My Thoughts on the Steelers’ 2024 Offense as the Regular Season Concludes
Photo via NFL+
Alright, enough doom and gloom. It’s a brand new season, and it’s the only one that matters: the postseason. But first, I wanted to kinda look over some numbers and see exactly how much Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Arthur Smith “boosted” this offense from last year, following an entire overhaul of the QB room and the firing and hiring of offensive coordinator(s).
Stats via NFL Pro
The numbers both last year and this year leave a lot to be desired. The Steelers offense, this year, ranks 16th in points per game, which isn’t going to do the trick in today’s NFL. We finished the year with 35 total offensive touchdowns, which ranks 23rd in the NFL behind teams like the Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, and the Atlanta Falcons. And, while that stat is an improvement from last season, it still reeks of mediocrity. During the Steelers four-game losing streak, they’re averaging EIGHT AND A HALF FUCKING YARDS TO GO ON THIRD DOWN. EIGHT AND A HALF!!!!!! At the beginning of the year, I figured it would be an adjustment period for our offense, and we’d come out the gates slow, and figure it out as the year went on. The opposite happened. This offense has regressed as the year has gone on, and it looks elementary and predictable, regardless of what Arthur Smith says about it to the media. As you can see from the poorly made graphic that I slapped together for yinz (above), the “improvements” that we saw on offense are marginal, if they exist at all. An extra 4.5 ppg is certainly a welcome boost, but we live behind schedule on offense, and there’s nothing that is happening on offense that suggests you should run it back with this core of players next season. I still think the offensive line is a year away anyway, so it’s time to commit to which QB you want in your locker room next year, because you’re not getting one in the draft, and start scouting for some talent at receiver and running back. Which brings me to the QBs on the roster…
When Russell Wilson was inserted into the starting lineup back in October against the Jets, the coaching staff made it clear pretty quickly that they trusted him more to push the ball down field than they did Justin Fields. I was hesitant to jump on the hype train in that game, because I think receivers were kinda bailing him out of what were otherwise pretty poorly thrown balls. Still, it was working, and in that game, and the three games that followed, Russell Wilson won the hearts of many in western Pennsylvania. Then there was the win in Cincinnati, where Russ went off for 400+ yards and 3 TDs and I was like…holy shit this team can contend this year. The decline that has taken place since is hard to swallow, and points to failures on both the players and the coaching staff. It’s almost like Russ showed his hand too early. If he finished the year hot and we were competing with the top teams in the league, but we couldn’t hold up in the playoffs, then that’s one thing. We’ll see what happens in the playoffs, but he has regressed as the year has pressed on, and with his age I don’t see a single reason for you to bring him back as your plan for QB1 next season.
That brings us to Justin Fields, who is also not under contract for us next season. When Fields was the starter at the beginning of the year, I was ecstatic, because of his age and his playmaking ability with his feet. What happened, in game, during the 6 game stretch of games in which he was the starter, was largely indicative of a new offensive system with a young QB and an unproven offensive line. There were definite flashes of greatness, but there was also some hesitation by both Arthur Smith to call plays to push the ball down field, and Justin Fields to trust his eyes and make the throws. In 6 games, Justin Fields had 10 total touchdowns (5 passing, 5 rushing) and just 1 interception. Granted, on the INT, he clearly wasn’t seeing the field well, which did happen at times in games this season. I also recall times when he was feeling phantom pressure and moving or leaving the pocket for no reason. I say all this to say, it wasn’t perfect, but I stand by what I was saying coming into the season: I think your ceiling as a team is higher if Justin Fields is your QB than if Russell Wilson is. The Steelers were actually trying the read option in the final game of the season vs. CIN. Do you know what happened? The Bengals SOLD on the RBs every single time, because they don’t fear Russell Wilson running the football. You can live with that when Russ’ deep ball is working. But, when it’s not, which it hasn’t been for a month now, the offense can’t stay afloat. It’s at a point where I’m starting to think your floor, as a team, is also higher with Justin Fields as your guy.
Check out this play in the loss @ IND. At this point in the game, the Steelers were down 10 in the 4th quarter, and needed points in a real way. George Pickens vs. Jaylon Jones, and Jones plays it pretty well, but Fields delivers it on a STRING right in the basket for Pickens. Pickens did a hell of a job displaying those late hands so Jones had no idea the ball was coming. This is just one example, but let’s not act like Justin Fields can’t throw the deep ball. He can. One would hope that spending ⅔ of this season behind a Super Bowl winner and veteran QB like Russell Wilson was beneficial to his development.
With Fields, though, there will be some inconsistencies which are to be expected as a QB grows in your system; especially a young guy like him. The Colts game is a prime example of the highs and lows that you’ll experience with him in the fold. It was a similar situation, this time down by a FG with time winding down in the 4th quarter, and Fields has Pickens vs. Jones one-on-one, again, on the outside. On this play, Fields has to step up in the pocket and run to his left, and Pickens has Jones beat FOR SURE, but Fields can’t put enough behind the throw. If he stops moving and gets his feet neatly set, he has the arm strength to lead Pickens on this throw, and if he does that, it’s a touchdown and the Steelers win. But, his momentum is still carrying him to his left as he’s making the throw, and it takes away from how much air he’s able to put on the ball. It’s unfortunate that the margin for error was so thin for him in that game that this one throw was the difference between winning and losing, but that was the case, and such is life. For the record, I don’t think Russ is making that throw either…if Russ is in on this play, I think he takes a sack.
It will be interesting to see what the Steelers decide to do in the offseason, as we currently don’t have a QB under contract for the 2025 season. Now that we have a fairly significant sample size for both guys though, the only logical option, in my opinion, is to bring back Justin Fields, assuming he wants to come back. Give him the offense for the entirety of 2025, and assess your options around this time next year. I fear our purgatory will continue for at least another year or two. But, Fields has an undeniable amount of upside and appeal, and gives us, as fans, something to potentially look forward to. And, who knows…maybe the Steelers win a couple of playoff games, and I’m singing a different tune about the future of this offense in a few weeks, but I really doubt it. On to Baltimore…
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