What's The Problem With Rushing the Football?

[flippy]

In the 5 games we lost last year, we ran the ball 20 times on average.

In the 12 games we won, we rushed the ball 28 times on average.

Seems like being able to run the ball effectively supports winning. I get the circumstances are different in the games you win versus lose in general. But being able to run the ball in general has value.

[Crash]

Yeah, those 8 extra rushing attempts would have stopped Joe Flacco from kicking their ass all year.

[grotonsteel]

In the 5 games we lost last year, we ran the ball 20 times on average.

In the 12 games we won, we rushed the ball 28 times on average.

Seems like being able to run the ball effectively supports winning. I get the circumstances are different in the games you win versus lose in general. But being able to run the ball in general has value.

Everyone wants to run the ball effectively but that does not mean rushing the ball more.

So people want to give Redman and company more touches and then bitch about 21st scoring offense??? Wow...

Giving ball to Redman is not going to turn this Steelers team into offensive jaugernaut. Play to its strength and keep running the ball for the sake of it.

Biggest Problem with Offense and BA was more often than not offense went into a shell as soon as they took lead. Not only it screws the rhythm on the offense it even cools of your QB arm.

Keep throwing the ball if it is working. No need to play Marty-Ball. If defense runs out of gas and makes their stats look bad well tough luck.

[feltdizz]

Everyone wants to run the ball effectively but that does not mean rushing the ball more.

So people want to give Redman and company more touches and then bitch about 21st scoring offense??? Wow...

Giving ball to Redman is not going to turn this Steelers team into offensive jaugernaut. Play to its strength and keep running the ball for the sake of it.

Biggest Problem with Offense and BA was more often than not offense went into a shell as soon as they took lead. Not only it screws the rhythm on the offense it even cools of your QB arm.

Keep throwing the ball if it is working. No need to play Marty-Ball. If defense runs out of gas and makes their stats look bad well tough luck.

Running the ball got us back in the Denver game last year... If we ran on that last 3rd down in Denver territory instead of passing and getting the ball knocked out of Ben's hands who knows, we may have been in FG territory.

Giving the ball to Redman more often will definitely turn us into an offensive juggernaut. We will have more 3rd and 3's vs 3rd and 9's which will force the D to play run or pass. Ben is deadly with PA and with a chain mover like Redman you will see Ben flourish in the passing game.

[grotonsteel]

Running the ball got us back in the Denver game last year... If we ran on that last 3rd down in Denver territory instead of passing and getting the ball knocked out of Ben's hands who knows, we may have been in FG territory.

Giving the ball to Redman more often will definitely turn us into an offensive juggernaut. We will have more 3rd and 3's vs 3rd and 9's which will force the D to play run or pass. Ben is deadly with PA and with a chain mover like Redman you will see Ben flourish in the passing game.

Steelers were down by 2 scores by 3rdQ. Its easier to run the ball when Defense is geared to stop the pass.

Steelers run 60% of the time on 1st down so if Steelers are 3rd and long who is to blame for it?? Mendy or Ben??

[feltdizz]

Steelers were down by 2 scores by 3rdQ. Its easier to run the ball when Defense is geared to stop the pass.

Steelers run 60% of the time on 1st down so if Steelers are 3rd and long who is to blame for it?? Mendy or Ben??

1) this is why it's a good idea to be able to do both well....

2) BA is to blame... I'll also throw Mend in there as well because he refused to take what was there which resulted in too many lost yards or no gains.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

When you are up in a game then you run the ball more in the second half. So I will say that it is not running more that leads to winning games - it is winning games that leads you to run more.

What we need to do is put the D in a situation in which they can not over-commit to one or the other. We need to be able to do both effectively and take advantage of the D that sells out.

[grotonsteel]

What we need to do is put the D in a situation in which they can not over-commit to one or the other. We need to be able to do both effectively and take advantage of the D that sells out.

I am all for it. Infact i want Steelers offense to do both effectively.

Problem is when you start playing Marty-ball after taking lead. Predicitable Offensive play calling along with turnstile O-line was a major issue.

[grotonsteel]

2) BA is to blame... I'll also throw Mend in there as well because he refused to take what was there which resulted in too many lost yards or no gains.

Fair enough. Mendy runnign style was not suited for the O-line Steelers had.

Hoipefully with new OC they would design plays to give ball to Mendy/redman/batch/Rainey in open field.

[Crash]

I am all for it. Infact i want Steelers offense to do both effectively.

Problem is when you start playing Marty-ball after taking lead. Predicitable Offensive play calling along with turnstile O-line was a major issue.

And the MINUTE they go away from Marty ball, and it fails? The offense gets blamed for the defense not making plays.

Protecting the defense's reputation is priority #1 in Pittsburgh. Always has been and always will be.

[grotonsteel]

Protecting the defense's reputation is priority #1 in Pittsburgh. Always has been and always will be.

That is the real tragedy.

[hawaiiansteel]

Protecting the defense's reputation is priority #1 in Pittsburgh. Always has been and always will be.

no it's not.

winning football games is priority #1 in Pittsburgh, always has been and always will be.

[feltdizz]

And the MINUTE they go away from Marty ball, and it fails? The offense gets blamed for the defense not making plays.

Protecting the defense's reputation is priority #1 in Pittsburgh. Always has been and always will be.

I'll give you 2009 but that's it. When the D fails they should get the "credit" they deserve... but this offense stinks when you look at the weapons we have.

[Crash]

We don't use the weapons we have. We have to run the ball.

If anything our obsession with the past hurts this football team more than defenses do.

[squidkid]

We don't use the weapons we have. We have to run the ball.

If anything our obsession with the past hurts this football team more than defenses do.

true. ben needs to learn how to dump off passes and utilize his tigh tends more instead of taking sacks looking for the deep ball.