The Steelers are operating in uncharted waters. After 56 years of defensive-minded coaches in Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin, now the franchise is relying on an offensive coach in Mike McCarthy. And, early reviews from players have made it clear that things are going to look different on that side of the ball.
"It just excites me just having an offensive-minded head coach," DK Metcalf said Wednesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "I've always had defensive-minded head coaches. So, there's something different. ... They're very detailed on the installations and everything that they do on offense. Everybody's on the same page route wise, timing wise, open form of communication all across the board. That's one big thing that I've noticed."
Lack of details on the offensive side of the ball isn't foreign to the Steelers, even in recent years. While Arthur Smith cleaned that up during his two years as offensive coordinator, the Matt Canada years were rife with a lack of details and lack of intent.
Under McCarthy, that surely won't be the case. With his vast experience in running his own version of the West Coast offense, there will be more emphasis on the quarterback position than ever. To Metcalf's point, we'll also see more detailed route concepts to put the quarterback and pass catcher in rhythm on a more consistent basis.
"I think from a real fundamental level, it's all about the quarterback's timing," Aaron Rodgers said Wednesday of McCarthy's offense. "There's been good detail on all the route concepts of when you need to be open and how important the depth is. As a quarterback, you used to say, you should be able to throw balls blind knowing guys are going to be in certain spots. So, can we get those guys on the same page and knowing the timing and the spacing of the passing game."
At the same time, the running game has become more of a fixture in McCarthy's offense over the years. During his glory years in Green Bay when he had Rodgers at the height of his powers, the running game was obviously secondary to what McCarthy had in the passing game. But, his five seasons coaching the Cowboys saw a change in the approach.
Looking at the data tracked back to 2015, the earliest by either Sports Info Solutions or FantasyPoints.com, McCarthy utilized outside zone concepts more than anything else during his final four seasons in Green Bay. And, it started off that way in Dallas, too. In his first three seasons with the Cowboys, McCarthy leaned most heavily on outside zone, but that shifted more to inside zone in 2023 and 2024.
There's no indication yet of what McCarthy will rely on most here, but how it's being coached is different. During the player interviews that took place last Wednesday, Jaylen Warren used the word "intent" to describe the run scheme.
"I'd say it's detailed," McCarthy said Wednesday. "There's definitely intent in what we're trying to accomplish based on the families that we're running. We're very distinctive about what the outside zone will be to us and how it's paired with the inside zone. Then the pattern schemes and the gap schemes, and then the actions that come off of that. So, yeah, it's very intentional the way it's designed and way it's put together. So, I think that's what he means, but I do agree with him."
McCarthy's offense has evolved over the years, and it's led to a good amount of success. He won a Super Bowl in Green Bay. He had three straight 12-win seasons with the Cowboys. And so far, the Steelers' players are seeing why.
THE ASYLUM
McCarthy's refreshing approach to offense
The Steelers are operating in uncharted waters. After 56 years of defensive-minded coaches in Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin, now the franchise is relying on an offensive coach in Mike McCarthy. And, early reviews from players have made it clear that things are going to look different on that side of the ball.
"It just excites me just having an offensive-minded head coach," DK Metcalf said Wednesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "I've always had defensive-minded head coaches. So, there's something different. ... They're very detailed on the installations and everything that they do on offense. Everybody's on the same page route wise, timing wise, open form of communication all across the board. That's one big thing that I've noticed."
Lack of details on the offensive side of the ball isn't foreign to the Steelers, even in recent years. While Arthur Smith cleaned that up during his two years as offensive coordinator, the Matt Canada years were rife with a lack of details and lack of intent.
Under McCarthy, that surely won't be the case. With his vast experience in running his own version of the West Coast offense, there will be more emphasis on the quarterback position than ever. To Metcalf's point, we'll also see more detailed route concepts to put the quarterback and pass catcher in rhythm on a more consistent basis.
"I think from a real fundamental level, it's all about the quarterback's timing," Aaron Rodgers said Wednesday of McCarthy's offense. "There's been good detail on all the route concepts of when you need to be open and how important the depth is. As a quarterback, you used to say, you should be able to throw balls blind knowing guys are going to be in certain spots. So, can we get those guys on the same page and knowing the timing and the spacing of the passing game."
At the same time, the running game has become more of a fixture in McCarthy's offense over the years. During his glory years in Green Bay when he had Rodgers at the height of his powers, the running game was obviously secondary to what McCarthy had in the passing game. But, his five seasons coaching the Cowboys saw a change in the approach.
Looking at the data tracked back to 2015, the earliest by either Sports Info Solutions or FantasyPoints.com, McCarthy utilized outside zone concepts more than anything else during his final four seasons in Green Bay. And, it started off that way in Dallas, too. In his first three seasons with the Cowboys, McCarthy leaned most heavily on outside zone, but that shifted more to inside zone in 2023 and 2024.
There's no indication yet of what McCarthy will rely on most here, but how it's being coached is different. During the player interviews that took place last Wednesday, Jaylen Warren used the word "intent" to describe the run scheme.
"I'd say it's detailed," McCarthy said Wednesday. "There's definitely intent in what we're trying to accomplish based on the families that we're running. We're very distinctive about what the outside zone will be to us and how it's paired with the inside zone. Then the pattern schemes and the gap schemes, and then the actions that come off of that. So, yeah, it's very intentional the way it's designed and way it's put together. So, I think that's what he means, but I do agree with him."
McCarthy's offense has evolved over the years, and it's led to a good amount of success. He won a Super Bowl in Green Bay. He had three straight 12-win seasons with the Cowboys. And so far, the Steelers' players are seeing why.
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