As the Pittsburgh Steelers advance through their preseason schedule, offensive struggles have become a glaring concern. Evidenced by their meager output of just 15 points over two preseason games, the team has failed to find any rhythm on that side of the ball.
Saturday night's 9-3 loss underscored these issues, highlighting the Steelers' inability to generate meaningful momentum. Only three of the 15 points came while quarterback Justin Fields was on the field. Persistent issues with pass protection have consistently hampered any opportunity for Fields to establish a steady offensive rhythm.
Struggles with Pass Protection
Across five series against the Buffalo Bills, veteran quarterback Russell Wilson struggled mightily, failing to orchestrate a single scoring drive. Wilson was sacked three times during the outing, a testament to the Steelers' ongoing struggles with their offensive line.
Head coach Mike Tomlin has been vocal about the detrimental impact of inadequate pass protection. "It's somewhat of an incomplete study because you just don't get a chance to see them operate or us operate or us establish rhythm and personality when you're not winning possession downs," Tomlin said.
He continued to emphasize the point, noting, "And we weren't. The first three or so series of the game, it was three and out, and you're not going to get an opportunity to establish rhythm or play the way you'd like as an individual or a collective."
Challenges with Injuries
Compounding the Steelers' problems are injuries to key players on the offensive line. Veteran center and guard Nate Herbig is potentially out for the season due to a torn rotator, and rookie first-round pick Troy Fautanu is also currently sidelined with an injury. These absences have forced difficult adjustments and exposed inexperience, as seen with Greg Rousseau from the Bills exploiting the inexperience of Broderick Jones, who was moved to right tackle for the game.
Justin Fields also experienced the fallout from these issues, being sacked once and struggling to find a rhythm. Tomlin's assessment of the situation is straightforward but stern: "We've got to do a better job in pass protection than we did — not only in possession downs but just in general." He added, "I was really upfront with the group about it in that regard. That can't be a problem for us. We've got to be better than we were tonight in that area."
Looking Forward
The Steelers' final preseason game against the Detroit Lions looms as a crucial test. Tomlin will be closely monitoring the performances of his offensive line, as the team seeks to iron out the difficulties that have plagued them thus far. The decision of which quarterback will start in Pittsburgh's final preseason game hinges on these observations and assessments.
Moving forward, the Steelers will need to address their offensive line issues and find a way to provide better protection for their quarterbacks. As the regular season approaches, improving their offensive consistency will be key to ensuring they can compete at a high level.
Steelers fans will be hopeful that these preseason struggles can be corrected, understanding that a strong offensive line is pivotal to any success in the upcoming season. As Tomlin’s comments indicate, the team’s ability to establish rhythm and win possession downs will be closely scrutinized in the coming weeks.