Steelers coach Mike Tomlin promises change here are 5 areas to consider

After two blowout losses in four games, the product the Pittsburgh Steelers have put on the field is far more concerning than their 2-2 record would suggest. Following an embarrassing 30-6 loss to a Houston Texans team that won three games last season, coach Mike Tomlin was asked if it’s already time to start making changes.

“Hell yeah we’ve got to make some changes,” Tomlin said. “That was an ugly product we put out there today. We’re not going to do the same things and hope for a different outcome.”

The obvious shakeup, the one fans have been clamoring to see for several seasons, would be to replace offensive coordinator Matt Canada or reassign play-calling responsibilities. But that seems highly unlikely.

Coach Tomlin addresses the media following our game against the Texans. pic.twitter.com/V0qL8rWw9O

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 1, 2023

It’s not like the Steelers can totally overhaul their scheme in the middle of the season. Given how loyal the organization has historically been to coaches, it would be quite out of character for it to make this type of dramatic move in-season. It seems more probable, perhaps inevitable, that the Steelers will allow Canada to play out the string, then move on this offseason once his contract expires.

So if they aren’t going to make changes to the offensive staff, what can they do to find a spark? Here are five things to consider.

1. Return to the run

When last season went into a tailspin, the Steelers rallied from their 2-6 start by leaning on the ground game. They transformed from the NFL’s eighth-worst rushing offense before the Week 9 bye (95 yards per game) to the eighth-best (146 yards per game) in the final nine games. Pittsburgh won seven of those games to almost squeak into the playoffs.

That makeover should be part of the blueprint. While everyone would have loved for Kenny Pickett to take a massive leap in Year 2 and for the Steelers offense to become a wide-open, quick-strike attack, it’s become clear that he and the offense aren’t ready for that.

Some say it’s the QB. Some put it all on the OC. It’s likely both.

Rather than trying to isolate variables and assign blame, the Steelers should instead remember what worked last year. That’s especially true if the knee injury that forced Pickett to leave Sunday’s game keeps him out for any length of time. Mitch Trubisky proved last year that he can be an effective game manager. The Steelers need to let him do that again by establishing the run and creating explosive passes off of play action, then hoping for the necessary splash on defense.

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2. Manufacture touches for Austin and Pickens

The Steelers offense continues to lose playmakers in the passing game every week. With Diontae Johnson already on injured reserve, tight end Pat Freiermuth went down with a hamstring injury during Sunday’s game. Those absences will make life even tougher for George Pickens and Calvin Austin III, who are already getting plenty of attention from opposing defenses.

The Steelers might need to get creative if they’re going to highlight these playmakers. Pickens has yet to run a screen, an easy way to get the ball in his hands. Austin has run just three. Plays of this nature that are low risk and allow the playmakers to get the ball in space should be explored. Another consideration should be motioning Austin in and out of the backfield to create a possible mismatch, something that was explored in camp but has yet to be used in a game.

Calvin Austin III runs with the ball against the Texans on Sunday. Austin has 12 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown this season. (Troy Taormina / USA Today)

3. Game plan to slow the opponent’s best receiving threat

The No. 1 receiver on any team can circle the game against the Steelers. All of the premier receivers the Steelers have faced this season have turned in (arguably) their best game of the season against a remade Pittsburgh secondary.

In Week 1, the San Francisco 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk caught a season-high eight passes and both of his touchdowns on the year. Only his 129 receiving yards fell short of completing the season-high trifecta (he put up 148 yards against the Arizona Cardinals this week on six catches).

In Week 2, the Cleveland Browns’ Amari Cooper caught seven passes (tying a season high) for 90 yards. The only game in which he performed better was against the Tennessee Titans, when he had 26 more receiving yards and a touchdown.

In Week 3, Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams racked up 13 catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns, his best game of the season in every category.

And finally, on Sunday, Nico Collins reeled in seven catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns. It was his best performance of the season in all three stats.

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick earned a reputation as one of the game’s all-time great coaches by designing game plans that force the opponent to beat them left-handed. Similarly, the Steelers can put a greater emphasis on slowing the opponent’s No. 1 receiver. Now, that’s easier said than done, especially when the Steelers have also been inconsistent at stopping the run. But it’s simply too easy for the top receivers right now.

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4. Rethink rookie usage

Speaking of the struggles in the secondary, maybe it’s time to see what the rookies can do.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is still only playing when the Steelers go to their dime defense. Since training camp, he has almost exclusively worked at left outside corner, which is Patrick Peterson’s position.

It might not be time to throw Porter into the starting lineup, especially because his tackling has been suspect and the run-heavy Baltimore Ravens are about to come to town, but the Steelers could start preparing him on both sides. At a minimum, it would put pressure on right outside corner Levi Wallace. If either corner is struggling or injured, Porter would be ready to step in.

The more significant shakeup should come on the defensive front. Keeanu Benton consistently looks like one of the best defensive linemen on the team. He played 29 defensive snaps (42 percent of the total snaps) Sunday, matching his workload from Week 1. Especially given the Steelers’ struggles against the run, Pittsburgh should be looking for ways to get the rookie on the field more often.

Offensively, Broderick Jones might be in line for his first career start, depending on the status of Dan Moore Jr.’s injured knee. Darnell Washington finally caught his first pass of the season in Week 4 and could be used in a more creative, varied role.

5. Start scouting offensive linemen — or, better yet, trade for one

It says something about the Steelers that their best offensive lineman was the Philadelphia Eagles’ worst. Isaac Seumalo’s addition was a good start as the Steelers work to rebuild up front, but they need to continue to fortify the trenches.

The offensive line has allowed the fourth-most pressures (67), according to Pro Football Focus. Moore, the starting left tackle, has allowed the second-most pressures in the league (19), and center Mason Cole isn’t far behind at 19th (11 pressures).

The Steelers already have a left tackle waiting in the wings in Jones and should be targeting a premier center early in the NFL Draft this year to anchor the line the way Maurkice Pouncey did for years. Unless general manager Omar Khan can work some magic like he did last year when he rid the team of Chase Claypool, more additions to the line will probably have to wait until the offseason. But it’s time to start making this position group a priority.

(Top photo of George Pickens: Cooper Neill / Getty Images)

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