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The Steelers offense needs to take the next step

A repeat of 2020 is not acceptable from this group brimming with potential.

Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

The 2021 Pittsburgh Steelers offense looks locked in on paper. Some injuries may change some things a little bit, but at the end of the day the Steelers are a better team right here and now in 2021 than they were a year ago. Not only that but the chemistry between key positions should be stronger, and the playbook/play caller is back to an NFL quality which the team has lacked in recent years. Bottom line is finishing amongst the bottom 12 teams in the league again should not be tolerated.

Below are the biggest reasons the Pittsburgh Steelers offense will be leaps and bounds better in 2021.

Number one receiver

Whether it is Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, or even JuJu Smith-Schuster, one of these Steelers receivers will step up to the front of the pack for this team. Claypool specifically has all he physical tools to explode as a sophomore. The Steelers will take the training wheels off of the massive Canadian receiver and unleash his full potential against NFL defenses. This kid will be the guy to watch and a huge reason why the Steelers offense will improve.


Upgraded running game

Najee Harris alone has proved to be a special back that can make things happen out of seemingly nothing. His skills will improve even the worst of offensive lines, as he always makes at least one person miss. His sneaky speed will also be a huge factor in games where all of a sudden a defender is expecting a big time collision, but instead Harris puts a move on them and runs right by. It’s this versatility that will make the Steelers offensive line look right, and push Harris into the league’s upper echelon of backs as a rookie.


Matt Canada

The brand new offense is exciting. No more of this predictable, boring stuff, instead the Steelers should be offensive innovators. With motions, counters, run-pass options (RPOs), and a balanced attack defenses won't know what is coming their way. This system should allow all of the Steelers players to truly reach their potential as there will be limited guessing by defenders, something that killed the Steelers late in the 2020 season.


Rebuilt offensive line

The offensive line is 100% different in 2021 than it was in 2020. Is it a masterpiece? No. But it is a unit that has been reconstructed to work the system under Coach Canada and Adrian Klemm. All of these dudes are people movers, and this group will be better simply for that. Sprinkle in an aggressive scheme designed to take the fight to the defenders and the offensive line should get back to owning the line of scrimmage this year.


But what do you think? Will the offense be better in 2021? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.