Steelers Find Potential Breakthrough on Offense

LAS VEGAS — The Steelers’ offense might have a breakthrough. While the group struggled heavily against the Raiders, one concept never failed them- the play-action passing game. When the running game started to get going a little bit, Matt Canada unfurled the team’s play-action passing game. It worked well, landing a touchdown to Pat Freiermuth and getting him involved for the first time all season.

Pickett ended 6 of 8 on play-action passes for 61 yards and a touchdown on the day. He posted a 135.4 passer rating on those plays. It came just a week after the team found some success on those plays against the Cleveland Browns. George Pickens, in particular, ended up a benefactor of those. Canada noted during the week that the team wanted to get some play action going, but they needed to find balance.

“I don’t think it’s a crutch but I think play action is something, you know as you get the run game going more and more, it becomes effective,” Canada said. “That’s something that becomes more and more of a real situation. So, that was a play that we had a chance to get off and run. Kenny read it out perfectly to get it to get from Pat to GP, GP made the run, so there’s some things there. I don’t think our protection was bad on some of those play actions and we took some shots. I mentioned the corners are pretty good. We’ll do everything we can to move the football and get us an offense that’s balanced and doing the things we want to do. We’ve got to get there. We need to get to that point.”

Pickett had some success off play action in college, notching an impressive 16-2 TD/INT ratio in his breakout senior season. Play action has long been considered training wheels for young quarterbacks looking to find their way in the league. When executed correctly, it can stress defenses, particularly at the second level, and increase efficiency through the air. Najee Harris felt the run game helped those passes work.

“Yeah, it was great seeing that work together, the run game got going, and then we hit some play-action passes,” Harris said. “You know, that’s a credit to the offensive line for blocking up front. It doesn’t happen without them.”

Thus, it’s no surprise that the group ran the ball 31 times and succeeded off play action. It is a tendency breaker for the team, so linebackers get sucked in all game. That’s what happened with the Steelers against the Raiders. Now, it is up to the team to continue that success.