CLEVELAND -- After two weeks of lackluster performances, the offense is taking a lot of heat this week.
Mitch Trubisky hasn't been good. Matt Canada's non-answers during media availability has fans calling for his job. Najee Harris' vision has been called into question, or maybe the previous foot injuries are still hampering the second-year back, regardless of what anyone says on the South Side. And, of course, the lack of throws down the field has everyone up in arms fighting for radical change to help support a defense that is playing without its best and most impactful player.
Yes, the lack of throws down field have drawn the most amount of heat. And in the fallout of the 17-14 loss to the Patriots, Trubisky was bombarded with questions about those issues about as often as he's bombarded opposing defenses with passes near the line of scrimmage.
"I think some missed opportunities, just a couple better decisions by me and giving our playmakers more of a chance," Trubisky said regarding the need to attack down the field more often. "So, we’re looking to fix that this week on a quick turnaround, and it’s a great opportunity for us to get on the right track."
This offense has a disease -- a point-scoring deficiency -- and there are many symptoms that may be able to explain what the main problem is. However, the NFL calendar may be able to help diagnose the Steelers' biggest problem.
It was a subtle point in Trubisky's comment above: "A quick turnaround." Save for the NFL's season opener, Thursday night games present a unique challenge for any NFL team. The typical NFL week includes three days of practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. When teams have to turn around and play four days after they've played a game on Sunday, they get only one day of practice to prepare.
That's not necessarily a lot of time to put together an elaborate plan to exploit each and every weakness of the opponent. Mike Tomlin outlined this in detail during his Monday press conference.
"Thursday night ball creates some unique challenges, particularly at the early portions of the year," he explained. "You know less about yourselves in terms of your high-volume things, your personality things, the places you’re hanging your hat. Oftentimes when you’re in Thursday night ball, you lean heavily on those things, but I would imagine all 32 teams are still very much in development in those areas. So, that makes Thursday night more challenging. It makes it more challenging from a decision-making standpoint in terms of what it is that you want to do and makes it more challenging in terms of being able to anticipate or have an appropriate level of readiness for what your opponent is capable of doing."
The Steelers are going to have to rely on the very basics -- their core values -- in their game plan against the Browns. Simply put, there isn't time to add wrinkles and nuance. That stuff has to be ironed out on the practice field. Teams have to stick to their strengths on a short week. And since Pittsburgh will be operating with a limited playbook, execution will be paramount.
But, there's something to be had in the bigger picture. Since the Steelers have to operate in a limited capacity this week, we should get a clearer picture of how this offense truly wants to attack opposing defenses. Sure, it will still be geared toward how to specifically attack the Browns, so it's not an exact blueprint for how the offense will operate week in and week out.
However, we may finally get a glimpse of the true foundation of Canada's offense without Ben Roethlisberger. So far, it's looked a lot like the same offense that Ben ran last season. Only, as we noted Tuesday, Trubisky doesn't have the same freedoms or, more importantly, the same leverage to take matters into his own hands.
Roethlisberger may have been limited in his ability to audible out of a play. But, we all know if he defied Canada and audibled in situations he wasn't supposed to, he wasn't going to ever face the same repercussions as Trubisky if he were to do so. Trubisky has to not only play the game on the field. He has to play the political game too. Because if he ruffles the wrong feathers, there's a rookie quarterback right behind him that fans are desperate to see take the wheel.
In turn, what we're seeing play out is Canada's vision for the offense's values and identity. And it may be early in the season, but Mason Cole said something Monday that is pretty alarming for an offense that is, at best, sputtering through two weeks.
"We have to have an identity. That's part of our issue is right now is that I don't know what our identity is exactly," Cole said. "We need to find it as a group, whatever that is. I think it's huge for us to try and find an identity. And we have to make it there. We have to find our identity. It's not on the coaches, it's not on anyone else, it's on us to fight as a group to establish an identity."
If that identity is cemented in misdirection, tons of pre-snap motion and/or gadget plays, this offense is in big trouble. Chase Claypool was the team's leading rusher in Week 1, thanks to a jet sweep and a reverse. The longest run of the season so far is an 18-yard gain on a jet sweep by Gunner Olszewski.
The Steelers invested a precious first round pick in Harris. There has to be a concerted effort to make him more of a focal point in the offense. He led the NFL with 381 touches in 2021. So far, he's on pace for only 272 this season. That won't cut it.
The Steelers invested money in keeping Diontae Johnson in Pittsburgh. They invested second-round picks in Claypool, Pat Freiermuth and George Pickens. While Johnson has been Trubisky's go-to guy thus far, Pickens has been invisible. That's not necessarily his fault since he's been targeted only six times in two games. It also looks like Claypool has really improved as a pass catcher, but his 6-4, 238-pound frame is being used so close to the line of scrimmage he's averaging 5.5 yards per reception.
It doesn't take an expert to see the strengths of the offense reside in the skill positions. And most of these guys have the ability to utilize them in a different capacity than what we've seen thus far.
If Trubisky is truly incapable of finding receivers down field, then make Kenny Pickett the starting quarterback. Even if he's limited to being Canada's mouthpiece in the huddle and under center, we have seen enough in Pickett's play at Pitt and in the preseason to know that he wants to make the big play.
But, if the Steelers come out and run a bunch of trickery and gadgets Thursday night, it either means Trubisky isn't trusted to be anything more than a game manager or, just as he answers questions from the media, Canada's offense is all showmanship with no substance.
THE ESSENTIALS
• Who: Steelers (1-1) vs. Browns (1-1)
• What: Week 3, regular season
• When: Thursday, 8:15 p.m.
• Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland
• Weather: 66°, 13% rain, 20-30 mph winds
• Lots open: 3 p.m.
• Gates open: 6:15 p.m.
• TV: Amazon Prime Video, WPXI-TV (local Pittsburgh only)
• Radio: 102.5 WDVE, ESPN Pittsburgh
• Streaming: Steelers Nation Radio
• Satellite: Sirius XM 226, online 826
• Boxscore: DKPS
• Team media guides: Steelers | Browns
• Official game notes: Steelers | Browns
THE INJURY REPORT
• Steelers: LB Devin Bush (foot) was a limited participant in Tuesday's practice.
• Browns: G Joel Bitonio (biceps) and DE Myles Garrett (neck) did not practice Tuesday. TE Harrison Bryant (thumb, thigh), OT Jack Conklin (knee) and OT Chris Hubbard (illness) were limited participants. DE Isaiah Thomas (hand) was a full participant. TE Jesse James (biceps) and DE Chase Winovich (hamstring) were placed on injured reserve Tuesday. DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle) was ruled out on Wednesday.
THE KEY VARIABLE
It's no accident the Steelers were less effective in sacking the quarterback without T.J. Watt. But getting shut out is a key area of concern.
The Browns are great at running the football (more on that later). But when they do throw, disrupting Jacoby Brissett's rhythm could be a way to help even the scales. Not only are the Browns 26th in the NFL in passing yards, but Brissett averages 2.9 seconds from the snap until he throws the ball. That's the sixth most in football. There should be opportunities to get to Brissett, even with the Browns' solid offensive line.
It's no secret that getting to the quarterback not only can stall drives, but force turnovers. If the Steelers can't effectively stop the run, they could possibly help tip the scales back in their favor by winning the turnover battle.
THE HISTORY LESSON
It's Steelers vs. Browns. There are plenty of moments to revisit, but I'm not going to travel that far back in time this week. Since Pittsburgh is visiting Cleveland for a Thursday night matchup, I'm going to the last time these two teams face off on a short week in the same venue: Nov. 14, 2019.
Those who haven't yet blocked out the 2019 season from their memory, this was the year of Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges at the helm after Roethlisberger was lost for the season just before halftime in Week 2.
But even after an 0-3 start to the season, Pittsburgh entered this contest with a 5-4 record and a four-game win streak. Rudolph was knocked out during an overtime loss to the Ravens in Week 5 to fall to 1-4, but Hodges followed with an improbable win over the Chargers as 6-point underdogs on the road just before the bye week. After the week off, Rudolph returned and rattled off three straight wins at home over the Dolphins, Colts and Rams.
This game in Cleveland was the first time the Steelers were on the road since that win over the Chargers -- over a month later.
It was a really bad night for Rudolph. Not only did his four interceptions handcuff the offense to producing only seven points, the game ended with one of the more heated exchanges seen in recent memory.
Trailing 21-7 with less than two minutes to go, Rudolph was trying to lead the Steelers down the field in hopes of scoring a quick touchdown, recovering an onside kick, then scoring another touchdown to force overtime. But after back-to-back sacks knocked the Steelers back inside their own 20-yard line, that's when everything went haywire.
On third and 29 and only :14 on the clock, Rudolph hit Trey Edmunds with a short screen pass for an 11-yard gain. Behind the play, Myles Garrett wrestled Rudolph to the ground well after he had thrown the ball, and the Steelers quarterback took exception.
While on the ground, Rudolph tried to rip off Garrett's helmet, but failed to do so. Even with two Steelers linemen trying to separate the two players, Garrett returned the favor by yanking Rudolph around by the facemask and was successful in ripping off Rudolph's helmet. Then, as David DeCastro separated Garrett from Rudolph, the Steelers quarterback ran right after Garrett.
Then, Garrett swung with full force and hit Rudolph on the top of the head with his own helmet. DeCastro then took Garrett to the ground as Maurkice Pouncey joined in and started throwing punches and kicks at Garrett. Rudolph turned around to plead with the referees about being hit in the head with a helmet, then Larry Ogunjobi -- now a member of the Steelers -- blindsided Rudolph with a hit that knocked him to the ground.
Ogunjobi was asked about the incident this week. After a little chuckle, he said, "I don't expect anything like that to happen. I'm just excited for the next opportunity, the next challenge."
This was the first loss to the Browns since a 31-10 stinker on Oct. 12, 2014.
THE MAIN MATCHUP
Quite simply, the Steelers have to stop Cleveland's ground game to have any chance to win.
"I think if you’re playing these guys, and you’re looking at their offense, you’d better minimize [Nick] Chubb and [Kareem] Hunt," Tomlin said Monday. "A lot of ball rolls to those guys. They’re not 1 and 2, they’re 1 and 1a. I think Chubb’s got 76 snaps on the season. I think Hunt’s got 74. Both guys are capable. Both guys are good in all schematic circumstances be it the run game, the passing game, check downs, screens, what have you, inside and outside. They are a formidable tandem and probably the most complete tandem in football, so we’ve got our work cut out for us there."
The Browns lead the NFL with 401 total yards on the ground through two games, and they're incredibly efficient with 5.3 yards per carry -- fourth in the NFL.
After the Steelers' utilized two down linemen the vast majority of the time in Cincinnati, the defense lined up in their base 3-4 defense more often when playing the Patriots. The absence of Watt forced the Steelers to run with more defensive linemen, and the Browns' heavy run attack will force them to do so once again.
For the second straight week, Pittsburgh has rotated its big people on defense. In Week 2, Cam Heyward played 52 of a possible 68 snaps. Ogunjobi played 43, Tyson Alualu played 32, Chris Wormley played 22, and rookie DeMarvin Leal was utilized in various roles during 16 plays. Montravius Adams rounded out that rotation with 11 snaps against the Patriots.
The Steelers will need all hands on deck Thursday night, hopefully without a major drop off in production.
10 DATA POINTS
• No offense in the NFL has produced more first downs (52) than the Browns. The Bears are the only offense in the league that has produced fewer first downs (29) than the Steelers. And the Steelers defense has allowed 50 first downs gained, the fourth-most in the league.
• The Steelers defense has seven sacks, but were shut out in Week 2. The Browns' quarterbacks have been sacked just twice.
• In the two matchups with the Browns last year, the Steelers defense recorded 13 sacks, with 5.5 of those coming from Watt.
• The Browns are averaging 200.5 rushing yards per game, the best in football. No other offense is even producing 190 yards per game on the ground in 2022.
• Pittsburgh's running game averages just under 2.9 yards per carry on first downs, the lowest mark in the NFL.
• The Steelers' offense averages 21.4 yards gained per drive, also the lowest number in the NFL.
• Pickens has been targeted six times thus far and has one catch in each of his two NFL games. However, only 25 NFL wide receivers have run more routes in 2022 and his 21.5 yards average depth of target is second in the league among receivers with five or more targets.
• In plays that gain at least 20 yards, Cleveland's defense has allowed the most yardage (269 yards) on such plays in the NFL.
• Pittsburgh's plus-4 turnover differential is better than every team in the league except for Jacksonville. Cleveland is at plus-1.
• This could be a field position game, and Pressley Harvin III's 49.6 punting average is the eight-highest in the NFL.
THE FANTASY CORNER
I had a solid bounce back performance in Week 2. After putting up an underwhelming 122.62 points in Week 1, Carson Wentz, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Christian Kirk led the way to a 158.98 performance on Sunday. Here's my lineup for Week 3 (with a $50,000 salary cap on DraftKings).
• QB: Carson Wentz, Commanders ($6,300)
• RB1: James Robinson, Jaguars ($6,100)
• RB2: David Montgomery, Bears ($5,900)
• WR1: Christian Kirk, Jaguars ($6,200)
• WR2: Drake London, Falcons ($5,800)
• WR3: Devonta Smith, Eagles ($5,800)
• TE: Darren Waller, Raiders ($5,800)
• FLEX: Miles Sanders, Eagles($5,500)
• DEF/ST: Ravens ($3,000)
I'm continuing to ride the hot hand with Wentz and Kirk. I wanted to draft St. Brown again, but he has now become too pricy. Robinson has taken the bulk of the carries in Jacksonville. Montgomery is the focal point in Chicago's run-heavy offense, and they have a favorable matchup against the Texans.
London has emerged as Marcus Mariota's favorite target in Atlanta and has put up 37 total points in DraftKings' scoring system, so his value is great bang for your buck. I'm not high on Sanders' volume thus far, but his efficiency has been off the charts in the first two weeks of the season (30 carries, 176 yards and a touchdown). I'm relying of the Ravens' defense to thwart Mac Jones and the Patriots' offense to round out my lineup.
