LATROBE, Pa. -- Growth for an NFL offense is more of a subjective matter, and it depends on who is measuring that growth that later determines whether that was achieved successfully or not.
From an objective standpoint, it was clear the Steelers and Matt Canada had to adjust for finishing in the bottom-10 of the league in total offense, passing offense, and scoring on a per-game basis. There were many factors going against the offense and its progression throughout the 2022 season, but none were larger than the factor of how it was going to grow once Kenny Pickett took over as the starting quarterback at halftime of Week 4 and learned to command the offense as a starter.
This offseason should put off any of those reasonings, as Pickett has been given ample time to establish connections with his receivers, get more in-tune with his playbook, and learn how to become more comfortable with assessing the situation once he gets up to the line of scrimmage.
This offense's development and the success that correlates with it has to come twofold: From Pickett's evolution as an NFL quarterback and from the coordinator's willingness to adapt his system to allow for Pickett's strengths to show through. That includes throwing the ball downfield more often -- which Pickett began doing a bit more following the Steelers' bye week -- and Pickett becoming more comfortable with his talented cast of receivers.
“I think it’s both," Pickett said after Tuesday's practice at Saint Vincent College. "I think coach did a great job of adding some things -- coach Canada -- and we’re dialing up in practice. I feel the things we added are working really well out here, and I’m glad that we have them in the system. We took some things out, stuff that we ironed out, all the things that we wanted to do, and we came out here and we’re having some success with it. So, just want to continue that, and we’ll see what happens.”
Having a defense as aggressive and fast as the Steelers' is brings an invaluable opportunity for Pickett and his receivers to react and move fast in team-drill situations here in Latrobe. There is also the budding chemistry with his receivers that is in constant development, whether it is with incoming veteran Allen Robinson or leading receiver Diontae Johnson or fellow second-year and breakout candidate George Pickens. Pickett wants to ensure that chemistry -- what he defined on Tuesday as "them being where I need them to be at the time that I’m ready to be there" -- continues to be fluid while he is working to iron out the new wrinkles put in.
The offense has made a concerted effort to put the ball downfield more often, and that has become evident in training camp. That would solve one major deficiency from last season. The other is the 51.9% touchdown rate from within the redzone, which was down from the 54.7% success rate in 2021 and ranked 22nd overall in the league.
“I think we’re definitely taking more shots down the field. I think everyone here has seen that," Pickett said. "We’re more consistent in the redzone. It’s been great to see how competitive we’ve been in seven shots and winning a lot of the drills and the redzone stuff. Our defense is top notch. When you’re having a little bit of success against them, I’d hope to fare all right this season. We’ve got to take it when we get time.”
Pickett feels his offense picked up from where it left off in the spring, which he claimed was a "good process" upon arriving to Latrobe in late July. The changes have come from scheme and a blend with different personnel in place, like Robinson as a reliable third receiver, Darnell Washington and his threat as a redzone weapon, or Connor Heyward in his newfound role as a fullback-tight end-wing back hybrid ... or Kendrick Green and his prowess as a Pat Ricard-type fullback.
All of these changes from design and a personnel standpoints are leading to optimism that the offense will see improvement, though there were some times early in this camp where it looked like the defense would be a force to deal with in these sessions. That has not been the case, and especially over the last week, when the offense has won in goal line and redzone situations and has taken two of the last four periods of seven shots.
Things are clearly starting to slow down for Pickett. That comes with growing within his system and taking more command pre-snap.
“I would just say recognition pre-snap, understanding my answers and what I have available to me, being able to signal certain things and change stuff at the line," Pickett said. "Doing a lot more than I did last year. I feel really comfortable with the system and I’m getting towards that ownership aspect which I’ve been pushing for.”
The first dress rehearsal for the 2023 season is this Friday at 7 p.m., when the Steelers will visit Tampa Bay and play the Buccaneers in their first of three preseason games. Pickett acknowledged he will be "on go" for the preseason opener, though the decision will ultimately come down to Mike Tomlin as to whether the starting quarterback will play at all or how much he will see the field.
"We're focused Steelers versus Steelers today," Tomlin said after practice. "We'll do similar things tomorrow. We'll turn our attention toward Friday, probably tomorrow night after we come off the field. You got to have a very narrow focus this time of year. You don't want to waste days and miss opportunities to improve and so we got a million miles between now and Friday from my perspective, in terms of our development right now, and so I'd be better positioned to answer that Wednesday after practice or on Thursday."
MORE FROM PRACTICE
• Shortly before seven shots, I captured Green taking this fullback dive from Pickett:
A handoff from Kenny Pickett to Kendrick Green just before seven shots starts. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/L1yJMro5P8
— Corey Crisan (@cdcrisan) August 8, 2023
I would bet we see this at least once on Friday.
• As for the seven shots, the offense dominated on this crisp, early-August afternoon. I counted a 6-1 win.
Najee Harris took the first play off-tackle for the score, as Heyward was lined up as his lead blocker. Pickett rolled out of the pocket and connected with Pat Freiermuth for a score on Play 2, and Patrick Peterson had Pickens blanketed and was there to defend Pickett's pass on Play 3. Pickett connected with Pickens for a score on the left flat on Play 4 to give the first-team offense three touchdowns in four attempts.
Mitch Trubisky tossed a TD to Rodney Williams on an out route, as Trenton Thompson couldn't stop him short of the goal line. The series ended with a Trubisky connection to Miles Boykin.
A bit of controversy arose on Play 6, as Trubisky lobbed one up for Washington to go get over James Pierre, in a complete mismatch of 6-foot-7 versus 6-foot-2. Washington made the grab as Pierre appeared to have been held down, and one Steelers alumnus in particular took issue over it.
It was Ryan Clark, who ran from the back of the endzone to the spot of Washington's catch and began furiously ranting about wanting an offensive pass interference called.
• On the first play of seven shots, I noted the Steelers' defensive alignment. On the line were T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, and Alex Highsmith. Up the middle at linebacker were Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts. Roving the secondary were Levi Wallace, Kenny Robinson, Elijah Riley, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Patrick Peterson.
Dan Moore Jr. took the first-team reps at left tackle. Nate Herbig played some center with the second-teamers.
"Just doing whatever they tell me to do," Herbig said after Tuesday's walkthrough. "I've played center every day, I've played both guards every day. That's three positions ... I'm more of a cup-half-full kind of guy. I look forward to challenges, trying to get better, doing whatever the team needs, so I'm just going to keep trying my best."
• Keanu Neal (undisclosed) and Tre Norwood (lower leg) sat out of Tuesday's practice. Joey Porter Jr. (ankle), Nick Herbig (hip flexor), Damontae Kazee (foot), and DeMarvin Leal (ankle) returned for the padded practice. Kazee only participated in individual position drills. Tomlin did not unveil any new injuries in his post-practice press conference.
• Olszewski absolutely worked Porter on two straight reps in a one-on-one tackling drill. Olszewski made Porter miss both times, and he sped by Porter on the second rep. Porter came back and beat Dez Fitzpatrick on a rep, and Tomlin yelled for a rematch to see if Porter could do it twice in a row. Fitzpatrick took the second rep and made Porter miss in the rubber match. Porter was 1-for-5 on tackling reps in that drill.
• Speaking of Olszewski, Pickett spoke this rave review and mentioned him by name as the clubhouse leader for the team's fourth wide receiver:
"A guy that I worked really hard with in the offseason, that puts a ton of time in, that plays as hard as I’ve seen a guy play is Gunner Olszewski," Pickett said. "He’s reliable, he shows up every day. Whatever position he’s asked to do, he knows all of them. He’ll stick his nose in the run game. I have a ton of great things to say about Gunner. I think he’s a guy that’s kind of popped to me, at least when I’ve seen him out here.”
Watch out, Calvin Austin?
• I noticed this for the first time: Porter lined up on the field goal block team on the outside on the holder’s side.
• The final play of the day: Connor Heyward took a goal-line jet sweep and -- OH! -- he lobbed it to Freiermuth. Touchdown.
• Add Rashard Mendenhall and Devin Bush to the list of "random jersey sightings" from the days at Saint Vincent College. I think the Mark Bruener jersey I saw last week is still in the lead for the most random one. The kid representing Bush was wearing one of the "shirseys" that is actually a T-shirt meant to look like a jersey, but I'm counting it.
• On tap for Wednesday: Assistant general manager Andy Weidl is scheduled for a press conference at 10:30 a.m., and Tomlin will address the media at 11:35 a.m. at the Fred Rogers Institute on campus. I will cover those events.