The Steelers are a huge bounce back candidate in 2020. Ben Roethlisberger is back, and a historically bad offense should revert to the mean this season.
The Steelers went 8-8 while scoring a touchdown on just 35 percent of their red zone trips. 35 percent of the time!? That’s astoundingly bad.
Pittsburgh went from converting red zone trips into touchdowns 73 percent of the time in Randy Fichtner’s first season to 35 percent of the time without Ben Roethlisberger. Of course, JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner were banged up for long stretches too.
I’m not predicting that the Steelers will go from worst to first in the category, but they won’t be historically bad there this season.
Enter Eric Ebron, who caught 13 touchdown passes the last time he played with a competent QB. Chase Claypool has the typical size and frame of a legit red zone threat. According to Pro Football Focus, no Tight End in football last year created more separation than Vance McDonald, yet nobody got him the ball.
Each of the newcomers will contribute to a better red zone output this year. Vance McDonald has his hall of fame QB back throwing him the ball.
In addition, the run game gets a boost because Ben comes back. A rising tide lifts all ships.
Not only will the Steelers be better in the red zone, but with Ben Roethlisberger at the helm, they will be down there more too.
The Steelers offense is going to get better in 2020. It can't get worse.