Steelers' Mike McCarthy Faces Doubts Over Pass-Heavy Offense Design in Pittsburgh

When the Pittsburgh Steelershired Mike McCarthy, it became clear they wanted to overhaul their offense. McCarthy has built several successful offenses and developed quarterbacks, including Aaron Rodgers. By bringing several familiar faces onto his coaching staff, McCarthy has given Steelers fans reason to believe the offense can finally take a significant step forward. However, not everyone believes he's the answer Pittsburgh needs. Much of the skepticism centers on McCarthy's preferred offensive philosophy and how it assigns responsibilities.

Sports Illustrated national NFL analyst Conor Orr raised several concerns about McCarthy's approach. While McCarthy's offenses often produce outstanding quarterback play, they can also expose quarterbacks to unnecessary punishment. Orr also argued that McCarthy's running game concepts leave much to be desired. Although the Steelers are counting on McCarthy to revitalize the offense, those concerns deserve consideration. Pittsburgh has run the ball effectively over the past few seasons but has struggled to generate explosive offense. Can McCarthy deliver both?

McCarthy’s Offenses Depend Heavily on Offensive Tackles

“I remember interviewing a lot of [McCarthy’s] about … basically forcing his tackles into isolation situations all the time,” Orr said when he joined the Heed the Call NFL Podcast. “He likes a standard drop-back offense.”

It's no secret that McCarthy prefers a West Coast offensive approach. As demonstrated in his QB School appearances and his work with Drew Allar, he emphasizes footwork and quick rhythm in the passing game. Orr's concerns align with some of the results from McCarthy's tenure in Green Bay. Rodgers absorbed a significant number of hits during that time, missing nearly half of the 2013 and 2017 seasons because of injuries. He was also sacked at least 45 times in three seasons under McCarthy, although Rodgers' tendency to extend plays certainly contributed to those numbers.

James Campen is an outstanding offensive line coach, but pass-heavy offenses naturally invite defenses to attack off the edge. Even the NFL's best offensive tackles lose one-on-one matchups from time to time. Without chips or double teams to slow edge rushers, it's easy to understand Orr's concern.

It also becomes more notable when you consider McCarthy's approach to the running game.

McCarthy’s Run Games Are Steady, but Not Priority

“There’s not a lot of elements ingrained into the run game,” Orr said. “I don’t think you can survive in the NFL now without a dominant rushing game.”

Late in Mike Tomlin's tenure as head coach, the Steelers often dealt with the opposite problem. The offense leaned too heavily on the running game, which prevented the passing attack from finding consistent success. There were flashes of explosiveness, but not enough sustained production. McCarthy's offenses have typically featured more consistent passing games, but the rushing attack has rarely been a focal point. Throughout his head coaching career, his teams generally averaged between 3.9 and 4.1 yards per carry.

McCarthy's best rushing offenses came from 2013 through 2017, when his teams averaged no worse than 4.1 yards per carry and peaked at 5.0. During his time in Dallas, his offenses found more success on the ground and produced more consistent 1,000-yard rushers. Even then, his rushing attacks usually ranked around the middle of the league. In today's NFL, an efficient ground game remains essential for keeping defenses honest.

An offense doesn't need a triple-option rushing attack to succeed. It simply needs to run the ball efficiently enough to convert short-yardage situations and stay ahead of the chains. The encouraging news for Pittsburgh is that the offensive line has blocked well in the run game over the past two seasons, particularly at offensive tackle. However, those positions still carry some uncertainty heading into the season. When you combine the demands McCarthy places on his offensive tackles with questions about his running game philosophy, Orr's concerns become easier to understand.