Chiefs v. Steelers: Is Pittsburgh still dangerous without Antonio Brown?

Offensive notes and players to watch

No disrespect to the Cincinnati Bengals, but competing against the Steelers is a far better barometer for where a team stands. Even with all the aforementioned turmoil, the Steelers were a great offense last season. While the Chiefs’ were undisputedly the best offense in football in 2018, the Steelers were not far behind them. According to Football Outsiders, the Steelers were the sixth-best offense in 2018 based off their advanced statistical model.

According to ESPN, they were the fourth most productive offense overall and the second most productive passing offense. Not surprisingly, their overall rushing last season was the weakness of their offense. They finished the season as the 31st most productive rushing offense, as only the Arizona Cardinals finished with less production. Now, that’s mostly because the Steelers and Roethlisberger threw the ball an average of 42 times a game. However, it’s still a dip from the year prior and likely due to the departure of Bell.

Regardless, this is a talented team and they always have potential to put up points against the Chiefs. Roethlisberger has a history of picking on particular Chiefs’ defenders, so expect him to target both Charvarius Ward and Bashaud Breeland early to see if either can compete with his second and third receiver.

With this in mind, while Smith-Schuster is undoubtedly the first option, the Chiefs’ corners must  be wary of James Washington at all times. The second-year receiver had a breakout game in the Steelers’ first preseason game, with four catches for 84 yards and 1 touchdown, and he looks to take his place as the Steelers’ second option.

There was also some question in the Chiefs’ preseason game against the Bengals of how well the linebackers performed in coverage. The Bengals focused on the middle of the field early, and the Chiefs’ linebackers were caught out of position several times on crucial downs. It’s likely the Steelers’ will focus on this as well, with big target Vance McDonald being a tough cover over the middle.

One interesting player to watch is Christian Scotland-Williamson. Scotland-Williamson is a former rugby player turned football player and, at 6’9″, presents a sizable potential target for Roethlisberger—one difficult to defend for safeties and linebackers. He struggled to make a significant impact in his first two seasons, but is currently listed as the third tight end on the depth chart. Look for coaches to give him a chance to make this roster with his unique physical profile.

Make no mistake, this is a passing team. They have the horses to run the ball effectively, but if history is any indication, the Steelers-Chiefs preseason game will be a shootout—at least while the starters are in the game. It will be a good test for the Chiefs’ defense to see where they truly are with the transition to the 4-3 scheme and whether or not the starters’ ability in coverage will be up to snuff to start the regular season.

Key Departures:

• Le’Veon Bell – Running Back – Now with the New York Jets
• Antonio Brown – Wide Receiver – Now with the Oakland Raiders

Other Players of Note:

• Diontae Johnson – 2019 2nd Round Pick – Wide Receiver, Toledo
• Benny Snell Jr. – 2019 4th Round Pick – Running Back, Kentucky