As the Pittsburgh Steelers continue their preseason journey, their offensive struggles have increasingly come into focus. Over the span of two preseason games, the Steelers' offense has been alarmingly quiet, putting up a mere 15 points. The recent 9-3 defeat underscored the challenges facing the team.
One of the major issues plaguing the Steelers' offense has been the lack of pass protection, which has stymied any attempts to build a cohesive and consistent offensive rhythm. Only three of the 15 points were scored while Justin Fields was on the field, highlighting the persistent difficulties in protecting the quarterback.
Offensive Line Woes
Head coach Mike Tomlin has been vocal about these challenges, particularly 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 noted, emphasizing the team's struggles to secure successful drives. "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."
Russell Wilson, despite his experience and agility, was unable to orchestrate a single scoring drive across five series against the Buffalo Bills, a testament to the offensive line's struggles. Wilson found himself sacked three times during these sequences.
Tomlin didn't mince words regarding the necessity for improvement. "We've got to do a better job in pass protection than we did -- not only in possession downs but just in general," he stated firmly. "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."
Performances Under Scrutiny
Greg Rousseau of the Bills posed a considerable challenge to the Steelers' line, particularly exploiting the inexperience of Broderick Jones, who was moved to right tackle for the game. This mismatch visibly affected the Steelers' ability to maintain any offensive momentum. Meanwhile, Justin Fields was sacked once, further complicating his efforts to lead successful drives.
The injuries to key offensive linemen have only magnified these issues. Veteran center/guard Nate Herbig faces a potential season-long absence due to a torn rotator. Additionally, rookie first-round pick Troy Fautanu is currently sidelined with an injury, compounding the Steelers' struggles to find stability in their lineup.
Decision Time
As the team approaches their preseason finale against the Detroit Lions, Tomlin will be particularly focused on evaluating the performance of his offensive line. With the Steelers trying to dodge a dismal preseason record, the protection of the quarterback remains a priority. The final decisions on the starting quarterback will be heavily influenced by the performance of the offensive line, as Tomlin aims to find a combination that can offer better protection and rhythm.
In these final evaluations, Tomlin's eyes will be firmly on how well his offensive line can hold up against the Lions. The lessons from these preseason games will undoubtedly shape the team's strategy and lineup as they move forward into the regular season.