The person designing the plays has changed in the wake of Matt Canada’s firing as Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator. So has the person who will wear the headset and communicate with quarterback Kenny Pickett on game days.
As far as the actual plays that will be used when the Steelers embark on a final seven-game stretch that won’t involve Canada’s input, they might look familiar to those called over the previous 10 games.
Everyone — from head coach Mike Tomlin to new coordinator Eddie Faulkner to Pickett — admits that the playbook can’t be overhauled in less than a week. The foundation of the offensive system was constructed in the offseason with Pickett providing his input in consultation with Canada. Those plays have been practiced and executed since organized team activities began in May.
Faulkner won’t immediately begin scripting — and Mike Sullivan calling — gadget plays such as the flea-flicker or halfback option. What the Steelers have run the past few months is largely what they will run down the stretch, starting with the game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Steelers just hope to run them more efficiently. And maybe out of different personnel packages. And maybe do so with less predictability.
Even if little on paper figures to change, that doesn’t mean Faulkner and Sullivan can’t put their stamp on an offense that ranks No. 28 among 32 teams. They could start by addressing five questions facing the offense as it enters Cincinnati looking for a fresh start:
1. Will passes start going over the middle?
Whether by design when Canada was calling the plays or whether it was the quarterback’s choice, Pickett’s reluctance to throw passes over the middle was glaring in the first 10 games.
In passes thrown between the numbers and 10-19 yards downfield, Pickett attempted 20 such throws, an average of two per game. Of those 20 throws, he completed nine.
By comparison, Pickett had 19 throws behind the line of scrimmage that were attempted between the numbers. And he completed all 19 of these safe passes, usually a no-risk screen or shovel pass.
Among eligible passers, Pickett ranks No. 30 in attempts that are thrown 20-plus yards downfield with 22. His six completions of those throws also ranks No. 30.
Another damning stat: Pickett’s average depth of target on all throws is just 7.5 yards downfield. That ranks No. 27 among quarterbacks who have played at least four games.
2. Will the running back split change?
Jaylen Warren slowly has eaten into Najee Harris’ playing time as the featured running back and with good reason. With 318 yards over the past three games, Warren has pulled within six of Harris for the team lead.
Harris, who has 499 yards rushing, is averaging 3.9 yards per carry. Warren is averaging 6.2 yards each time he carries the ball, and each back has scored three rushing touchdowns. Warren has 234 receiving yards to Harris’ 116.
Once the bell cow running back for Tomlin, Harris has played 54% of the snaps this season and Warren 46%.
Faulkner said he will stick with the running back rotation, but moving forward the plan might include Warren getting a larger share of the snaps.
3. Will the tight ends get targets?
In his return from a five-game absence because of a hamstring injury, Pat Freiermuth was targeted one time against Cleveland, the same number as rookie tight end Darnell Washington. Those two targets were completions that totaled 15 yards.
Not exactly the type of production the Steelers were expecting from the tight end position entering the season. Then again, they didn’t expect Freiermuth to miss a block of time.
Steelers tight ends have produced 30 catches for 228 yards and two touchdowns (both by Freiermuth). Only three teams have targeted their tight end fewer times than the Steelers’ 48.
With Faulkner drawing up the plan and Sullivan calling the plays, perhaps the tight end will become a focal point of the offense.
4. Will a third receiving option emerge?
George Pickens and Diontae Johnson have taken turns expressing their dissatisfaction with the direction of the passing game this season. Looking at their recent numbers, it’s easy to see the root of their frustration.
Since he had five catches for 107 yards against the Los Angeles Rams, Pickens has caught 10 passes for 104 yards in the past four games. He has averaged five targets per game. Johnson was targeted 12 times the past two weeks but has three receptions for 33 yards.
Another concern for the Steelers that the new OC duo must fix is finding a complementary third receiver to help diversify the offense. Calvin Austin has three catches and five targets over the past six games. Until he had three catches against the Browns, Allen Robinson had two in his previous four games.
If defenses are going to try to minimize Johnson and Pickens, it might be time for Pickett to explore other options.
5. Will the jet sweep disappear?
Canada had a love with the jet sweep that never manifested into a legitimate threat in his 44 games as offensive coordinator.
That didn’t stop him from calling at least one per game and often with negligible results. This year, Austin had eight such runs for 30 yards. Pickens had two for 15 and tight end Connor Heyward didn’t gain a yard on his lone carry.
With two capable running backs on the roster, perhaps Faulkner will put the jet sweep in storage and let Harris and Warren carry the ball. And have the receivers do what they supposedly do best: catch it.
