Pittsburgh Steelers: Players voice concern over sluggish offense

The Pittsburgh Steelers may own a 2-1 record after three games. But the team’s celebrated attack has lacked a lot of pop in the early stages of the season.

The least of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ anticipated problem this season didn’t figure to be the team’s talent-laden attack. However, that’s the reality of the situation these days.

After three games, Mike Tomlin’s offense has looked out of sync and flat. All told, the Black and Gold has combined for 64 points in three outings. The Steelers have scored only six offensive touchdowns (another score came via a blocked punt at Cleveland). Tomlin’s squad is averaging a disappointing 302.3 total yards per game and has run for a mere 69 yards per contest.

Pittsburgh racked up only 282 total yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s 23-17 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears. Meanwhile, Steelers’ tight end Jesse James had this to say to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN after the game:

"We have the best receiver, the best running back, the best quarterback in the NFL, we have a helluva offensive line, a great core of receivers and a solid tight end group. To only put up 17 points per game is that (a waste)…It means we’re not executing the play calls being made. I don’t know if it’s lack of prep or not getting locked in when things are going crazy on the field. We have to improve. If the defense holds a team to 17 points, we should be able to win."

For lack of a better word, the Steelers have lacked explosiveness in the early stages of the season. Meanwhile, there’s one veteran who took this weekend’s loss in the Windy City to heart.

Veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took the brunt of the blame when talking to Fowler. He noted that he simply has to play better for this offense to be at his best. That’s what you want to see from the team’s leader on that side of the ball, surely. However, he has to put it into practice.

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Things don’t get any easier for the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. The team visits Baltimore to face an angry bunch of Ravens. Of course, a road win over a divisional foe would be huge for Tomlin’s club. However, Todd Haley’s offensive unit needs to do something they haven’t done these first three weeks if they’re going to pull out a victory here.