Steelers confident 'dam is about to burst' for offense

The Steelers' offense has been disappointing through the first two weeks of the season, with just 31 points to show for it.

The good news is that Pittsburgh is still undefeated, which means the offense has been able to grow while winning.

It hasn't been pretty to watch as the Steelers average the fourth-fewest total yards per game (260.5) and eighth-fewest points per game (15.5), but the belief around the locker room is that the "dam is about to burst."

"I feel like the dam is already kind of breaking," wide receiver George Pickens said. "Penalties just can't happen. We have to play a clean game, but then again, also let the guys play on the field."

Pickens may be the player that's been most affected by untimely penalties. In Week 2, he reeled in a 50+ yard catch and a touchdown, but penalties negated both.

Pittsburgh is the second-most penalized team in the NFL, with 19 penalties for 138 yards. 

Quarterback Justin Fields thinks if the team can clean those up, the offense will be clicking in no time.

"I think so," Fields said. "That just continues to go back to the point of, you know, we're just shooting ourselves in the foot at the end of the day. Drives are not stopping because the defense is stopping, it's stopping because we're stopping ourselves at the end of day."

The idea that the "dam is about to burst" for the offense hasn't come out of thin air. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith started it and is glad his message is getting across.

"That's good, they listen to me," Smith said. "We're so early in this thing, and just the unit we have, we've got a lot of guys that are four years or less in this league."

Whether Smith's message will translate to the field in Week 3 remains to be seen, but if the Steelers' offense can have success this week, it should every week moving forward.

The Los Angeles Chargers allow the fewest points per game (6.5) and second-fewest total yards per game (227.5).

Smith acknowledges it's been an unideal start to the year on offense, but there's plenty of time to turn things around.

"Sometimes it's easy to get frustrated, but you've got to look at, really the process," Smith added. "It's a constant work in progress, but I definitely have seen progress. We need more points clearly, and we'll get there."

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.