Scheme or talent, and what’s up with DK’s running in motion?

From interviews and watching tape, it sure seems like schemes, playcalling, and game planning are at the heart of Steeler woes. Do we really not have a WR #2, or are the schemes just so lame that any talent there is wasted? Did we really draft/sign stupid and mediocre and well-paid athletes, or are the coaches not fitting the schemes to the talent they have? The only people we see are the athletes on Sunday, and they often look bad, but how they are being used by the guys on the sidelines is likely a culprit.

And DK looks really weird when he goes in motion behind the line. Arms kinda flopping around and not looking very focused. Seemed odd.

 

Talent is not very good but the scheme are a major issue on both side of the ball

No way under Tomlin,the steelers would a passing chart like that even if Pickens was still in Pittsburgh because Tomlin hate the middle of the field like crazy.

 

Yea, I read an analysis yesterday that as much as Tomlin states to not live in fear, the middle of the field is where bad things can happen more frequently, so that is avoided in favor of safer sideline routes. Of course, the middle is often where good things happen too, so it is a tradeoff he is unwilling to take. The whole team philosophy I think is still based on a takeaway defense and conservative run and dink offense, and if the defense doesn't come through with multiple splash plays, we are sunk. Contributes to any cardiac problems fans may have. One of many issues.

Probably too late in the season (or coaching career) to come up with a whole new philosophy, so we are reliant on lucky defensive plays or opponents' inept offenses.

 

TOMLIN has everyone on edge about turnovers the team plays scared like it’s HC. 1 more year is my only hope!!!

 

I think Pickens would been wasted in a Mike Tomlin offense too

 

George Pickens should still be here.
stupid Tomlin Dumblin

argggghhh

 

Got to have the QB talent to attack the middle of the field.

Next Gen only goes back to 2018: https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/list/pass/pittsburgh-steelers/2018/week

But pre-injury, the passing chart looks all exciting and what not.

Post injury Ben avoided the middle intermediate and deep, but he still threw there just shorter --https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/list/pass/pittsburgh-steelers/2021/week. Except 2020 Wild Card Weekend where he dialed it up in a desperation comeback.

It has been with Pickett, Wilson, Rodgers, and Rudolph under center that the middle has just become a no-go zone. From what I can see watching those guys play QB both in Pittsburgh and elsewhere, that is more of an issue with those specific QBs than a philosophical approach by Tomlin and others.

Rodgers doesn't look to much different with the Jets: https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/list/pass/new-york-jets/2024/week
Wilson same with the Giants: https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/list/pass/new-york-giants/2025/week. And interestingly Dart and Winston are also staying away from the middle. Almost like that is how you call a game for inexperienced and/or inaccurate QBs...
Rudolph in Tennessee didn't really pepper the middle either -- https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/list/pass/tennessee-titans/2024/week

Now take a look at the three 2025 offenses and one bonus one that are held up as the best at getting production out of flawed QBs:
2025 Seahawks: https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/list/pass/seattle-seahawks/2025/week
2025 Colts: https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/list/pass/indianapolis-colts/2025/week
2025 Niners: https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/list/pass/san-francisco-49ers/2025/week
2020 Titans (smith and tannehill best stats): https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/list/pass/tennessee-titans/2020/week

Notice anything similar?

 

Sadly I think he'll be here to fulfill his contract which give us 2 more exciting seasons. Maybe if we win like 3-4 games in 2026 it will change ownerships mind.

Steelers absolutely have to find a steady QB and a new HC to change the environment.

 

Try adding something productive to the discussion rather than being a troll. Thank you.

 

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH

 

You are making the dubious assumption that the offense would look the same if they had Pickens and Metcalf. Maybe the Steelers are that stupid, but I would have liked to find out. Even if they ran the same scheme, there would be more players open and you would have Pickens winning some of those 50-50 balls that Metcalf can't.

 

It's not a Tomlin offense it's a Arthur Smith offense.

 

Similar offense that Matt Canada and Randy Fitchner....They avoid the middle of the field like crazy!

 

The problem is the talent at receiver. But the biggest problem is we do not stick with a quarterback. Every year we have a new quarterback.

 

After Haley they've all been steeped in Tomlin's philosophy.
The results prove it.

 

Rodgers doesn't avoid the middle of the field.

 

Things turned for Tomlin after the 2021 playoff loss to CLE. All or most of Roethlisberger's INTs were middle of the field passes. From that game onward Tomlin has designatd it out of bounds on offense.

 

He don't avoid the middle of the field if this is a checkdown,like every other steelers QB...But if this is in the midrange like from 10-20 yards,every steelers QB have avoid the middle of the field since a long time ago

 

I do not disagree.

But I do not think that is a hard and fast philosophical tenet of Tomlin's. I believe it is a mandate and decision from both the coaching staff and the revolving door of old and/or not talented QBs that have been under center since 2021. Because all those dude's (except Roethlisberger) played on other teams either before or after the Steelers and they had the same avoidance pattern. QBs with similar flaws across the NFL have the same avoidance pattern.

Further, everyone has been going to some version of a Fangio inspired 2 high safety look or within shouting distance of that. That defense is specifically designed to funnel all this Shanahan and McVay inspired passing to be check-downs and dump-offs. If you don't have a talented QB that you and your staff believe can consistently hit tight windows and/or WRs that can create separation...then you are most likely going to totally avoid the middle of the field. Like the colorful charts show....current Niners and Seahawks are doing just that. Why? Their QBs are known for getting into trouble in the middle of the field.

Bottom line and with far less words...until the Steelers get a better QB (or at least a younger and more willing to fail one), they won't be throwing into the middle of the field.

 

If they can't trust Rodgers with throws to the middle who will they ever trust?

 

A QB who isn't washed up?

I've watched a ton Rodgers career in the NFL based on where I have lived. And the idea that he still has his fastball is laughable. It is a media driven myth. Rodgers (just like Roethlisberger, and Wilson before him) has lost his legs and is just back there tossing arm punts. He no longer strides into passes and rips throws down the seam like he did in his salad days in Green Bay. He is getting by with anticipation, pre-snap reads (what in the world can a defense cook up that Rodgers hasn't seen before?) and his ability to place back-shoulder throws along the boundary. Much like many many many other HOF caliber QBs at the end of their careers before him have done. Ben's entire post injury tenure was that.

Get a 2026 version of a rookie Ben or rookie Rodgers in there and watch this team start attacking the middle of the field again.

 

Strangely, some weeks it looks like a Smith offense, other weeks it looks like a Matt Canada offense.