a game with 100 receiving yards this season, this serves as an indicator of the type of depth they have. With the defensive unit ranked on the lower end of the spectrum, much of the success for this team will need to come from their offense. If this unit continues at their current pace, they could potentially become one of the best offensive units of all time.