The Pittsburgh Steelers had an absolutely abysmal showing against the Houston Texans in Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season. The Steelers lost a game that they were expected to win. A win would have gotten them to 3-1 early in the season and helped feel that they were turning the corner on what has been an inconsistent start. The loss triggered Head Coach, Mike Tomlin to say that changes are coming, but it has apparently also led to players stepping up and taking the lead.
Karl Rosser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers running back Najee Harris tries to evade a Houston Texans tackler during their Week 4 contest in 2023.
This is especially important because it was hard to find anything positive to say about the game in Houston. It was more reminiscent of the Week 1 blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers than the Week 2 game against the Cleveland Browns that saw the defense bail out the anemic offense.
The Steelers Need Something to Change, And Soon
While it remains to be seen what exactly Tomlin will change, everyone agrees something has to be done. The Steelers offense appears to be unable to get anything going with either the run or pass game. Steelers running back, Najee Harris, who had 14 carries for 71 yards on Sunday, had what was arguably the brightest part of the offense. He had a 32-yard catch on third and four to move the Steelers down to the eight-yard line. Unfortunately, they were unable to capitalize on that and had to settle for a field goal.
Associated Press
Steelers rookie Left Tackle Broderick Jones is doing all he can to win the starting Left Tackle spot in 2023
After the game was over, Harris was overheard talking to his teammates in the locker room. Brian Batko from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette happened to catch a snippet of the conversation.
"As a sullen Steelers locker room emptied out it sounded like Najee Harris was telling Broderick Jones something about getting the whole team together and addressing them as a group. Probably goes without saying after a game like that, but it was noticeable nonetheless."
Harris, who was drafted in the first round out of the University of Alabama in 2021, has taken a great deal of criticism from fans who believe he is not a franchise back. While he has definitely had his struggles as well as a Lisfranc injury (in 2022), Harris continues to show passion and leadership in his efforts to get this team on track.
Chris Adamski / Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada is seen as the reason for the early 2023 offensive struggles
The blame cannot be placed entirely on the run game, though. The entire Steelers offense appears predictable and like they are lacking in energy. Quarterback Kenny Pickett only threw for 114 yards with one interception, made by former Steeler Steven Nelson. Pickett wasn't able to establish any kind of connection with his wide receivers or tight ends, seeming to even miss seeing wide-open targets.
Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada remains in the hot seat and most fans are hoping (but not expecting) him to be the change to which Tomlin alluded. One example of his poor judgment was the chance the Steelers had to convert a 4th and 1 but the decision was to go out of the shotgun. Pickett was sacked and suffered an injury to his leg. He needed assistance getting off the field and went straight to the medical tent, and subsequently the locker room. He did not return. This kind of ridiculous play-calling is why the Steelers have become the laughingstock of the national sports media.
Pickett's injury is just one of many. Tight end, Pat Freiermuth went out early in the Texans game with a hamstring injury. Team captain Cameron Heyward and wide receiver Diontae Johnson were both injured during Week 1. Now with the team anxiously awaiting to hear if they will be without Pickett for the foreseeable future, it seems Harris will step up as a de facto leader and try to help pull the team together. Harris is used to being a leader, he was the offensive captain in 2022. This is also not a new situation for the Steelers, as they were here in 2022.
During the 2022 season, the team was struggling early in the season going 2-6 to start. When the bye week arrived during Week 9, fans felt pretty hopeless. Pickett, who had taken over the offense in Week 4, seemed to struggle to read the field and sustain any kind of drive. The running game was nonexistent and the defense struggled to stop anyone.
That bye week resulted in change. The players were hush-hush about exactly what transpired, but there was talk that the team came together for some serious talks about how they could salvage the season. They managed to spend that time finding a way to get in sync, and it helped. While the rest of the games were far from flawless, they found a way to work together and win - closing out the season 7-2.
AP PHOTO / DAVID J. PHILLIP
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) is helped off the field after an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Houston.
There is a lot to hope for going forward. We can only hope that Harris will somehow be able to motivate this team to get them on track as well as hoping that Pickett is okay and that Tomlin has an answer to this terrible Canada offense.
What do you think about Harris seeking to pull the team together? Do you think some of those talks are part of what helped turn 2022 around? What do you see as this team's biggest issue? The problems today were not just on offense, what went wrong with the defense? What would you like to see change? Click to comment below.
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