How many tight ends can Arthur Smith put on the field? All of them. Yesterday was Smith’s dream turned into action, putting four tight ends on the field during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ goal line drill. A wrinkle that showed the reason why Pittsburgh yearns to be deep at the position and the matchup headaches it creates.
With the ball on the defense’s 2-yard-line and an offense deploying all its tight ends, it might seem like a run. All the big people on the field to pound the rock. Instead, Smith flipped the script. He spread the field. Empty set with four tight ends – Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward, and JJ Galbreath (Pat Freiermuth had the day off) – along with RB Kenneth Gainwell split out wide. Suddenly, the defense was forced to defend the entire width of the field. Aaron Rodgers threw a jump ball to Washington, leaping over Miles Killebrew for the touchdown.
It’s more than a fun play. It’s a nightmare for the defense. Seeing 14 personnel (1 RB, 4 TEs) automatically checks a defense into matching with its big people. Its base 4-3/3-4 defense or even a goal line/specialty heavy package with extra linemen. Gearing up to lock horns and stuff the run.
Then the offense does the opposite. An empty set forcing run-defending players to walk out and play in space. Smaller cornerbacks forced to defend bigger and more physical tight ends. Advantage offense.
The defense has no alternative. They can’t expect pass and bring out coverage guys or else the offense will just move in tight and run the ball at will.
Heads I win. Tails you lose. That’s the aspiration of every offense. Answers to the test no matter what the defense calls. Get in a play-call with a run and pass call (which is common). Throw if the defense comes out heavy. Run if they don’t. That’s an oversimplification but that’s the theory.
Pittsburgh is leaning on its strengths with an offense deepest at tight end. Pat Freiermuth is a good route runner with solid hands. Jonnu Smith is the group’s best athlete, explosive and able to do damage post-catch. Darnell Washington is a mountain with great hands and top-notch run blocker. Special teams is Connor Heyward’s calling card but he’s athletic and versatile.
The Steelers won’t use this a lot. It’ll be a rare grouping. So much so that I don’t even know if the assistant coach who raises up the yellow card so the defense knows the personnel grouping has one for “14.” Taking DK Metcalf off the field isn’t ideal. But there’s a world where he can be out there, too, and with Jonnu Smith’s background carrying the football, defenses can’t even completely count out a run, either.
If the group stays healthy and four tight end personnel remains an option, this grouping should be used. Not just in the low red zone zone but all areas of the field. It’s a wrinkle few teams have the luxury of trying. Pittsburgh does. It could give them the edge in a critical moment of the season.
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