Steelers find ground game in home victory
By Ralph N. Paulk, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, October 10, 2011

Steelers running backs Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman were thrust into the spotlight Sunday out of necessity.
Redman spent much of the season getting only spot duty until Rashard Mendenhall pulled a hamstring last week in Houston. Dwyer began the preseason fighting for a roster spot and played only with the scout team until being placed on the active roster hours before kickoff yesterday.
But in the Steelers' best performance this season, Dwyer and Redman ignited what had been a mostly ineffective running game during a convincing 38-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans at Heinz Field.
Together, they rushed for 156 yards of the Steelers' season-high 174 yards on the ground — including Dwyer's game- and career-high 107 yards on 11 carries. In contrast, the Steelers' defense held Tennessee running back Chris Johnson to 51 yards on 11 attempts.
"I told Redman the numbers probably weren't indicative of how we played," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "He did such a good job running the ball and picking up the blitzes."
Roethlisberger fired up Redman with a pregame pep talk that inspired him to make the most of his opportunity while Mendenhall sat out.
"We wanted to establish the run and control the ball, which definitely opened up the passing game," said Redman, who was forced out with persistent cramps in the second half after slugging his way for 49 yards on 15 attempts. "I was just hitting in there and getting the tough yards.
"We were pushing the pile and getting those crucial third-down plays. But I have to credit the offensive line, which did a great job."
The Steelers' run game had been marking time all season. But it took a giant step forward against the Titans, as the Steelers rushed for a season-high 174 yards. Mendenhall had rushed for 173 yards through the first four games.
The oft-maligned and retooled offensive line had taken a beating from critics and fans, but guards Ramon Foster and Doug Legursky helped it gain some semblance of redemption by dominating the line of scrimmage.
"It was important we got it going in the run game," Foster said. "I think the two-padded practices paid off because we were lot more physical in this game."
With nine minutes, 21 seconds left before halftime, Legursky outmuscled Tennessee linebacker Will Witherspoon to create a huge hole for Dwyer, who sprinted along the right sideline for a career-high 76-yard run on his first rushing attempt of the season. That set up Roethlisberger's 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end David Johnson that put the Steelers up, 21-3.
"The offensive line made my job easy," Dwyer said. "Every block was a key block on that run, but Legursky opened the hole for me, and D.J. (Johnson) threw a good block. I didn't see (cornerback Cortland) Finnegan until the last minute. All I saw was the end zone, but he had a good angle on me."

Dwyer shook off a Tennessee defender, then squirted outside with nary a Titan in sight. He sprinted along the right sideline with Finnegan in pursuit.
"It was one of our gap-scheme plays, and I picked up the linebacker, and Jonathan hit the hole strong," Legursky said. "That's what our backs were doing all day long."
The five-play, 90-yard drive seemed to take the fight out of the Titans. But Dwyer and Redman kept pounding away.
"It all started with the big boys up front," Dwyer said. "That (76-yard) play was like the parting of the Red Sea. All I had to do was make a play."
For Dwyer, this was personal. He was seemingly a long-shot to survive the final cut after an unspectacular preseason.
"All of that stuff motivated me to keep pushing," Dwyer said. "It feels great to prove everybody wrong. I'm glad the coaches gave me an opportunity. I didn't want to let them down."
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By Ralph N. Paulk, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, October 10, 2011

Steelers running backs Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman were thrust into the spotlight Sunday out of necessity.
Redman spent much of the season getting only spot duty until Rashard Mendenhall pulled a hamstring last week in Houston. Dwyer began the preseason fighting for a roster spot and played only with the scout team until being placed on the active roster hours before kickoff yesterday.
But in the Steelers' best performance this season, Dwyer and Redman ignited what had been a mostly ineffective running game during a convincing 38-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans at Heinz Field.
Together, they rushed for 156 yards of the Steelers' season-high 174 yards on the ground — including Dwyer's game- and career-high 107 yards on 11 carries. In contrast, the Steelers' defense held Tennessee running back Chris Johnson to 51 yards on 11 attempts.
"I told Redman the numbers probably weren't indicative of how we played," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "He did such a good job running the ball and picking up the blitzes."
Roethlisberger fired up Redman with a pregame pep talk that inspired him to make the most of his opportunity while Mendenhall sat out.
"We wanted to establish the run and control the ball, which definitely opened up the passing game," said Redman, who was forced out with persistent cramps in the second half after slugging his way for 49 yards on 15 attempts. "I was just hitting in there and getting the tough yards.
"We were pushing the pile and getting those crucial third-down plays. But I have to credit the offensive line, which did a great job."
The Steelers' run game had been marking time all season. But it took a giant step forward against the Titans, as the Steelers rushed for a season-high 174 yards. Mendenhall had rushed for 173 yards through the first four games.
The oft-maligned and retooled offensive line had taken a beating from critics and fans, but guards Ramon Foster and Doug Legursky helped it gain some semblance of redemption by dominating the line of scrimmage.
"It was important we got it going in the run game," Foster said. "I think the two-padded practices paid off because we were lot more physical in this game."
With nine minutes, 21 seconds left before halftime, Legursky outmuscled Tennessee linebacker Will Witherspoon to create a huge hole for Dwyer, who sprinted along the right sideline for a career-high 76-yard run on his first rushing attempt of the season. That set up Roethlisberger's 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end David Johnson that put the Steelers up, 21-3.
"The offensive line made my job easy," Dwyer said. "Every block was a key block on that run, but Legursky opened the hole for me, and D.J. (Johnson) threw a good block. I didn't see (cornerback Cortland) Finnegan until the last minute. All I saw was the end zone, but he had a good angle on me."

Dwyer shook off a Tennessee defender, then squirted outside with nary a Titan in sight. He sprinted along the right sideline with Finnegan in pursuit.
"It was one of our gap-scheme plays, and I picked up the linebacker, and Jonathan hit the hole strong," Legursky said. "That's what our backs were doing all day long."
The five-play, 90-yard drive seemed to take the fight out of the Titans. But Dwyer and Redman kept pounding away.
"It all started with the big boys up front," Dwyer said. "That (76-yard) play was like the parting of the Red Sea. All I had to do was make a play."
For Dwyer, this was personal. He was seemingly a long-shot to survive the final cut after an unspectacular preseason.
"All of that stuff motivated me to keep pushing," Dwyer said. "It feels great to prove everybody wrong. I'm glad the coaches gave me an opportunity. I didn't want to let them down."
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