The NFL has witnessed notable offensive struggles this season. Teams like the Falcons, Patriots, Lions, and Dolphins are grappling with scoring woes, with the Falcons hindered by limited play-action fakes, the Patriots failing to score 30+ points in 32 games, and the Lions plagued by Jared Goff’s inconsistency. The same is true for the Pittsburgh Steelers whose offense too is struggling under Matt Canada. The fans hoped ex-Steelers Ben Roethlisberger might step in as a play-caller.

When asked about stepping into a coaching role, Steelers legend Roethlisberger firmly shut down the idea during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “I can’t see myself coaching right now… my family is my priority,” Roethlisberger stated. He emphasized that being a husband and father comes first in his life, and the long hours and demands of coaching just aren’t a fit for him. “You see the hours and the time they put in. That’s great, but I can’t do this kind of stuff when I’m doing that,” Big Ben added, clearly ruling out any coaching future for now.

Roethlisberger also addressed the offensive struggles the Steelers have been facing since his departure. He pointed out that the team has been searching for an offensive identity, with multiple coordinators cycling through without success. The legend reflected on his own experience and took a dig at the college game’s effect on quarterback play in the NFL, saying, “I think the college game potentially is hurting quarterbacks… not getting under center hurts.” He believes the lack of huddling and on-field leadership in college impacts quarterbacks’ readiness for the NFL.

While young quarterbacks like C.J. Stroud have shown promise, the 42-year-old made it clear that the system shift from college to the pros is significant. As teams continue to struggle with offensive consistency, his observations offer insight into the current state of the league, with veteran voices like his emphasizing the importance of foundational quarterback training.

For the Steelers to turn this season around, fixing their offensive identity and creating a more dynamic game plan will be crucial. Mike Tomlin hasn’t committed to Justin Fields as the Steelers’ starting quarterback, so things might change for him once Russell Wilson is cleared to return from injury. Fields, coming off his best performance with Steelers in a narrow 24-27 loss to the Colts, remains focused on his play ahead of Sunday’s game against the Cowboys.

Steelers’ offensive woes continue in tough loss to Colts

The Pittsburgh Steelers͏ find themselves i͏n a rough͏ spot,͏ espec͏ially after falling ͏into an early 17-0 hole against the͏ ͏Indianapolis Colts in the sec͏ond ͏quarter last week. T͏he Co͏lts͏’ offense had their way ͏with Pittsburgh’s defense, jumping out to a 1͏4-0 le͏ad in the first quarter, thanks t͏o a Jon͏athan Taylor r͏ush͏ing ͏touch͏down a͏nd a 4-yard pass ͏from Joe Flacco to Josh Downs. A 33-yard field͏ goal early in the second quar͏ter only deepened͏ the Steelers’ struggles.

One of the main issues plaguing Pittsburgh has been the consistent struggles on offense, a theme that has carried over from last season. Despite new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith making some improvements, it hasn’t reflected on the scoreboard. Under Matt Canada in 2023, the Steelers hit rock bottom, averaging just 17.9 points per game. The trend seems to be continuing as Pittsburgh searches for answers.

A bright spot, however, has been George Pickens, who continues to show his talent, but the offense’s overall lack of production has overshadowed his efforts. Without a single touchdown this season and increased pressure following Diontae Johnson’s trade, Pickens has yet to have his true breakout season.

With the offense struggling, much of the pressure falls on quarterback play. The inconsistency from the pocket has held the Steelers back, and with young quarterbacks around the league like C.J. Stroud finding their rhythm, Pittsburgh needs to do the same.