Slow Starts Offensively are Killing the Steelers

The Steelers have issues offensively. Throughout all four quarters, the team has not found sustained success, which continues undermining their ability to keep up in football games where their defense has no way to get going. It’s a worrying trend for the team despite clawing to a 3-2 record. But the Steelers are built like a team that wants to jump out to fast starts and force teams onto their heels. The only problem? No one is worse offensively in the NFL at their ‘scripted plays’ than the Steelers.

Offensive efficiency on scripted (x-axis) and non-scripted plays this season (y-axis). I think for this, generally I would say the positioning on non-scripted plays matter more for playcallers with larger subset of plays and how they adjust to opposing defenses in game pic.twitter.com/AmWDpupJ7a

— Arjun Menon (@arjunmenon100) October 18, 2023

That is a stark contrast. On the non-scripted plays, the Steelers are generally just a below-average offense. It’s better than a lot of teams in the NFL. But they are averaging nearly -0.6 EPA/Play on those scripted plays, and the starts this team has put out on tape reflect these stats. The only time this season the Steelers hopped out to an early lead was in Week 2 against the Browns, thanks to an Alex Highsmith pick-six.

Now, perhaps some rejuvenated health for the team will allow a turnaround. Diontae Johnson, James Daniels, Pat Freiermuth, and Dan Moore Jr. will return. But to illustrate the slow starts on offense, here’s a little taste of the deficits Pittsburgh has faced before they put points on the board.

SF – 20-0
LV – 7-0
HOU – 16-0
BAL – 10-0

Pittsburgh has been pulverized on the defensive end in some games; in others, the lack of offensive ability to keep up is destroying the chances the Steelers have of keeping pace. The Steelers did not score their first points in three of these games until well into the second quarter. The Raiders are a different story, where Calvin Austin’s big play popped the Steelers right back into the game.

Regardless, Matt Canada and the offense have to do something about getting out to fast starts. When the team won seven of nine post-bye week last year, the group’s scripted plays became a strength. They established their identity on the ground and were able to sustain drives. Pittsburgh is the king of fast starts and three-and-outs early in games. The defense has its issues, no doubt, but when the offense picks up exactly none of the slack, it’s hard to win games that are not a mud fight. Pittsburgh has to start faster offensively to build a more repetitive winning formula into the rest of the season.