Not necessarily.. execution execution execution
So let's assume for a minute that you are correct and that the Steelers offensive woes are all about players execution and the scheme/playcalling/etc are not culpable.
Let's look at a few scenarios as to what could be driving factors of these execution woes, and how we can fix them.
Hypothesis 1: They are listless and are not playing with the appropriate level of urgency and energy required to maximize their talent. It's not that every single player on every single snap looks listless. It's just - in general, they don't seem to be playing with the sense of urgency that is needed.
How to fix: If we agree on that, can we then agree that if an entire unit of a football team is playing uninspired football for long stretches, even if the playcalling and scheme are good, the onus is still on the coaches to instill a sense of urgency in their players? I personally believe that if one players makes a mistake one time, it is his fault. If many players make many mistakes many times, even if the coaches called the right play or designed the right game plan, it is still their job to have them play with the proper mentality.
Hypothesis 2: The QB drives the success of the offense. Ben is struggling with his downfield accuracy, and if Ben begins to play better, then defenses will back off Bell opening up holes, and everyone will play better.
How to fix: Ben needs to be more accurate and make better decisions with the football. Period. This is a player issue. We are squandering lots of line and skill talent because the QB isn't driving. If we accept this hypothesis, can we then agree that, even if these plays and playcalling have worked for Ben in the past, we need to do something different? Can we truly expect a 35 year old QB, 14 year vet of the league, to suddenly "find" his downfield accuracy after over half a season of looking bad? I would suggest not. Again, if the QB makes one mistake one time, then the QB made a mistake. If the QB is showing that he CONSISTENTLY cannot hit deep downfield, then wouldn't the offense be more efficient if we limited his attempts deep downfield? It might be a difficult coaching move, but if THIS is the root cause, then someone (Haley/CMT) needs to make sure we aren't taking so many reckless deep shots. They're not working, and Ben isn't going to just "find it" in week 11. The coaches need to work with the stubborn QB who will not willingly change his own game to start taking what the defense gives him. Only throw deep when it's OPEN. Otherwise, TAKE WHAT'S THERE. Ben can STILL DO THIS.
Hypothesis 3: The line isn't opening the same holes for Le'Veon as they once did, which stymies the run game, which stymies the pass game, and in turn the entire offense.
How to fix: Line problems are the hardest to scheme around. But if we are to believe this hypothesis, you'd have to believe that defenses are playing us the same way as they used to when Ben was on fire. You'd have to believe that they aren't keying on Le'Veon and forcing us to beat them through the air. Personally I believe teams are playing us differently. Le'Veon's YPC is struggling not because he lost burst or the line isn't blocking, but because defenses no longer fear Ben as they once did. But either way, whether it's a bad line or a defense intent on stopping the run, or both: a good offensive playcaller may choose to counter this with play action, formations that disguise run/pass, or with misdirection or quick hitting pass plays to athletic receivers. All these force aggressive linebackers to think twice before attacking a RB. We are notoriously bad at this: we telegraph our plays with empty formations, or running out of the same basic sets every time. We don't do a lot of trickery as we arrogantly believe we can just win because our guys are better. Either way, there are adjustments our COACHES can make to counteract this problem, even though it is difficult.
Hypothesis 4: The skill players do not have the talent we think they do, and cannot get open, or find space.
How to fix: Come on, you don't really believe this, do you?
Hypothesis 5: Every bad offensive play is a result of an actual mistake a player (or more than 1 player) makes on the play
How to fix: If this many mistakes are happening, then coaches need to adjust what is happening in practice. They must either discipline for making mistakes, force more repetition in practice, or just flat out avoid putting players in positions in which they have demonstrated tendencies for mistakes. And if none of that works, then you have to move on from players whose mistakes can't be corrected. Find new players.
Essentially, my point is that, for every hypothesis one might have for why the players aren't executing, there is COACHING that can and must be done to correct for it. If, for 9 games straight, the offensive has underperformed because of the players, that's no longer "execution" it's "talent". And no one here believes our guys lack talent. Execution is dropping a ball or making a mental error. If many of your players are consistently dropping more balls than they should or making too many mental errors over the course of 9 games making the whole offense look bad, then the COACHES must fix that, even if it's the players doing it. And if it's not that, then it must be that they just aren't any good compared to Robert Woods/Sammy Watkins/Jared Goff/Todd Gurley. And come on - you don't believe that, do you?
