The Steelers are no longer perfect after a disappointing loss in Indianapolis. This week on Read & React, we try to diagnose what went wrong. Plus, we discuss the latest receiver trade rumors and look ahead to a big game against Dallas.
What the heck happened in Indy?
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
RB: As I wrote in my takeaways column following the game, the Steelers’ defensive collapse is the main culprit of the Indianapolis loss. Sure, offensive mistakes are a valid storyline as well, but the Steelers still scored 24 points. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s top-ranked unit gave up 27 to a backup quarterback.
The Steelers were playing primarily zone defense despite having a press-man specialist in Joey Porter Jr., and they were eaten alive by the quickness of Josh Downs and the reliable savvy of Michael Pittman Jr. And maybe it’s because the team never adapted from its gameplan against Anthony Richardson, but there were far too many instances of linebackers being hung out to dry in coverage.
Up front, the Steelers’ highly-touted front seven just wasn’t getting enough push against the run or pass. T.J. Watt had an incredibly quiet game with just two assisted tackles. Joe Flacco was sacked only twice and he had no problem surgically picking apart the Steelers’ coverages. The Colts O-line is undeniably very good, but Pittsburgh still needed more from arguably the best defender in the game.
At the end of the day, it was multiple coaching and execution shortcomings, as well as a surprisingly bad matchup, that doomed the game for the Pittsburgh defense. But that’s still only one bad week in the first four. It’s a rough hiccup, but we’re still a long way from panicking. This group should be just fine in 2024 if they clean up some of the preventable issues from Sunday’s game.
RP: Ryland’s pointed out one of the main culprits. I’d also point out the Steelers have continued to find ways to shoot themselves in the foot. A fumble in the red zone by George Pickens and a sack Justin Fields
took that pushed the Steelers out of field goal range took valuable points off the board in a close game. An egregious unnecessary roughness call against Minkah Fitzpatrick didn’t do the Steelers any favors either, as Indianapolis turned that opportunity into points.
But if I were to pick one thing in specific, I’d like to harp on the run game a bit. The Colts were arguably the worst run defense in the league going into Sunday and were missing several key players up front. Despite this, the Steelers struggled to get anything going. Cordarrelle Patterson looked good in relief but left early with an injury. Fields was able to create with his legs, but it felt like Arthur Smith took too long to open that part of the game up for his quarterback.
Najee Harris had a particularly miserable day on the ground, gaining just 19 yards on 13 carries. He made up for it in the passing game with 54 yards on three catches, but Pittsburgh has struggled to get him going on the ground. I think this in large part is because Harris is a hammer and the Steelers have been using him like he’s a wrench. Najee has never been a quick burst player. He’s a similar player to Derrick Henry in that his size is more effective when he’s been given a runway.
Quick cuts before he’s built up speed are not his strong suit, which puts him at a disadvantage on zone runs, which are Smith’s favorite to call. The Steelers haven’t done a great job on the run schemes Harris typically succeeds in either. Multiple times a game there are plays where a free edge rusher is able to hit Harris in the backfield because the design didn’t account for them. In my opinion, this is something Smith will need to adjust in his playcalling.
So far this season, the Steelers have called a running play on first down 58 times out of 115. Of those, 29 have gone for 3 or less yards. That isn’t setting the offense up for success. The running game should get better once the line is able to gel, but an early rash of injuries has complicated that process. We’ve seen the Steelers close out games with their rushing attack. Now they just need to figure out how to get it working sooner.
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: A top wideout wants a trade and Pittsburgh could be a suitor. How interested would you be in acquiring Davante Adams? How realistic is the trade and are there any other names you’re watching?
Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images
RP: From a talent perspective, of course I’d love to have Davante Adams. Adams has been considered one of the best, if not THE best, receivers in the league for the past six seasons. His 22 touchdowns over the past two seasons are more than the combined career totals of the Steelers top three receivers: George Pickens (9), Van Jefferson (10), and Calvin Austin (2). He’s also had 1,000 yards in four straight seasons. If not for 2019, where he fell three yards short with just 12 games played, he’d have six straight.
Adams also doesn’t rely on his speed to win, which gives me confidence his production won’t fall off a cliff if he stays healthy. He’s missed only one game in the past three years and I have a feeling his current “injury” will clear up with a doctor-prescribed change of scenery.
I’ve seen people gripe about how much he’d have to be paid, but I don’t think that’s the top deterrent. If the Steelers were to trade for Adams today, they’d be on the hook for just under $17M. They’d have to make some room with only $10M in cap space available, but I think Khan is creative enough to get that done.
Adams doesn’t have any guaranteed money in the final two years of his deal, which should give the Steelers some room to mess around with his cap number in future years by restructuring his contract. I’ll let the math guys figure that one out, but I don’t think it’s as big of an obstacle as you might initially think.
Now, with all that said, is it realistic? Could the Steelers do it? Yes. Do I think they’d want to do it? Also yes. The suggested price of a 2025 second-rounder plus a late-round pick in 2025 or 2026 is not one I think the Steelers would pass up.
Unfortunately, trades aren’t that easy. Not only does Pittsburgh need Las Vegas to agree to a deal, but Adams’ camp will more than likely have a say as well. After all, he chose the Raiders when he was traded from Green Bay. While Adams doesn’t have any obvious reasons to dislike the Steelers, there’s a chance that a reunion with Aaron Rodgers might be too appealing. Or perhaps a team like Buffalo jumps into the race and Adams believes Josh Allen would give him a better shot at the title and keeping his numbers up.
I believe the Steelers have an interest in Adams. But after the Summer of Aiyuk, you’ll understand if I’m skeptical a deal gets done. Some other possible names could include DeAndre Hopkins, Courtland Sutton, Christian Kirk and Darius Slayton. Not exactly the most exciting names, but behind Adams, Amari Cooper is the next best available and there is zero chance the Browns ship him to a division rival.
RB: In my best Chad Kroeger voice, Look at this GRAPH:
Long story short, the embedded Tweet reinforces what the eye test is already telling us: The Steelers receivers aren’t getting a lot of separation. In fact, it looks like they’re the worst in the league.
Improvement is needed. That’s no surprise. But there still seems to be some pushback to the possibility of trading for Adams (beyond just the wide receiver trade drama fatigue, which, believe me, I one-thousand-percent sympathize with). I’ve heard all the arguments against it, from the contract, to Adams’ age, to the drama in Las Vegas — and of course, the age-old excuse involving how the rest of the team needs to be built perfectly before even thinking about acquiring an expensive receiver.
To be clear, Adams is not the same player as Brandon Aiyuk. His best years are behind him, meaning the Steelers shouldn’t overpay, and they definitely shouldn’t be interested if his contract situation means he’ll be a less-than-one-year rental. But if the money can be ironed out past this season and the price is a second-round pick or less, the Steelers should be very, very interested in pulling this deal off.
Justin Fields has shown enough this year to breach the idea of him being the Steelers’ quarterback of the future. By no means am I saying he will be a franchise quarterback, but the Steelers will certainly never know unless they give him some more help. The run game is underperforming. The O-line is absurdly beat up. And his cupboard of pass-catching weapons is painfully bare.
Go get Fields the guy who put up a 103/1,144/8 stat line with Aidan O’Connell, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Brian Hoyer throwing him the ball in 2023. If Adams can elevate that offense, he can certainly perform well next to George Pickens in the black and gold.
Of course, building the trenches remains important, but the Steelers have already used plenty of resources doing exactly that (even if the team won’t see returns until the group is healthy). The defense is brimming with expensive talent which will age out of their primes very soon. Enough excuses. Get with the modern NFL and pay up for a solid group of receivers. That’s just the way it has to be.
Of course, a 31-year-old with a $28 million AAV and some team drama isn’t ideal, but that’s by far the best option available. And it’s still a good option. If the terms are reasonable, the Steelers need to be all-in on Adams. And given the team’s clear needs and prior interest in Aiyuk, it’s highly likely they are if Adams and the Raiders are open to the idea.
I’ll admit it’s a big if. Adams will be drawing a lot of suitors if he’s available. He reportedly wants to go to the Saints or Jets. The Commanders, Bills, and Cowboys are more attractive offenses than Pittsburgh’s. If it comes down to Adams’ choice, I think there are a lot of teams he’d choose over the Steelers.
As for other names available, I’ll just refer to the list Ryan compiled above. Honestly, I think all those names would be clear upgrades to the Steelers’ receiving corps and I wouldn’t be mad if they were added. But Adams is a class above. If the opportunity is there and within reason, he needs to be Pittsburgh’s top priority.
Week 5 preview
What to expect vs. the Cowboys’ offense
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
RB: I think the matchup to watch in this one will be Cowboys rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton against either Nick Herbig or Alex Highsmith (if he’s healthy). Guyton struggled mightily against the Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux last week, drawing three holding calls. We saw against the Colts just how important pressure is to the Steelers' defense, and if Pittsburgh can exploit Dak Prescott’s blind side, it’ll be huge in stopping the Cowboys' offense.
Prescott and co. aren’t quite as intimidating a matchup as they were last year, but the Prescott/CeeDee Lamb connection is finally heating up, with the duo connecting seven times for 98 yards and a touchdown last week. When it clicks, it’s one of the most lethal quarterback/receiver combinations in the game.
However, outside of CeeDee Lamb, Prescott doesn’t have a ton of weapons to work with. If Joey Porter Jr. and a safety can have success doubling Lamb, the Steelers should be able to shut down new WR2 Jalen Tolbert — Brandin Cooks is reportedly out for the Steelers game, and Tolbert has just 160 yards on the season.
The more likely name to keep an eye on is tight end Jake Ferguson, who’s recorded 49 and 95 yards in his last two games, respectively. A good tight end will be a challenge for a Steeler defense that struggled mightily in zone defense and linebacker coverage last week.
If there’s good news, the Cowboys’ rushing attack isn’t anywhere near the threat that Jonathan Taylor and the Colts were last week. Rico Dowdle and the ghost of Ezekiel Elliott currently have the Cowboys at dead last in the league in rushing yards per game at just 75.3. They’re also second to last in rushing attempts, and it’s not hard to see why. Neither back is that dynamic, and the offensive line just hasn’t been getting a lot of push.
On the other hand, Prescott has been extremely efficient, even if the Cowboys aren’t asking him to push the ball downfield much.
You can look at his Next Gen Stats passing chart from last week below. Prescott is getting the ball out fast and using the entire width of the field. Also per Next Gen Stats, he throws the most tight-window throws in the NFL, making his completion percentage even more impressive.
Next Gen Stats
Brian Schottenheimer’s offense is one that’s built almost exclusively on the quick passing game, with Lamb and Ferguson as the primary targets. Emphasis on quick game: The Cowboys are one of the least explosive offenses in the entire league. If the Steelers can get some pressure and let their cornerbacks play tight man coverage, they can definitely handle this offense unless Lamb beats them deep on a double move.
One more note: The Cowboys have one of the league’s most freakishly talented players in kicker Brandon Aubrey. He had a rare miss last week, but anything under 65 yards (maybe longer!) is well within his range. Dallas doesn’t have to travel far to get into scoring range, and if Sunday night’s game is a close one, field goals could make all the difference.
It looks like a favorable matchup on paper once again, but the same was said last week against the Colts. Pittsburgh still needs to bring their A-game in primetime on Sunday.
And what about the defense?
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images
RP: The Cowboys have been a bit of a chameleon on defense this year. Against teams with sub-par offenses — the Browns and Giants — Dallas has looked like a top-flight defense. The Saints and Ravens, however, embarrassed Dallas on the ground. The Cowboys’ defense is allowing the sixth-most rushing yards per game (145.8) despite allowing only 26 rushing yards against the Giants.
Let that math sink in. There’s an opportunity to be had for Pittsburgh if they can’t figure out a solution to their own running game woes. With Justin Fields getting another start, I hope Arthur Smith continues to open up the designed QB-run game. If the Steelers continue to struggle running between the tackles, Justin Fields gives the Steelers a chance to emulate the success Baltimore had. In Baltimore’s game against Dallas, Lamar Jackson had 14 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Dallas is around the middle of the league in terms of pass defense. Their 209.5 yards allowed per game would flirt with a top-10 finish most years, but this year it’s the 13th-most in the league in what has been a month of bad offense across the NFL. Lamar Jackson is the best passer they’ve seen, but he doesn’t tend to put up gaudy yardage totals and only had to attempt 15 passes as Baltimore elected to run the ball 45 times.
I’ll be curious to see how Pittsburgh’s passing attack fairs. Dallas is looking like it will be without its top pass rushers in Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence. With them gone, Dallas will rely on some combination of rookie Marshawn Kneeland, former Bengal Carl Lawson, and a relatively unknown fourth-year player in Chauncey Golston. It’s also unlikely cornerback DaRon Bland — who had 9 interceptions in 2023 — will be ready to return in time for this game.
The Cowboys defense is run by Mike Zimmer, the former Bengals defensive coordinator. His style hasn’t changed too drastically since those days. Zimmer was ahead of the curve when it came to disguising pressure. He likes to let his corners play man and hopes the pressure gets there before the receivers can win downfield. If there is one design the Steelers are guaranteed to see a few times, it’s the one shared below.
The personnel will be different with Parsons and Lawrence likely missing the game, but this is a Zimmer special the Steelers will need to be ready for: 7 on the line, disguising who is coming and with two “mugging” the A gap. Here they send the safety (6) and get quick pressure pic.twitter.com/NiQIgjv3Vx
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) October 2, 2024
Zimmer will have to get creative without Parsons and Lawrence, but this look is one of his staples. Seven defenders crowd the line of scrimmage, but not all of them are coming. On this rep, Zimmer has four players that primarily play the edge (Parsons, Lawrence, Lawson and Kneeland) on the line, with linebackers Eric Kendricks and DeMarvion Overshown “mugging” the A-gap, and safety Donovan Wilson blitzing up the middle after trying to disguise his intentions pre-snap. At the snap, Parson and Lawson drop into coverage and the Mug look helps free up Wilson for a quick pressure. With the Steelers' run game struggling and the Steelers losing James Daniels for the season, this formation is one the Steelers will need to have answers for.
On offense, I hope the Steelers add some double-moves to the receivers' route trees. Star cornerback Trevon Diggs is a famously aggressive corner who likes to jump routes. The Steelers have shown they can create explosive passes downfield with Justin Fields. They should try to take advantage of Diggs’ aggressive tendencies if he follows George Pickens all day.
Arthur Smith should also help Fields out by designing plays to attack inexperienced corner Andrew Booth who has been playing opposite of Diggs. Whereas Diggs likes to play press, Booth is often in off coverage. That creates cushion for a lot of quick outs and hitches, which the Steelers have used a lot of this season. It also sets up a double move for later in the game or vice versa.
Note to Arthur Smith and Justin Fields, hunt matchups with 25
1. 3rd &4 bites hard on double move and loses
2. 2nd & long, off coverage tendency gives opportunity for those hitch routes Pitt has ran a ton of, 25 does make solid tackle here
3. 1st and 10 gives up chunk play pic.twitter.com/SlcZhheqUn
— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia) October 2, 2024
Join in on Steelers R&R by sharing your takes on this week’s topics. Do you think the Steelers pull off a trade for Adams or another wideout? Keys to victory vs. the Cowboys? Let us know in the comments! Feel free to pitch future questions in the comment section or on Twitter/X: tag @_Ryland_B or @RyanParishMedia.
