When he took over the starting role in Week 7 against the Jets, Russell Wilson injected some life into the Steelers offense. At that point, the Steelers were 4-2 under Justin Fields but had seen the young quarterback grow less aggressive throwing the ball down the field. Now able to stretch the field vertically more consistently, the Steelers jumped from 20.6 points per game under Justin Fields to 25.6 per game under Wilson.

For the sake of giving you all the data points to analyze, I’ll point out that if you remove Calvin Austin III’s punt return touchdown against the Giants and the one-yard QB sneak following a near pick-six from Beanie Bishop — points that weren’t a result from Wilson leading a drive down the field — Wilson has improved the scoring offense to just 22.8 PPG.

That isn’t to say the Steelers should switch fully back to Fields. In six starts, Fields led the Steelers to the red zone 16 times, converting nine trips (56.3%) into touchdowns. In just five starts, Wilson has reached the red zone more frequently with 20 red zone appearances, but the Steelers have managed to convert touchdowns on just eight (40%) of those possessions. Those aren’t the kinds of results Steelers fans will be happy with, but it has made my assessment of the similarities of the two quarterbacks age well.

Wilson isn’t a more efficient passer down-to-down, but he does attempt and hit explosive passes more frequently. The spacing that creates alone justifies keeping Wilson as the starter barring a prolonged losing streak. This article film room isn’t a call to make a quarterback change. But I did want to see what has been going on and try to decide if Wilson, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, or something else entirely was most responsible for the recent struggles. We’ll just be looking at the Baltimore game this week, but many of the same issues applied in the few red zone trips against Cleveland.

Let’s dive in.

First red-zone trip vs. Baltimore

Play No. 1: I like the idea behind this play call, but the finer details seem to elude the Steelers. A quick-hitting screen to their best receiver makes sense in the red zone and the Steelers give themselves a favorable look with the bunch left formation with Pat Freiermuth and Mike Williams paving the way for Pickens. However, Pickens only gets two yards after running into the back of Freiermuth.

This feels like a missed opportunity with Baltimore in soft coverage. I’m not exactly sure who is more at fault here. I’d like to see Freiermuth move a corner he’s got 40-plus pounds on better than he does here. Perhaps a more simplified blocking scheme could have helped. Freiermuth lines up further inside than Williams but is asked to block the defender furthest outside. He doesn’t get there quick enough and doesn’t get to fully square up on the corner.

In his defense, it looks like Pickens could have avoided the collision if he had just run straight, but he attempts to move to his left to bounce outside and instantly runs into the back of Freiermuth instead, altering the receiver's momentum and angle of attack. Still, maybe if the tight end had been asked to block the nickel defender directly in front of him and Williams had been asked to handle the outside corner, it may have been a more straightforward running lane for Pickens.

Play No. 2: On second down, Smith dials up another play where I like elements of the design, but feel that a few tweaks and better execution are needed for it to be successful.

The Steelers come out in 12 personnel. Prior to the snap, Freiermuth is motioned to the left next to Darnell Washington. This is to set up and sell the fake power toss to the left. At the snap, Freiermuth runs across the field in the flat, Williams runs a deep crosser, Pickens runs an out to the pylon, and Najee Harris and Washington’s routes are essentially out of play due to the bootleg right.

I have some gripes on the design (though it could be execution) but I still think this play could have worked as is. Even watching this live on the broadcast, it seemed like Wilson held onto the ball too long on a play that relied on timing.

I think Wilson had a few options, but locked in on throwing to either Pickens or Freiermuth. Because of either the play design or Pickens’ execution, his route flattened out just beyond the goalline and he ran towards the front pylon. This allowed the outside corner and safety to bracket him easily. I would prefer to see that route go to the back corner, because then if the defense brackets Pickens, it opens up more space for the crosser that flattens at the goal line, as well as for the flat route if it had opened up.

Because the Steelers left the defensive end unblocked, and the defender was playing the passing lane rather than rushing the quarterback, Wilson never has a clean look for the tight end either, especially once Freiermuth gets deeper into his route.

However, I think if Wilson had quit drifting right and set his feet he could have found Williams on the crosser. The design of the play intentionally pulls the defense to their left. Wilson doesn’t appear to ever look Williams’ way, and it wouldn’t have been an easy throw by any means, but I think a ball layered behind the sprinting linebacker, and near the goal line, so Williams could still shield the ball from the safety with his body, could have resulted in six.

I also think if the coaching staff or Wilson could coach Freiermuth to feel the space in the coverage, a short completion could have been made if Freiermuth sat in the soft spot or improvised and switched direction to counter the flow of the coverage. The Bengals and Ja’Marr Chase did something similar just last week with great results. Freiermuth likely executed the play as it was called, but sometimes the coverage dictates some improvisation, especially on plays where the quarterback leaves the pocket.

Play No. 3: This is yet another play where I can squabble with the design, but I also think Wilson did not pick the more advantageous matchup:

When looking at the full design of the play, a few things jump out to me. For starters, I once again am shaking my head in disgust at the spacing. Why are Pickens and Austin running routes so close together? That doesn’t manipulate spacing in your favor, it helps the defense.

There’s an argument to be made that if Wilson had uncorked this to Austin, he might have gotten the first down, but he doesn’t. I’m more frustrated with Wilson in this play for leaving the pocket in the first place.

I’ll concede it isn’t a pristine pocket, but Wilson created worse pressure for himself by running out to his right. Especially because I think he doesn’t take advantage of the coverage. I know that Pickens is the best receiver and it’s natural to look his way on money downs, but the design actually has me favoring the left side of the field far more.

Because of the way the defense lines up to handle Pittsburgh having three wideouts to the right, Wilson has a fairly simple read that is almost certain to be man coverage. If Wilson reads the outside corner who is playing off coverage, he should, and does, get a favorable matchup. If the corner had carried the running back, Freiermuth should have an opening on the in-route. It’s arguable that there is a window to him on this play, though it would have been a tight throw. However, that’s not how it played out. Instead, the Ravens tasked linebacker Roquan Smith — who lined up over the center — with covering Cordarrelle Patterson out of the backfield.

Patterson has so much leverage on his route that a quick read and deliver should have easily converted the first. Instead, rush gets antsy in the pocket, runs into worse pressure, attempts an ill-advised 180 to throw it out of bands and gets blown up by the defender. Pittsburgh is forced to settle for three.

Second red-zone trip vs. Baltimore

Pittsburgh started on the Baltimore 19, but a holding penalty against the defense on their first snap gave them first down at the Baltimore 14.

Play No. 1:

We won’t spend long with this play. It isn’t particularly creative, but it’s effective on first down. Wilson makes a quick decision, which is necessary as none of these routes do much to complement each other. Both outside receivers run to the end zone, in the hopes of opening up a quick out. Freiermuth sits down his route after turning outside and makes the five-yard reception. It’s not sexy, but you’ll take five yards on first down every time.

Play No. 2: The Steelers didn’t attempt a rush on their first red zone possession and they declined to call one here on second five. Instead, they call another passing concept that I am not particularly fond of.

It seems clear that Pickens on the late crosser was the route Wilson was hoping to get. Freiermuth should set a natural pick with his route, but it just takes too long to develop and Pickens nearly runs into the tight end instead of the defender. The spacing on the right side of the field doesn’t create many escape hatches and Russ panics on a relatively clean pocket again. He drifts to his right and ultimately chucks it away. Van Jefferson actually pops open on the backside dig, but Wilson has fully committed to the right side of the field, hoping for late separation on the Pickens crosser, and doesn’t see Jefferson.

Play No. 3:

This one is honestly just pathetic from Arthur Smith. This is inexcusable in my book. Prior to this play, a false start from Isaac Seumalo made it third-and-10. The ball is on the 14-yard line and Smith calls — four verts? This does nothing to help the quarterback or the receivers. Wilson throws a contested catch ball to Pickens that never had a real shot.

Third red-zone Ttip vs. Baltimore

No. 1:

After not calling a run in the previous two red zone possessions, Smith dials up one here. Not much to critique here on a four-yard carry on first down. If we’re nitpicking, go watch Zach Frazier on the play. He gets his hands on the defender as he doubles Nnamdi Madubuike (92) with Seumalo, but he doesn’t drive him out of the play. Frazier runs past the defensive tackle and then looks unsure who to block. He doesn’t pick up middle linebacker Roquan Smith (0) who fills the gap, and Madubuike ends up beating Seumalo late to make the tackle with Smith. It’s a solid first-down gain but feels like meat was left on the bone. I will criticize Connor Heyward on later plays, so I want to take note here that he does make a good block on this play.

Play No. 2:

On second down, Najee loses a yard on a play that could have been a decent gain with better execution. Two culprits on this play. Madubuike is one of the best interior linemen in the game, and he gave Seumalo fits. He pushes Seumalo into the running lane and bumps into Harris. Darnell Washington doesn’t get much push on the linebacker either and is the second Steeler Harris runs into on the play. Lastly, Dan Moore Jr. is tasked with picking up Smith. The issue is he struggles to get around Seumalo and Madubuike, and Smith is one of the fastest linebackers in the game. He quickly shoots the open gap and makes the tackle for a loss.

Play No. 3:

I hate this design on third down. Very little creativity and no real “easy buttons” for the quarterback if it’s covered well. It’s third-and-7 and the Steelers can pick up a first down without scoring. Because of this, both outside receivers flatten their out routes near the sticks instead of driving vertically to the back corner of the end zone. Doing so would create more space for the tight ends running shallower routes. I also don’t love that the only middle-of-the-field option is Harris on a late chip and release. Russ makes the correct — and quick! — decision given the circumstances, but Van Jefferson is unable to haul it in and would have likely been short of the sticks even if he had.

Fourth red-zone trip vs. Baltimore

Play No. 1: This was the best red-zone run of the day. The Ravens bite hard as the offensive line works to their left, allowing Harris to cut it back to the right and pick up 13 yards. But even on one of their better plays, I’m left feeling like the Steelers left something on the field. Watch the play again and take note of Pickens and Heyward. Heyward, as he does far to often, doesn’t seem to know who to block. He has defenders he could have impacted if he made a quick decision, but he doesn’t get hands on anyone until Harris is already breaking his second tackle.

Meanwhile, Pickens runs hard into the defender he attempts to block, but he doesn’t square up and get them in the chest. Instead, it’s a glancing blow that doesn’t take them out of the play and they wrap Harris up enough to slow him until the rest of the defense can catch up and help bring him down. With some sound blocks from Heyward and Pickens, this play could have been a touchdown.

Play No. 2: With a fresh set of downs, the Steelers call another run but get stuffed.

Personally, after the physical run Harris just had, I would have liked to see Warren subbed in here or the Justin Fields package, but Smith wouldn’t get to those until Cleveland. There’s nothing particularly wrong with this call, Moore just gets beat. Heyward is motioned as the ball is being snapped to pick up the defensive end, and he actually does a good enough job here. However, Moore continues to struggle to get to the second level quickly and if he continues to struggle with it, you have to wonder why Smith isn’t adjusting. Moore gets too far downfield so by the time he gets a hand on Malik Harrison (40), Harrison has started penetrating and Moore’s angle does nothing to get the linebacker off his spot. Harrison dips his shoulder and easily makes the tackle for no gain. If Moore gets a better block, or perhaps if Frazier had been tasked with also getting to Harrison, this play should be a touchdown.

Play No. 3:

This is just disgusting (derogatory) work from Smith. I hate this design perhaps most of all. I don’t like the tight-end route combo. Maybe one of them ran the wrong route, but this gives Wilson literally no options. The tight ends end up so clumped, the defender is able to guide Pickens out the back of end zone. I’ll forgive Wilson for panicking in another relatively clean pocket here because there’s truly nothing he can do other than a check down that will get his running back killed by two defenders short of the goal line.

What the hell is this, Artie?! Do better.

Play No. 4:

We’ve previously discussed the interception on Read & React, so I won’t go into too much detail here. You’ve seen the play. Just look at those designed routes. Do you sense any creativity? Anything in those routes that helps any of the other routes get open? No? More “just win the one-on-one” in tight space. Ugly stuff.

So, who’s to blame for the Steelers red-zone struggles?

So what have we learned? Well, it’s just one game, but Smith had a pretty bad game against the Browns too. I’ve run out of time here and won’t subject you to several more plays in what’s already a dense article, but if I had to dole out blame it would look like this:

50% = Arthur Smith
40% = Russell Wilson
10% = Players not grasping the finer details that could turn a decent gain into an explosive or score

It’s not all doom and gloom. We’ve seen Smith design creative plays before and I know he’s still got his bag. For his part, Wilson needs to settle down in the pocket. He gets antsy and leaves early or ends up creating worse pressure when his internal clock starts telling him he’s held on to the ball so long. There are plays where if he made a quicker decision, he might have been able to make a completion instead of throwing the ball away.

It’s truly a team sport, and whether we’re giving credit or blame, it rides on all 11 guys and the staff together. Time is running out for the Steelers to right the ship. The final month feels like each game will be a playoff atmosphere, and the real playoffs aren’t far behind. Coach Tomlin is fond of the phrase, “Iron sharpens iron.” It’s time for the Steelers to prove it.