3 problems the Commanders must fix before Week 10 game vs. Steelers

Commanders must creatively diversify their offense

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has done an excellent job of diversifying the Washington Commanders offense this season. Though wide receiver Terry McLaurin and running back Brian Robinson Jr. remain the bellcows, it seems that each week a new player steps forward.

Against the New York Giants in Week 9, it was the forgotten former sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez Jr. who dominated late in the contest. Employing multiple weapons will be crucial against the Pittsburgh Steelers because if any coach can slow down Jayden Daniels, it is Mike Tomlin.

Tomlin has been doing battle against the Baltimore Ravens’ dual-threat signal-caller Lamar Jackson for years now and of late, he has been winning those clashes. Daniels' closest comparison is the two-time NFL MVP.

The Steelers have beaten the Ravens five out of the last six times the teams have squared off. Jackson missed four of those encounters due to injury, but the last two times he has taken the field.

Baltimore has managed just 29 points in those games. The formula is not complicated. Pittsburgh has swarmed the opposing quarterback, sacking Jackson 11 times during their two recent triumphs. They have also picked off the Ravens' quarterback at least once in each of their last three meetings. That's the sort of strategy they are going to deploy in pursuit of restricting Daniels in this one.

Kingsbury is not going to abandon the zone reads that Daniels runs so well, and the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU will no doubt break one or two big plays on a scramble. But that can’t be the entire offense.

The Ravens - who see Jackson every day in practice - showed how a talented, disciplined defense can keep a running quarterback in check when they defeated Washington earlier this year. Pittsburgh will be studying that tape and looking to exploit any potential weaknesses that could arise if the Commanders become too reliant on the rookie.