If you're freaking out over the Steelers' offense not scoring a touchdown in Atlanta, well, don't.
Sure, there are things to clean up. Center-quarterback exchanges can't ever be an issue. Going 0-for-4 in the red zone also can't happen. But, as far as taking a first step, this offense built a solid foundation, and Arthur Smith's ability as an offensive coordinator was evident with just one play.
To illustrate, I'm kicking Chalk Talk into a new gear this season. You'll get the reactionary Chalk Talk right there on the scene after each game, and the first of those following the 18-10 victory over the Falcons focused on T.J. Watt unsurprisingly being the best defensive player on the planet.
But then, I'll also take time to focus on something else after I've had a chance to dissect the film, and I'll pump it out in video form to better illustrate the Xs and Os. I've gotten numerous requests to make things easier to see on film, so I'm trying it this way.
And to start this off, this huge play at the end of the first half is worth its own Chalk Talk:
The No. 1 takeaway I have from this regarding Smith is he absolutely knows how to attack and manipulate a defense. One thing I didn't even point out in the breakdown: At the time Fields let go of the ball, there were nine defenders on the opposite side of the field of George Pickens. That's coaching. That's play design. That's knowing how to, as fans would want to hear it, scheme guys open.
Justin Fields takes this a step further with a beautiful throw. And, he threw it with anticipation. The earlier the quarterback can get rid of the football, the higher the chance it'll be caught. Offenses are always trying to stay ahead of defenses, and throwing with anticipation does that. As I pointed out in this breakdown, Jesse Bates III had his back to the play when Fields let go of the ball. That's exactly the type of quarterback play that can shred defenses.
So, when you see charts like this ...
NFL NEXT GEN STATS
... again, don't freak out.
The Steelers never intended on using the middle of the field against two premier safeties such as Bates and Justin Simmons. But you can see in the play I broke down that there were still ways to get it done.
And, if you're picking at not using the middle of the field, how about the fact that Fields hit on three big-time throws, the second-most in the NFL's opening weekend? How about that, of his 23 pass attempts, not one of the them were deemed turnover-worthy throws by Pro Football Focus? PFF's grading system is crap, but their stats can serve a purpose. Those two stats do the job of illustrating that Fields was able to make throws downfield -- something we already knew he could do -- but now did it without putting any ball in true risk of being intercepted.
Fields deserves credit for that. He's the one making the plays. But Smith deserves credit, too. It's his offense, and it's his job to make sure the players know how to execute them.
Again, the offense has a lot of room to improve. I'm not gaslighting you into thinking this is some juggernaut after they failed to get the ball in the end zone, despite getting inside the 10-yard line on two different occasions. But in terms of laying a foundation, this group got the job done.
Please give me any and all feedback on this new edition of Chalk Talk. What you liked, didn't like. Not talking about my analysis, but how it was presented. I want to give each and every one of you the best experience in learning more about your favorite football team, any feedback is appreciated.
