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No 'O' in Steelers
by: Mike Bires Beaver County Times
Tuesday September 21, 2010 12:02 AM
PITTSBURGH — Due to on-going quarterback issues, the Steelers’ offense ranks among the NFL’s worst.
Not counting statistics from Monday night’s New Orleans-San Francisco game, the Steelers are 31st in the league in total offense, 31st in passing offense and 31st in touchdowns scored.
After Sunday’s 19-11 win in Tennessee, coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged that he’s concerned about the lack of offense. He also acknowledges that the Steelers’ have played in two low-scoring games dominated by the defenses and that they’ve used Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch at quarterback.
“It does concern me, but we won so it was enough,” Tomlin said of an offense that produced just seven first downs and 127 total yards against the Titans.
“We’re leaving a lot of offense on the field,” Batch said. ‘One thing you want to do as an offense is put seven points on the board.”
The Steelers have only scored one touchdown on offense so far. That was Rashard Mendenhall’s 50-yard run that ended the 15-9 overtime win over Atlanta in the season opener.
Kicker Jeff Reed leads the NFL with seven field goals. But as Batch noted, Reed’s opportunities have come because the offense has bogged down in the red zone.
In addition, the Steelers have been conservative on offense due to Dixon’s inexperience and the overall injury situation at the QB position.
On a positive note offensively, the Steelers’ running attack ranks 10th in the league. Individually, Mendenhall ranks fourth in the league with an average of 94.5 rushing yards per game.
Obviously, the main reason for the offensive struggles is star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger missing from action, serving a four-game suspension. Also, Byron Leftwich, who was expected to start in place of Roethlisberger, missed the first two games with a sprained knee.
For Sunday’s game in Tennessee, the Steelers actually released Leftwich due to a shortage of defensive linemen. With nose tackle Casey Hampton out with a hamstring pull, Steve McLendon was promoted from the practice squad to give the Steelers six D-linemen.
Leftwich was re-signed Monday and may play this week at 2-0 Tampa Bay.
Dixon, a third-year pro, has started the first two games but left in the second quarter Sunday with what first appeared to be a minor knee injury. Batch came in and finished the game.
However, after further testing Monday, Dixon reportedly suffered a torn meniscus and could be out several weeks.
Today, Tomlin will update the condition of Leftwich and Dixon and may even name a starting QB. But this week with Dixon out, the new starter will either be Leftwich or Batch.
[url="http://www.timesonline.com/sports/sports_details/article/1424/2010/september/21/no-o-in-steelers.html"]http://www.timesonline.com/sports/sport ... elers.html[/url]
by: Mike Bires Beaver County Times
Tuesday September 21, 2010 12:02 AM
PITTSBURGH — Due to on-going quarterback issues, the Steelers’ offense ranks among the NFL’s worst.
Not counting statistics from Monday night’s New Orleans-San Francisco game, the Steelers are 31st in the league in total offense, 31st in passing offense and 31st in touchdowns scored.
After Sunday’s 19-11 win in Tennessee, coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged that he’s concerned about the lack of offense. He also acknowledges that the Steelers’ have played in two low-scoring games dominated by the defenses and that they’ve used Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch at quarterback.
“It does concern me, but we won so it was enough,” Tomlin said of an offense that produced just seven first downs and 127 total yards against the Titans.
“We’re leaving a lot of offense on the field,” Batch said. ‘One thing you want to do as an offense is put seven points on the board.”
The Steelers have only scored one touchdown on offense so far. That was Rashard Mendenhall’s 50-yard run that ended the 15-9 overtime win over Atlanta in the season opener.
Kicker Jeff Reed leads the NFL with seven field goals. But as Batch noted, Reed’s opportunities have come because the offense has bogged down in the red zone.
In addition, the Steelers have been conservative on offense due to Dixon’s inexperience and the overall injury situation at the QB position.
On a positive note offensively, the Steelers’ running attack ranks 10th in the league. Individually, Mendenhall ranks fourth in the league with an average of 94.5 rushing yards per game.
Obviously, the main reason for the offensive struggles is star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger missing from action, serving a four-game suspension. Also, Byron Leftwich, who was expected to start in place of Roethlisberger, missed the first two games with a sprained knee.
For Sunday’s game in Tennessee, the Steelers actually released Leftwich due to a shortage of defensive linemen. With nose tackle Casey Hampton out with a hamstring pull, Steve McLendon was promoted from the practice squad to give the Steelers six D-linemen.
Leftwich was re-signed Monday and may play this week at 2-0 Tampa Bay.
Dixon, a third-year pro, has started the first two games but left in the second quarter Sunday with what first appeared to be a minor knee injury. Batch came in and finished the game.
However, after further testing Monday, Dixon reportedly suffered a torn meniscus and could be out several weeks.
Today, Tomlin will update the condition of Leftwich and Dixon and may even name a starting QB. But this week with Dixon out, the new starter will either be Leftwich or Batch.
[url="http://www.timesonline.com/sports/sports_details/article/1424/2010/september/21/no-o-in-steelers.html"]http://www.timesonline.com/sports/sport ... elers.html[/url]
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