It is a new era for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. Out is Matt Canada and in is a combo of Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan. There is no time to waste as the team must implement changes in just a few days ahead of this week’s AFC North showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals.
How different will the offense look this week? Here are four things we expect to see.
Getting the football out of Pickett's hand quicker
The Steelers can take a page from the Browns playbook last week. They called quick hitters that kept the pass rush off Dorian Thompson-Robinson for much of the game. Plays like slants and swing passes should be in the mix early and often.
Utilize the middle of the field
The passing charts for Pickett over the last month have shown a massive void in the passing game. That void is between the hash marks. Look for Faulkner and Sullivan to find ways to attack the middle of the field
Running backs in the passing game
Another way we expect the Steelers to get Pickett going and boost his confidence is by utilizing Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren in the passing game. Both players are excellent pass catchers out of the backfield
Less predictability
Under Canada, the Steelers offense became completely predictable to the point that opposing defenses were calling out plays on the field and even casual fans could tell by how the team lined up what play was coming. If Faulkner and Sullivan do nothing else, making the offense harder to predict will be a huge plus.
