Can Russell Wilson and the Steelers clear up the red-zone offense?
Russell Wilson, traditionally talking, has been profitable within the crimson zone, one of many qualities that attracted the Steelers to him. In his first begin with the group, he went 4-for-6 contained in the 20. Final week, nonetheless, the Steelers posted an 0-for-4 quantity within the crimson zone.
Most of that needed to do, fairly merely, with sloppy play, and issues which might be simply correctable. Russell Wilson threw a minimum of two touchdown-worthy passes, one in every of which was truly a landing, negated by a facemask penalty. The Steelers additionally misplaced one other landing when George Pickens did not get each toes down inbounds (or a butt, or a shin, or something apart from the identical rattling foot twice).
Aside from the precise touchdown-worthy throws, the Steelers suffered some miscues. On one play, Russell Wilson anticipated Van Jefferson to sit down in an open zone, however he continued his route. That was one other straightforward alternative for a landing missed, and is one thing that reps can handle. On the subsequent play, Wilson had Calvin Austin III open however did not hit him in time earlier than a defender had the chance to swat the ball down.
The purpose is, the performs are literally there. These are a minimum of three touchdowns the Steelers may have scored in the event that they merely executed barely higher. If Broderick Jones didn’t really feel the necessity to pull a facemask, or Pickens put his toes or knee down. If Jefferson stopped his route, or Wilson struck in Austin’s course rapidly.
Some Steelers followers would possibly need to level out that Justin Fields posted higher red-zone numbers, however I’ll remind that we’re coping with small pattern sizes. The Steelers had a 75-percent success price within the crimson zone in Russell Wilson’s first begin. Now that’s right down to 40 by two video games. We’re going to want a minimum of a number of extra weeks, if no more, to have something intelligible to say. Personally, I’m inspired, just because the bones are there. It’s cheap to anticipate some rising pains with a brand new quarterback. And it’s additionally cheap to anticipate extensive receivers to grasp why they work on toe-tap catches. However then once more, there are nonetheless gamers who don’t know video games can finish in ties. Particulars, child, particulars.
The Steelers’ 2024 season is underway, following one other disappointing 12 months ending in a first-round playoff loss. They’ve had a protracted offseason because the Buffalo Payments stamped them out of their distress again in January. There are constructive indicators, however issues may soar off the rails any second.
The most important query hanging over the group is the quarterback query. Will Russell Wilson regain his job when he’s wholesome, or is Justin Fields stealing it? How will the group proceed to deal with the depth chart, which is surprisingly nonetheless in flux?
The common season is right here, following weeks of camp and preseason video games. The Steelers made quite a few strikes by signings and commerce—and launch. Greater than common, they appeared snug creating holes, assured they’ll fill them. Some they managed to fill, others not a lot. Now that we’ve got so many items of the puzzle, nonetheless, we merely have a brand new set of inquiries to ask.
