Mike Tomlin is stepping beyond his usual boundaries, both personally and organizationally, to select the next offensive coordinator.
The Steelers have not sought an offensive coordinator from outside their organization since the appointment of Todd Haley in 2012.
The new coordinator faces the challenge of enhancing an offense that finished 25th in yards and 27th in points in 2023. In the postseason, no team had offenses with lower rankings than the Steelers in these categories.
However, the roster is not entirely devoid of talent, and the Steelers have the majority of their starters already signed to contracts, with the notable exception of quarterback Mason Rudolph.
Considering this, here are three aspects that the new coordinator will discover as effective and ineffective from the 2023 season:
What proved effective;
1. The performance of the running game
The second year of the Najee Harris/Jaylen Warren running back duo proved more successful than the initial season, making them only the fourth pair of teammates in franchise history to individually exceed 1,000 yards from scrimmage in a single season.
Harris concluded the season with 1,305 rushing yards and 1,205 yards overall. Warren closely followed with 784 rushing yards and 1,154 scrimmage yards, attributing to his 61 receptions for 370 yards.
Harris achieved over 1,000 rushing yards for the third consecutive year. Although this accomplishment has been somewhat diluted by the extended 17-game schedule, Harris remains among the select group of 12 running backs to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
Despite his playing time decreasing to a career-low of 569 snaps and 53% of the plays, Harris achieved this feat. This reduction was due to the Steelers integrating Warren into the offense, who played 519 snaps, equivalent to 49% of the plays. This dynamic running back duo, along with the Detroit Lions’ pair of Jahmyr Gibbs (1,261 scrimmage yards) and David Montgomery (1,132), stood out as one of the top combinations in the league.
The Steelers have the option to maintain the running back duo for an additional two years by activating Harris’ fifth-year option, although this introduces another separate concern.
2. The effectiveness of big plays
Recall the 2022 season, where the Steelers only managed two touchdown passes from beyond the red zone. Additionally, it wasn’t until the season finale that they executed a scoring play longer than 30 yards.
Despite facing challenges both before and after Matt Canada took charge of calling plays, the Steelers discovered ways to generate more explosiveness in 2023. They registered eight touchdown passes covering at least 20 yards, with five of them extending to a length of at least 60 yards.
Whether it was Rudolph or Kenny Pickett in charge of throwing the ball, the Steelers opted for a more aggressive approach down the field. This strategy led to significant gains, a stark contrast from the previous season where such substantial plays were lacking.
3. Fresh additions to the offensive line
Although the offensive line collectively struggled to find its rhythm promptly, the Steelers saw positive results with the inclusion of Isaac Seumalo at left guard and the introduction of first-round pick Broderick Jones into the lineup.
Seumalo brought stability to the interior of the line, assuming a leadership role with his straightforward attitude and veteran experience. Despite enduring physical challenges on the front lines, he displayed resilience by participating in every game, marking the third time in his eight NFL seasons. His performance validated the Steelers’ decision to sign him to a three-year, $24 million contract in free agency.
Jones seamlessly integrated into the team, despite being positioned out of his usual spot at right tackle when he joined the lineup midway through the season.
What failed to
1. Allocation of economic resources
Tomlin expressed a desire for his new offensive coordinator to possess the capability to effectively harness all the talent available within the team.
Frequently in 2023, this was not the scenario. Despite the productivity of Harris and Warren, the Steelers may have leaned too heavily on their running backs. Whether under Canada or the leadership of the Eddie Faulkner/Mike Sullivan duo, the team often failed to involve all their components effectively.
Reflect on the fact that George Pickens went through eight consecutive games without achieving 100 yards, and Diontae Johnson did not record a single 100-yard game in the 13 games he played. The emergence of a reliable third-receiving option did not materialize. Allen Robinson accumulated only 280 receiving yards, and Calvin Austin faded away after his 72-yard touchdown catch in Las Vegas, concluding the season with 17 receptions for 180 yards.
In 2023, the Steelers must identify additional credible pass-catching options and actively incorporate them into their offensive strategy.
2. Utilization of tight ends in offensive plays
Pat Freiermuth played only 12 games due to injuries, concluding the season with 32 receptions for 308 yards. Additionally, he did not secure a touchdown catch beyond the month of September.
Except for the Faulkner/Sullivan debut in Cincinnati, where Freiermuth had nine receptions for 120 yards, he played a limited role in the offensive game plan. Moreover, he wasn’t consistently targeted at his position, with Connor Heyward receiving 34 targets (an average of two per game) and rookie Darnell Washington receiving 10.
Entering the last year of his rookie contract, Freiermuth’s future extension may be contingent on increased involvement in the offense, a decision that rests with the new coordinator. Without a more prominent role, an extension for Freiermuth may not be warranted.
3. Remaining members of the offensive line
Enhanced quarterback performance, whether it’s Pickett or Rudolph in play, could be influenced by ensuring each snap begins with precision. Unfortunately, this was lacking too often in Mason Cole’s second year as the center.
The Steelers have the option to part ways with Cole, who is set to receive a $1.5 million roster bonus or introduce competition through a draft pick. It is highly likely that the team will part with the longstanding right tackle, Chuks Okorafor, leading to a substantial savings of $8.75 million.
The Steelers have hesitated to replace left tackle Dan Moore Jr., despite drafting Jones with the intention of having him protect the quarterback’s blind side. Moore experienced another season with a subjective Pro Football Focus ranking that ranked among the lowest at his position. Interestingly, his grade was the lowest of his three-year career, even though he appeared to make fewer mistakes compared to previous seasons.
