> “It’s a bizarre offense that’s felt a little too gimmicky at times for my taste, but it’s been working so far so I can’t help but love its wacky structure.
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> As you point out, in recent weeks the Steelers have relied on using a sixth offensive lineman as well as 6’7, 300-ish-pound tight end Darnell Washington on a good number of snaps.
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> It has boosted the outside run game in a big way, as the team’s extra offensive tackle Spencer Anderson is a good athlete who can pull and Washington is the rare tight end who can handle defensive ends one-on-one on the edge. That’s given what could be a one-dimensional offensive package some variety, especially as Washington is a solid pass-catching option when the team runs a play-action pass out of it.
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> Pittsburgh doesn’t have great wide receiver depth behind D.K. Metcalf, even if the speedy Calvin Austin III is expected back in the lineup this week after missing the last two games. As a result, receiving tight ends Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth see a lot of snaps as bona fide wide receivers as well as in-line (although Washington is the only plus blocker of the position group – thus the heavy six-O-line usage).
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> As a result, you get a lot of 13 personnel that looks like 11 personnel at first glance.
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> The Steelers have a wide variety of skill sets at the tight end position. Washington is a gargantuan blocker; Smith is a yards-after-catch specialist; Freiermuth is best as a vertical threat down the seam; and TE4 Connor Heyward is an H-back hybrid who’s used a lot as the backside blocker on split zone.
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> So far, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has done a good job maximizing these different playing styles to get a lot of what could look like a straightforward offense on paper. His weirdest ideas have ranged from jumping the shark a bit too much (Metcalf lined up at fullback for a snap against the Browns for some reason) to unexpected but functional (jet sweeps with Jonnu Smith have moved the chains this season).
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> Maybe the clock will strike midnight at some point. But it’s been a blast watching a Steeler offense with an identity this year, as unorthodox as it may be.”