Five biggest problems with Steelers’ struggling offense

The offensive struggles for the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) haven’t seemed to go anywhere despite the team making a change at offensive coordinator and rebuilding its quarterback room this offseason.

It is clear there won’t be an instant fix for the Steelers’ struggling offense, but here are the five biggest problems with it:

1. No run game

Running back Najee Harris is having the worst start to a season in his NFL career. Through five weeks, the former first-round pick has rushed for just 270 yards on 82 carries (3.3 yards per carry) and zero touchdowns.

It is simply not good enough, especially because Pittsburgh is currently quite thin at the position with running backs Jaylen Warren (knee) and Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) dealing with injuries.

Many believed Harris would have his best season playing in the final year of his rookie deal, but that has not been the case so far.

2. Depleted offensive line

Another reason the Steelers have not had any success running the football is because their offensive line has been battered with injuries.

Starting center Nate Herbig (shoulder), starting right guard James Daniels (Achilles) and starting right tackle Troy Fautanu (knee) all suffered season-ending injuries one month into the season.

Those injuries have forced Pittsburgh to mix and match its offensive line to find the best combination.

It remains to be seen whether the team is confident in its current formula, but even if it is, it’s going to take time for the new-look group to gel.

3. Nobody’s getting open

The Steelers also have a big wide receiver problem. George Pickens continues to talk a big game, wearing black eye tape that read “Open (expletive) Always” during Sunday night’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

However, the 23-year-old finished the game with just three catches for 26 yards, putting his season total at 23 catches for 310 yards and zero touchdowns.

That’s not the type of production Pittsburgh likely imagined for its No. 1 wide receiver, but it would help take some pressure off him if the team were to add another playmaker.

Only time will tell if that happens, but until it does, the Steelers’ pass attack will underwhelm.

4. Questionable play-calling

Arthur Smith was brought to Pittsburgh to fix the offense, which was one of the worst in the NFL under former offensive coordinator Matt Canada, but it has been mixed results thus far.

Through five weeks, the team is averaging the seventh-fewest points per game (18.4) and 10th-fewest total yards per game (299.4) in the league.

Smith has failed to scheme open the Steelers’ playmakers and has made several questionable calls, like running the football on a 3rd-and-8 on Sunday night, which resulted in having to settle for a field goal.

He may be doing so with a lack of trust in his offense, but it’s time to do whatever it takes to alter that or make some changes.

5. An overreliance on defense

A reason why Pittsburgh doesn’t ask its offense to do much besides not turning the football over is because it knows it has one of the top defenses in the NFL.

The Steelers defense is allowing the second-fewest points per game (14.6) in the NFL and has a chance to take over a game at any point.

However, the team cannot rely on that every single week, especially because the defense has recently suffered some key injuries to edge rushers Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig.

Without them for the time being, the offense must pick up some of the slack and put more pressure on itself to produce.