Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin seems tired of questions on Steelers' offense — here are ways to fix the problem

It certainly sounds like Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is tiring of questions about his struggling offense.

“Man, I think we have talked about this a lot, haven’t we?” Tomlin responded when asked about the topic again Tuesday.

Yes, indeed we have. For much of the past five years, actually. Trust us, Coach, we wish we didn’t have to ask you, as much as you are wishing never to be asked again.

“We can get better in all areas. And those are our intentions,” Tomlin said. “Whether it’s strategy or schematics, whether it’s how we divide the labor up or technique relative to our positions, that’s been our agenda. We realize that we’ve absorbed some negativity based on performance. We’re man enough to absorb that negativity and stay singularly focused on what’s required to change it.”

The offense might be “singularly focused” on getting better as a collective. As Tomlin alluded, though, the biggest problem is that there are so many individual aspects of the offense that have underperformed. As a result, that attention has to be fanned to every position group.

The offensive line isn’t blocking well enough. The running backs aren’t producing enough. The tight ends can do much more when it comes to blocking and catching the ball. Aside from George Pickens, the receivers are non-threatening. The quarterback’s growth in Year 2 appears to have stagnated as opposed to the giant leap forward so many were expecting.

That’s to say nothing of the offensive design and play calling from the coordinator. Then again, I’m pretty sure plenty has been said about Matt Canada, don’t you think?

Fire Canada chants pic.twitter.com/9E91QR4Ppm

— Kyle Garay (@kylecgaray) September 19, 2023

So what are the signs of hope?

Well, there is the obvious dime store analysis of, “They got better after the bye last year, they should be able to do it again this year.”

And, like last year, the schedule coming out of the bye isn’t exactly overwhelming. The next four teams the Steelers face currently have a combined record of 11-12. Plus, history tells us, that the Steelers usually roll through October and November regardless of how they start or finish.

All that is true, but there has to be some tangible, on-the-field, X & O execution as to why things may turn around on offense coming out of the off weekend.

So if you want some signs of hope, here they are. (Note: full credit to my ESPN Pittsburgh radio partner Matt Williamson for the advanced stats you are about to read.)

• So far, Diontae Johnson’s statistics may not make him look like he has been worth the $36.7 million contract he signed last year. But his impact has been noticeable by his four-game absence. Aside from one big play to Calvin Austin in Las Vegas, completions to the receivers have pretty much been to Pickens or bust.

Pickens has 25% of the team’s targets (40 of 159). He also has 48% of the attempted air yards since Johnson’s injury. In other words, almost half of the number of yards the ball has traveled in the air to Steelers receivers has gone to Pickens since Johnson pulled his hamstring in Game 1.

Johnson’s presence will help diversify that and take some of the defensive attention away from Pickens.

“He’s a route runner. Vertical, non-vertical, he can create separation at breakpoints. That is his distinguishing trait,” Tomlin said of Johnson on Tuesday.

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• Last year, the Steelers introduced James Daniels and Mason Cole into the offensive line mix. This year, it’s been Isaac Seumalo and, at times, Broderick Jones or Nate Herbig because of injuries.

The offensive line took about a month to begin coalescing a year ago. It really found its stride after the bye. It’s reasonable to assume that, with the injuries this season, it may take a little longer. And it’s reasonable to assume Seumalo will follow the same path that Daniels did, which was a slow start in early September and increasingly solid play as the year goes along.

“I’m always the toughest critic of myself. I never want anyone’s expectations of me to be higher than my own. I think I can play better in a lot of areas,” Seumalo said Wednesday.

He’s right. He can. The same can be said for players in the other four positions. I think they will, if for no other reason than I don’t think they can be worse.

• Hopefully during all the self-scouting the Steelers allegedly did during the bye week, they realized how lousy they are at incorporating the tight ends. Pat Freiermuth’s .6 yards per route run is the sixth lowest among all NFL pass catchers who have run at least 75 routes. Darnell Washington has run 56 routes but has been targeted just three times.

By the way, the Rams are allowing 9.2 yards per target to opposing tight ends — 31st in the NFL.

• Again, from a self-scouting issue, perhaps the Steelers will figure out a way to gain yards effectively through the air early in drives. The Steelers are third in the league in third downs per game (14.6) even though they are 28th in total offensive snaps per game (59). That’s a brutal disparity.

The Steelers need to be more effective on first and second downs so they can avoid so many third downs. “That was a piece that we saw that we’ll continue to look at,” Pickett admitted Wednesday.

A ghastly 22.5% of Pittsburgh’s passing plays has resulted in a first down or touchdowns, the lowest rate in the league. Canada’s average offensive drive has just 5.4 plays run, second worst in the league. They generate 25 yards per drive, which ranks 28th.

• The schedule should let up. In terms of opponent EPA (Expected Points Added — how well a team performs relative to expectation), Pittsburgh’s offense has faced the most difficult collection of defenses in the NFL in 2023. In terms of total defense, the Rams are 13th at 330.3 yards per game. The next three opponents (Green Bay, Tennessee and Jacksonville) are all in the lower half of the league.

Did any of that make you feel better? If not, I understand why. The Steelers offense hasn’t been the same since Ben Roethlisberger’s elbow blew up. You may need more than one bye weekend to find renewed optimism.

Let’s reconvene around Thanksgiving.