SteelerWatch

Bruce Arians, recently promoted from Wide Receivers Coach to Offensive Coordinator, said in a recent interview that he plans to utilize more four-wide receiver sets on first and second downs this season. He also stated that the playbook is being rebuilt from the ground up. So does this mean we can expect the classic, smashmouth offense that has characterized the Steelers for decades to disappear?

Not so fast.

A closer look at the article shows that Arians has not just an appreciation, but a deep love for the running game. Sure, it’s true that he coached the receivers, and there’s no hiding the fact that Peyton Manning is who he is at least in part because of Arians’ guidance. But the fact remains that this is a run-first city, with run-first owners and run-first personnel.

Coach Mike Tomlin recently commented on the type of offense he wants in Pittsburgh. His response was nothing short of the traditional Steeler smashmouth football we’ve come to know and love.

So why does Arians want to add more four-receiver sets? Think back to the divisional round of the 2005/2006 playoffs when the Steelers took on the Colts. Then-coach Bill Cowher opened the game with a deep pass to Heath Miller. While not a wide receiver, it showed that this is a team capable of opening up downfield to take advantage of certain situations — something that was done way too little this season. Think even further back to the regular-season matchup between the same two teams: the Colts opened up with an 80-yard touchdown on a deep sideline throw to Marvin Harrison, while the Steelers started their offensive show up with ineffective runs.

The idea in football is first to out-think your opponent, then to out-power them. In baseball, everything that happens in a single “play” depends solely on the swing of the bat. In football, however, the plan is set beforehand, so every time the quarterback takes a snap, he knows what should (theoretically) occur. Whether it’s a hand-off, a screen, a short dump over the middle or a 60-yard bomb on an out-and-up, the play is designed and set before the ball is ever snapped.

With that in mind, it makes sense to utilize pass-oriented sets on downs where the pass isn’t necessarily expected. The old adage is that the run sets up the pass, but the pass also sets up the run. By utilizing four-receiver sets on first down, it puts the pressure on the defense, especially against a run-oriented team like the Steelers. It makes the defense second- and third-guess themselves, because the offense they are lined up against is now in a passing formation on what has historically been a running down for the team.

The other options it opens up are more effective bootlegs, QB sneaks and screens. Four-receiver sets put an emphasis on a vertical passing game, which often keeps the defenders’ eyes out of the backfield. A quick check-down block by the tailback and a short sprint outside while the receivers are running deep routes can open a huge gap in coverage, if the play is called in the right situation. Likewise, an outside receiver suddenly making an inside break while the defense is playing man-on-man coverage can make cornerbacks stand around wondering what just happened.

It all boils down to situational awareness and the element of surprise. The team now has several fast receivers (Santonio Holmes, Willie Reid, Cedrick Wilson) who can go vertical, and at least one who will go over the middle with no regard for his own safety (Hines Ward). It’s a dream combination, and they finally have it — so why not use it?

The key for Arians with this slightly altered approach to offense will be striking a balance out of these sets. If he calls passes too often while there are four wideouts on the field, it eliminates the element of surprise.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 9th, 2007 at 7:12 am and is filed under My Opinion, Coaches, Offense. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.