The Pittsburgh Steelers have long prided themselves on having a run-first mentality, but many a beginning to realize they might be frauds.
Over the past six seasons, the Steelers have the lowest per-carry average in the league. Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky believes Pittsburgh must first fix that if it hopes to ever be successful on offense again.
“Learn how to run the football better. First, let me be very clear. Pittsburgh, respectfully, last six seasons, you’re the worst running football team in the NFL, 3.9 yards per carry. You have lost your identity as an organization,” Orlovsky said on ESPN’s “Get Up.” “I don’t care who the quarterback is. Until you fix that, it won’t matter.”
The Steelers are hopeful they can make a step in the right direction in 2025. They have a very young and talented offensive line that has been heavily invested in over the past two years.
2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones is expected to be back in his natural position at left tackle and 2024 first-round pick Troy Fautanu is slated to return to right tackle after missing most of his rookie season with a knee injury.
There is also a lot of optimism surrounding second-year players Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick on the interior of the offensive line.
However, not everything will be the same. Steelers running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are both set to become free agents.
General manager Omar Khan has already said he expects Warren to be back in 2025, but the same can’t be said for Harris, who will have a much higher price tag.
So with continuity on the offensive line and potential addition of a more dynamic running back, the Steelers seem primed to have an improved run game next season.
Only time will tell if that will be the case, but the Steelers have been somewhat forced to prioritize the run since they don’t excel at anything else on offense. Maybe that will finally change in 2025.
Orlovsky thinks Pittsburgh can then finally shift its focus to finding the team’s next franchise quarterback. But until then, he has an idea of what’s going to happen.
“Now to that position, I do think they re-sign Russell Wilson,” Orlovsky said. “Let me then say this, you won’t be great that way. You got to figure out a way to get great at that position again. So, yes, Russell Wilson for the now. I want to see you get aggressive in the draft for a draft pick.”