Browns' defense presents challenge for Steelers' new-look jumbo package running scheme

The heavy offensive package the Pittsburgh Steelers successfully deployed against the Minnesota Vikings before their bye week might not be a one-game anomaly.

Coach Mike Tomlin hinted Tuesday at his weekly news conference that the formation that enlists offensive lineman Spencer Anderson as a “jumbo” blocking tight end could be in play again Sunday when the Steelers face the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium.

“We have a certain personality, particularly when we play 4-3 teams,” Tomlin said. “I haven’t been bashful about that.”

He wasn’t against the Vikings when Anderson reported as an eligible receiver while doubling as the extra tight end on 17 offensive snaps. That represented the most times the Steelers used that package in six years.

The result? A season-high 131 rushing yards and an average of 4.5 yards per carry on 29 attempts. It was the first time the Steelers cracked 100 yards rushing on the season and the first time they averaged more than 3.4 yards per rush attempt in four games. And it occurred with feature running back Jaylen Warren on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Warren could return Sunday against the Browns, who like the Vikings use a base 4-3 defense. So do the Cincinnati Bengals, next up on the Steelers’ schedule with a Thursday night matchup.

Which means the potential to see more of Anderson and Darnell Washington and less of Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith — as was the case in Dublin. Anderson played 19 snaps overall. Washington was on the field for 48 of a possible 53 offensive snaps. Freiermuth (15 snaps) and Smith (13) played fewer snaps than No. 4 tight end and occasional fullback Connor Heyward (16).

“You can’t play 4-3 teams with 250-pound tight ends,” Tomlin said. “You can’t. There are weight classes in combat sports for a reason. When the edge people are 300 pounds, you better have someone out there who looks like that animal. That was our intentions against Minnesota. As we move into divisional play, there’s a chance you’ll see more of that.”

Even if it means taking the team’s two most athletic tight ends — Freiermuth and Smith — out of the game.

“It’s unfair at times to ask guys like Pat Freiermuth or Connor to block 4-3 ends,” Tomlin said. “That’s not realistic if you want to have a really good run day.”

Also spending most of the game on the sideline was former third-round pick Roman Wilson. The second-year receiver played just three snaps. Even with No. 2 receiver Calvin Austin’s status up in the air because of a shoulder injury, Wilson isn’t guaranteed of receiving more playing time against Cleveland. The Steelers could turn to Ben Skowronek, a dependable run blocker, or Scotty Miller.

“His lack of participation might not mean anything relative to his performance or what is going on at his position,” Tomlin said of Wilson. “It just might mean how we choose to display our personnel groups through the first month of the season. It’s still very early in the process.”

If Tomlin is committed to running the football against Cleveland, extra help up front might be needed. The Browns, after all, have the NFL’s top-ranked run defense, holding opponents to an average of 75.6 yards per game. Opponents are averaging 3.0 yards per carry against the Browns’ 4-3 front, making them the stingiest unit in that category as well.

“We better block them,” Tomlin said. “We better run hard, we better finish off runs, we better have a finisher’s attitude in terms of which direction the pile falls. They are elite in terms of run stopping. What does that mean? We have to be solid. We can’t have unblocked people. But beyond that, we have to play well as a collective. We have to play physical and finish. A successful day might be 3- and 4-yard runs at times, and we might have to take what we can get in that regard.”

For the second week in a row, the Steelers ran the ball more than they passed. Aaron Rodgers attempted 22 passes against the Vikings, one fewer than he had the previous week at New England when the Steelers used Anderson as an extra blocker in the run game just twice.

Yet, despite the improvement in the running game the Steelers made against the Vikings, they continue to rank No. 31 in the league in rushing yards per game. Only the Cincinnati Bengals have fared worse.

“That’s the nature of this thing, particularly when you have a young front, individually and collectively,” Tomlin said. “I just think the only way you get better and gain experience is through playing. We’ve had some good moments. We’ve had some moments that aren’t good. We’ve got to keep pushing, and we better win along the way.”