Offensive Coordinator Randy Fichtner didn’t give us any “farts in a skillet” this week but he also agrees it’s about time they get back to a more normal practice week.
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Oddly enough, the underachieving run offense and Tomlin’s emphasis on being more physical never came up in Fichtner’s weekly Zoom session, almost as if everyone is expecting the Steelers to continue to rely on a pass-heavy offense.
Fichtner says without having to rush from game-to-game they can finally devote some time to diversify what some say has become a predictable pass offense - “I wouldn’t say that (opponents) have caught on to it. It’s just a matter of we need to make our plays.”
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Which of course, brings us to the disturbing trend over the last three games which is dropped passes - “If you are going to throw the football, you have to catch the football. We talk about running the ball.
Efficient runs are 4-plus (yards). If we are going to throw short and have the opportunity to run long, the short aspect of that has to be caught for 4 (yards), and whatever we get after that is bonus.”
The main culprit is Diontae Johnson, who is also their most dynamic play-maker. After dropping two of his first three passes in Buffalo he was benched, but Fichtner gave Johnson a short pep talk heading into the locker room. “I said, ‘Hey man, we are going to be OK. Get yourself ready because you are going to start the second half and let’s go,’ Fichtner recalled.
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Johnson was instrumental in the long scoring drive that got the Steelers within striking distance in the second half and Fichtner expects to carry over to the next game - “He is an awesome guy with the football in his hand. I just think from whether concentration, or whether it’s maybe young guys not practicing leads to some of this. I don’t know. But I know one thing, he had a hell of a practice Wednesday), and I couldn’t have been more proud of him. I think as we move forward, I think you will see a real consistent Diontae.”
Johnson has battled through a couple of nagging injuries but now seems okay so we shall see. Might we also finally see some more intermediate and deep throws? Fichtner says we should, now that they have time to work on it.
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“Whatever you missed in that little three-week time of walk-through, playing not playing, games being moved, I think back to just repetition of throwing and catching for our guys,’ Fichtner said. “Having this week where we actually go back to a semblance of a real week, we worked on that (Wednesday). We will continue that (Thursday). We get a couple more good days of practice, and it will be an area of emphasis.”
The thing is, Ben Roethlisberger did not practice either day so his work will be limited to two days. Then again, Friday and Saturday will make for more practice time than he’s had any week lately. He and his receivers had better make the most of it.