It’s very common for Pittsburgh Steelers rookies to be thrown into the deep end and told to swim early on in their first season of professional football. Second-year running back Kaleb Johnson experienced it last season against the Seattle Seahawks, and while he was in the doghouse for the rest of the year, it was a learning experience for him.
Now, former Indiana Hoosiers tight end and fullback Riley Nowakowski is likely going to be in a similar position as the “Swiss army knife” for Pittsburgh’s offense this season. The fifth-round pick will get every chance to showcase the impact he can make offensively, showcasing why he earned a high draft grade.
Steelers Rookie Set for Major Role in Year 1
Riley Nowakowski Brings Versatility to Steelers Offense
Like former Steelers offensive utility man Connor Heyward, Nowakowski is going to line up in a variety of areas on the field. This Steelers rookie will be utilized in the slot as a receiver (similar to Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington), inside as a blocking tight end and as a fullback who can run the ball in short-yardage situations and catch passes out of the backfield.
Pittsburgh football was built on running the football, and it’s a major part of the organization’s identity. Even with a new coach in Mike McCarthy, he made it very clear from Day 1 that the Steelers need to be good on the ground.
“I’m a believer in the tradition of the West Coast offense,” McCarthy told reporters in his introductory press conference. “And the first thing that always came to mind was the offense needs to be built to make the quarterback successful. As simplistic as it is, that starts with running the football. I mean, you have to run the football, because if you don’t run the football and you don’t tailor your protection schemes and the action-pass game to the run game, obviously it’s not going to affect the defense and have the benefits of what you’re looking for.”
Nowakowski’s impact in the run game will enable the Steelers to use more 12 and 22 personnel without having their main tight ends on the field at the same time. The Steelers rookie helped lead the way for Indiana last season.
Steelers Rookie Riley Nowakowski Becomes an Upgrade Over Connor Heyward
Pittsburgh tried to utilize Heyward in a very similar role under Mike Tomlin, but the Michigan State Spartans alum never really caught on at the professional level with the Steelers, largely due to no fault of his own. Tomlin only used Heyward in short-yardage situations, so teams were able to stack the box and control the line of scrimmage when he entered the field.
Nowakowski will be a different beast for Pittsburgh, as the Steelers rookie will use his versatility to see the field more frequently. In turn, it prevents the opposing defense from gaining an advantage if McCarthy and offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio want to give him the football.
McCarthy’s West Coast offense will help to get the most out of Nowakowski and play to his strengths. Fans should expect him to grow into his role with the Steelers as the season progresses. Nowakowski will likely start out primarily as a blocker until he adjusts to life as a professional athlete, at which point the Steelers will integrate him into the run pass games.
Even though Frank Cignetti primarily used a pro-style offense at Indiana that was heavy on 11 personnel, Nowakowski has the potential to adapt and thrive in Pittsburgh and settle into a role that could be his for several years if he takes advantage of the opportunity.
Main Photo Courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel – Imagn Images
