The Pittsburgh Steelers have struggled in their four-minute offense in recent years, often giving opponents one more opportunity to win in tight, one-score games. That may be set to change with Mike McCarthy in town.
When Pittsburgh needed two decades of NFL play-calling experience to help put the game on ice in the Steelers’ 20-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons, he had just the call.
Former NFL TE Greg Olsen called it “Y-Throwback Delay” during the FOX broadcast.
“That’s one of my favorite short-yardage plays that I’ve ever been around. I used to love running it. It starts as a frontside run. You block, you block, you block, and then you just kind of sneak out the back of run coverage.”
Here’s the Steelers’ version of that play.
https://i.gyazo.com/4c6fccdfb9013e4cccd109f90fd27b4e.mp4
Most will remember this as a feat of individual greatness after Darnell Washington’s stiff arm bounced the defender’s entire body off the grass. But more impressive was the play design and the timing of McCarthy’s call.
It was a must-have down on 3rd and 3 from the Steelers’ own 29-yard line. If they failed to convert, the Falcons had an opportunity to march down the field and tie or even win the game.
Even Aaron Rodgers was impressed with his longtime coach’s thinking.
“I loved the call,” Rodgers said after the Steelers’ 20-13 win. “Mike and I actually talked about that call two days ago. Where do we like this call? And I said, ‘Well I love it in four minute. The Y is almost always open.’ And so when he called in the formation I said, ‘Oh yeah.’ And it played out how it usually does. Pat [Freiermuth] comes in motion, he’s covered in the flat, here comes the big fella across there.”
Washington was lined up next to the right tackle, and it initially looked like he was down blocking to set up a run play with Freiermuth coming across in motion. Then, as the linebacker committed to Freiermuth on one side of the field, Washington slipped out to make the catch for a first down. The viral moment that followed was just the cherry on top.
Freiermuth is the Steelers’ primary receiving tight end and had a much greater presence than Washington in the passing game Sunday. That was only Washington’s second reception of the game, adding to the brilliant timing of using him in a must-have situation in the final minutes.
Washington’s stiff arm made the highlight reel, but McCarthy’s play call deserves just as much praise. Most coaches have tricks up their sleeve to use throughout the course of a game. But a savvy veteran like McCarthy knows the exact right time to use them.
This time, he was spot on.