The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team who is struggling to find their way this preseason. After starting 0-2, losses to the Houston Texans in Week 1 and the Buffalo Bills in Week 2, there are areas of the team which have fallen flat. One of those areas would be along the banged up offensive line, but also more about the offense in general.

Regardless of who has been at quarterback the Steelers offense has yet to find its footing, and it isn’t just one position which is the main issue. In fact, it’s more of an issue from top-to-bottom, but we are talking about the preseason. Does the success even matter at this juncture?

The answer to that questions depends on who you speak with, but it remains a constant thread the offense hasn’t lived up to the hype many bought into heading into the preseason. But it doesn’t mean there isn’t still hope for the unit. In fact, if you go back and listen/read what players and coaches are saying, they are suggesting the Steelers offense is doing extremely well in a practice setting, but have yet to carry that into an in-game situation.

“The goal is to win. That’s what we’re here to do. We’re not here to practice well in practice, and then not win the games. We’re just focused on winning. There is never a great energy coming in after a loss, whether it’s preseason or not, so that is what we want to do, win.” Justin Fields said.

It wasn’t just Fields who suggested the team’s practice habit aren’t translating into games. This from head coach Mike Tomlin on Thursday during his press availability.

“I want to see the fruit of the labor that I’ve seen out here on the practice field. We’ve had some really awesome practice days and shown really good consistency and fundamentals and splash-play ability, but I haven’t seen it in a stadium yet,” Tomlin said. “So in a perfect world, I’d like to see that in the stadium before I move on to provide reps to some other guys that are trying to get a job for themselves.”

Like Fields, Russell Wilson too sees room for growth, and it starts with practicing well, but also having those habits help lead to offensive success when it matters most.

“There’s some things that we’ve done really well, there’s some things that we need to be better at. That’s the part of playing. It’s part of the fun about the preseason. You learn things and you translate that to the practice field as well. We’d be concerned if we hadn’t had the level of practices we’ve had against one of the best defenses every day and how we’ve shown up there. So I think the best thing that we can do is, just slow our minds down, play really clean football.” said Wilson.

Regardless of how it happens, Steelers fans are looking to see their offense wake up and start to perform the way everyone expects them to, and it might as well start on Saturday in Detroit. Nonetheless, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith acknowledges he’d rather have his offense struggle in the preseason than when the games count in the regular season.

“That’s not our standard, that’s not acceptable, but at the same time I’d rather go through that now than have that happen Week One. We’ve had a really good camp but the reality is we gotta get out of our own way.” Smith said earlier this week.

The bar has been set so low for the Steelers offense heading into Week 3 of the preseason it shouldn’t be difficult for them to clear that hurdle in Detroit. Then again, it could be a game of “how low can you go”? Let’s hope a new standard is set vs. the Lions, and any success the offense experiences can carry them into the regular season when they travel to Atlanta to play the Falcons in Week 1.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the final week of the preseason.