The change on the offensive side of the ball in Week 12 was nothing short of incredible. The firing of Matt Canada has not only lit a fire under Steelers players and encouraged them to play with greater effort, but the practical aggression displayed by the offense on Sunday was something we never saw during the Canada tenure.

Before the firing of Canada, everyone, including myself, had narratives that we expected to hang over the team for the remainder of 2023. However, the unexpected termination of Canada’s contract has given new life to the Steelers’ 2023 playoff aspirations, and many of the narratives surrounding the team before the move are not necessarily valid anymore. Albeit only one week into the new-look offense, there definitely appears to be life in this offense.

This week on The Steelers Fix podcast, Jeremy Betz and I discussed what the Steelers actually changed our minds about following their Week 12 win against the Bengals. If you have not yet listened to this week’s episode, make sure you do so below!

Today, I will be sharing with you what the Steelers changed my mind about in Week 12. Be sure to give your two cents in the comment section below!

Pat Freiermuth can be an elite playmaker in this offense

I have been a fan of Pat Freiermuth’s ever since his days at Penn State. While not the bulkiest of tight ends, he does a good enough job as a blocker, and his effort in that regard is always top-notch. Most importantly, his receiving abilities in the middle of the field are excellent, and his lack of production has been due to two things and two things only: injuries and poor scheming by Matt Canada. One of the biggest changes to the offensive game plan in Week 12 was attacking the middle of the field, which involved Freiermuth.

I never lost faith in Freiermuth’s abilities, but with his nagging injuries that kept him out for a good portion of the season, I think we forgot how good he truly is. When made a focal point of the offensive game plan, Freiermuth proves he has the potential to be one of the league’s best tight ends. His usage simply is not as high as the premier tight ends in the league. If Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan can find ways to incorporate him into the intermediate passing game, he could transform the way the Steelers run an offense.

The Offensive Line can overcome unique mixture of play styles

I loved the addition of Isaac Seumalo this offseason, but it was definitely a surprising addition, as he is not the same type player James Daniels is. Daniels works best in zone-heavy blocking schemed, while Seumalo was almost exclusively a power/gap blocker. Mason Cole has his own play style as well, which only added to the confusing look along the interior of the line. The beginning of the season was definitely rocky along the offensive line, but the early stages of the second half of the season have been much improved, and the interior of the line has looked dominant in the run game the past few weeks.

Seumalo and Daniels have both played the best we’ve seen them play in Steelers uniforms, and it has resulted in a more effective running game. The concern about schematic differences amongst the interior linemen is no longer a major issue for me after seeing their performance in Week 12. Expect the line to continue to improve by the week as they gain more continuity.

What is a narrative you’ve changed your mind on after seeing the Steelers play in Week 12? Let us know your thoughts on this and all things Pittsburgh Steelers in the comment section below!