NFL Media believes the Steelers have an identity crisis that could thwart their 2024 plans
It doesn't take a lot of digging, but if you use context clues, or in this case, cover the team, you know the Pittsburgh Steelers have one goal on offense. Run the ball. Getting back to a heavy rushing attack with punishing linemen, the team's offseason denotes the return of physicality. Yet, according to Eric Edholm […]
It doesn't take a lot of digging, but if you use context clues, or in this case, cover the team, you know the Pittsburgh Steelers have one goal on offense.
Run the ball.
Getting back to a heavy rushing attack with punishing linemen, the team's offseason denotes the return of physicality.
Yet, according to Eric Edholm of NFL Media, finding that identity is the toughest challenge the Steelers face in 2024.
Steelers facing an identity crisis?
The Steelers have a quarterback battle unlike any other around the league. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are a decade apart in age, but they're both at a career crossroads. How Pittsburgh plans to use the two signal-callers will be fascinating. Is Wilson the clear Week 1 starter? Is there a Fields package in the offense? Will Fields fully usurp Wilson at some point? That all remains to be seen. If there is a Fields package, it'll be run by new Steelers OC Arthur Smith, whose handling of the Falcons' quarterbacks over the past few years was suboptimal, even if the QB talent in Atlanta was lacking. Smith also must contend with OL changes and a WR corps that lost one of its big playmakers when Diontae Johnson was traded to Carolina. Mike Tomlin played quarterback roulette last year and lost, despite Pittsburgh making the playoffs. The AFC North is a bear. How the offense materializes is the obvious, No. 1 issue for this team right now. – Eric Edholm, NFL Media
I see the concern, but the biggest challenge the Steelers' offense faces is not finding their identity, it's executing said identity. When the team hired Arthur Smith, that kicked off their offensive revival.
A run-heavy scheme and play-caller, Pittsburgh then doubled down on that philosophy when they drafted three offensive linemen with their first five picks of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Mix in two QBs who are known for their mobility and would be comfortable in the designed run game and you can see how it all comes together.
The question or challenge is, will it all work?
Plans that work on paper, in the offseason, and during camp don't always work in practicality when the regular season hits. Remember, they pay the coaches and defensive players too.
How well Pittsburgh adapts will be pivotal in their success.
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