As the Pittsburgh Steelers advance through their preseason schedule, glaring offensive struggles have emerged, raising concerns ahead of the regular season. Across two preseason games, the Steelers' offense has only managed to put up a mere 15 points, a worrying statistic for a team with championship aspirations.
The most recent 9-3 loss on Saturday night highlighted these offensive issues. Disturbingly, only three of those 15 total points came with Justin Fields on the field, underscoring the extent of their difficulties. Fields, a promising talent, has been hindered by a persistent lack of pass protection, preventing him from establishing any consistent offensive rhythm.
Russell Wilson, who played across five series against the Buffalo Bills, also faced significant challenges. Despite his veteran presence, Wilson was unable to orchestrate a single scoring drive and was sacked three times. Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin attributed these struggles to inadequate pass protection, a critical component that has stymied their ability to perform.
Tomlin emphasized, "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." He added, "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."
Saturday's game also exposed the inexperience on the offensive line. Greg Rousseau from the Bills exploited Broderick Jones, who was moved to right tackle for the game. The switch highlighted the growing pains the unit is experiencing as they integrate new and young players.
Justin Fields wasn't spared from the pressure either, being sacked once during his time on the field. The line's struggles were compounded by injuries to key players. Veteran center/guard Nate Herbig faces a potentially season-ending torn rotator injury, and rookie first-round pick Troy Fautanu is also currently sidelined.
Tomlin candidly addressed the issue with his team, "We've got to do a better job in pass protection than we did -- not only in possession downs but just in general." He continued, "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."
As the Steelers prepare for their preseason finale against the Detroit Lions, Tomlin will be closely monitoring the offensive line performances. The decision on which quarterback will start in Pittsburgh's final preseason game is likely to hinge on these evaluations.
While the preseason is often a time for teams to iron out kinks and develop chemistry, the Steelers’ offensive issues are becoming increasingly urgent. The pass protection must improve to give their talented quarterbacks a fair chance to succeed. However, with several weeks still remaining before the start of the regular season, there's time for adjustments and improvement.
Should the offensive line find a way to gel and provide consistent protection, the Steelers could yet turn things around. For now, the struggles highlight the ongoing work required to reach regular-season form. As Tomlin and his staff continue to assess and develop their roster, the spotlight will remain firmly on the offensive line.