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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Allison Koehler

It’s Groundhog Day (again) for the Steelers

What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered? — Phil, Groundhog Day

It’s not just Matt Canada. It’s not just Kenny Pickett. It’s not just the line. Everyone is accountable for the poor-performing Pittsburgh Steelers offense.

Week after week, it’s the same ol’ thing: Protection breaks down, and Pickett gets sacked. Pickett has wide-open receivers, and either doesn’t see them or his throws are off-target. Canada calls plays that defenders can easily read.  Of course, you’re not going to have success in the red zone with Connor Heyward. You never use him. When you do, he becomes an obvious target for the defense.

In defense of their predictable offense, Mike Tomlin says that teams are predictable. You know the only coach who says offenses are predictable? The coach of the most predictable team.

Every week, it’s a new opponent calling out Pittsburgh for knowing exactly who would be where and do what. It’s the same week-in and week-out, which is why the Steelers are painfully inconsistent and can never get in a groove.

As NFL analyst Brian Baldinger said in his breakdown of Pittsburgh’s first three-and-out in Week 8, “It’s Groundhog Day in the confluence.”

Steelers fans are waiting for things to change, but they’re not. And we’re growing weary of even having any expectations.

The bye week is when teams are supposed to learn from what worked and what hasn’t and adjust accordingly. But we’re heading into the third-week post-bye, and the Steelers are at a standstill.

There was a spark in the run game during the win over the Rams, but it fell off a cliff in the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pickett regressed this season and has shown no signs of improving. This offense is a comedy of errors.

When are the Pittsburgh Steelers going to wake up and not repeat the same tired, boring, predictable set of plays for once?

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