Steelers' Allen Robinson Expecting Dangerous, Explosive 2023 Offense: "We Have A Lot Of Guys Across The Board Who Can Make Plays"

As the Pittsburgh Steelers set their sights on the 2023 edition of their annual training camp, an underlying sense of optimism radiates throughout the organization. A team who posted a 9-8 record in 2022 and missed the playoffs is now a rejuvenated and motivated group in their quest for their first playoff win since the 2016 season. Meanwhile, surrounding the Steelers is a large variety of other powerful rosters across the AFC that will stand in their way, both inside and outside of the AFC North.

As the NFL has evolved in the last decade, the desire and creation of offensive juggernauts has become the focus of championship-winning teams. If we just look in the last five years, we’ve seen this strategy blossom with the Kansas City Chiefs, only to bleed over into the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins and most recently, the New York Jets. By surveying the incredibly competitive offensive landscape that is the AFC conference, teams will need to establish a dominant offensive unit to win games and earn their spot as conference champion.

Steelers’ Allen Robinson Believes They Have Exactly That In 2023

As a 10-year veteran in the league, Allen Robinson was traded to the Steelers from the Los Angels Rams earlier in the 2023 offseason. With the Steelers having one of the youngest receiving groups in the entire league leading up to that trade, a strong, proven veteran presence was needed to help round out the Pittsburgh receiving room. During his time in the league as a part of three different rosters, Robinson as accumulated 6,748 receiving yards on 528 total receptions with 43 touchdowns. 

That is more receptions, yards and touchdowns than Dionate Johnson, George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth's combined career totals, albeit three years less than Robinson.

Robinson joined Solomon Wilcots on SiriusXM’s The Opening Drive and the two discussed all things football. As a part of the conversations, the daunting task General Managers are currently facing in constructing offensively-optimal rosters arose. Specifically, with the teams mentioned above, amongst others, in addition to the Steelers’ divisional counterparts, Robinson knows the value an effective offensive attack carries and what he expects from their unit in 2023. When asked who he thinks has the most dangerous offense in the conference, Robinson was strong in his proclamation.

“I have to go with that team in the AFC North named the Pittsburgh Steelers,” he declared. “When you look at some of the weapons that we have, you know I think we’re in a position to be a well-rounded offensive group with a lot of young talent, that isn’t so young anymore and also some vets. I think that really when you see some offenses start to take that next step.”

That mixture of veterans and younger players is glaring in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have used 12 of their draft picks on offensive players in the last three drafts and have pieced together an effective offensive line mostly through the free agency market. 

After Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season, the offense showed the strong need for something similar after Kenny Pickett’s rookie campaign. Robinson detailed how their offense is built to take a major leap in 2023.

“You have a Kenny Pickett coming into year two. You have a George Pickens coming into year two. You have Pat at the tight end spot going into year three. You have a Najee Harris, you bring myself in. We have a lot of guys across the board who can make plays and especially on third down, when you look at red zone, when you look at creating explosive plays, you have guys to be able to bring some of that to the table at each and every single situation.”

Although Robinson’s remarks aren’t incorrect to any degree, Steelers fans everywhere know all too well of the offensive scheme in which they are deployed. Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada’s offense isn’t built for explosive, dangerous plays that average 30 points-per-game. Rather, it is designed to methodically maintain consistent drives featuring plays averaging four to five yards. Essentially, enough to move the sticks, keep the offense on the field and keep the defense on the sideline.

However, the situation in which Robinson finds himself in 2023 is nothing new to him. In fact, it is one of the common denominators he’s experienced throughout his career. That being, Robinson was clearly brought in to be that veteran presence and that “player coach” asset to the offense. But looking at Robinson’s history, he’s played with young, relatively inexperienced quarterbacks his entire career leading up to his time on Los Angeles.

While playing on his first contact with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Robinson posted some of the best numbers of his entire career. Throwing the ball to him was fellow 2014 draft class member, Blake Bortles, who instantly developed a strong connection with Robinson. If we fast forward to his time with the Chicago Bears, Robinson showed to be that reliable, more mature pass catcher for another young second-year quarterback. That quarterback is now the backup to Pickett in Mitch Trubisky. Robinson played a big part in Trubisky’s early success in the NFL and proved his ability to make young passers’ lives much easier.

The situation in Pittsburgh for Robinson is similar to both of those. While he wasn’t brought in to shoulder the load as a marquee wide receiver, his proven success in helping young quarterbacks will be pivotal for Pickett’s development. On that same notion, his ability to draw attention from opposing defenses will allow the other playmakers to get open down field. 

Even though this has been widely shared throughout the media, just by diving into Robinson’s past and examining where he’s been and how he’s been able to help young quarterbacks mature, more context is added to his sentiments above. Robinson clearly knows what he is talking about when it comes to evaluating young quarterbacks. Time will tell in determining how “explosive” the Steelers’ offense will actually be versus Canada’s trademarked run-run-pass sequential scheme.

Do you think the Steelers will have one of the most explosive offenses in the AFC this season? What are you looking for out of Robinson? Let us know in the comments below!

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