How do you guys think our OL played?

[Oviedo]

I like Saunders more than Pope or Paulson, but there is still no excuse for having 3 TE and only 1 WR on the field. Based on best available talent, that ratio should be reversed.

Completely agree. Our WRs are too talented to be watching from the sidelines. I saw Sanders out way too often.

[flippy]

Completely agree. Our WRs are too talented to be watching from the sidelines. I saw Sanders out way too often.

The only way Wally, Brown, and Sanders should come off the field is if they need a breather. And guys like Cotchery and Rainey should be rotating with them, not the TEs.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

What would you guys see our "3rd and goal from the 3" package being, after the obligate 6 (5 linemen + Ben)?

Wallace, Brown, Sanders
Heath
1 of Mendy/Red/Dwyer?

No room for a FB/lead blocker?

[RuthlessBurgher]

What would you guys see our "3rd and goal from the 3" package being, after the obligate 6 (5 linemen + Ben)?

Wallace, Brown, Sanders
Heath
1 of Mendy/Red/Dwyer?

No room for a FB/lead blocker?

Goal-line packages are different...but that type of specialty offensive formation should be reserved almost exclusively for goal line or short yardage situations, not on 1st and 10 from your own 20, or 2nd and 7 from their 45.

Remember, if we take out a FB for an extra WR, then the defense must respond by bringing in an extra DB and removing someone from their front 7. So the big guy in the box that the FB would likely be blocking is no longer there anymore(it's now a skinny guy opposite Manny Sanders instead).

[hawaiiansteel]

Looking to get ground game rolling

Teresa Varley - Steelers.com

The Steelers have a long history of running backs producing 100-yard games, but so far in two games this season they haven’t averaged 100 yards rushing per game as a team, with only 54 rushes for 141 yards for a 2.6-yard average per carry.

“We haven’t run the ball as well as we have liked,” said Coach Mike Tomlin. “I’m not interested in assigning blame in that regard. I will take responsibility for it.

“The reality is we’ve got room for growth. We need to tighten up our menu and lean on the things we are doing well. We need to block better and put the ball where it needs to be on a more consistent basis.”

The Steelers have been without running back Rashard Mendenhall in the first two weeks, although Tomlin did say he would get more work in practice this week but his status for Sunday’s game on the road against the Oakland Raiders has not been determined. Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redmanhave shared the workload for the running game, with Dwyer averaging 3.4 yards per carry and Redman two yards per carry through two games.

“We all have a hand in where our running game is right now,” said Tomlin. “I hope that we all have a hand in correcting it in the near future. I know it needs to be an asset for us moving forward, particularly as we move into a hostile environment like the one we are going into this weekend.”

The Steelers were able to move the ball on the ground in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at Heinz Field this past week, with eight rushing plays for 31 yards during a drive that was a little over 10 minutes and ended with a two-yard touchdown run by Redman.

Tomlin was pleased with the performance of the ground game on the drive, but not fully satisfied.

“I’m looking for more than that,” said Tomlin. “We were able to run the ball and possess the ball. I think we ran it six or seven times for right around 30 yards. That’s not what I’m looking for. I’m actually looking for better than that.”

The Steelers passing game has accounted for 520 yards through two games, with Ben Roethlisberger completing 46 of 71 pass attempts.

The key now is to get the offense balanced, something Tomlin is confident will come in time.

“I think in the long term we seek balance,” said Tomlin. “It’s dangerous to look for those types of things at this juncture because we’re only two weeks, or eight quarters of football, into it. Over the long haul, absolutely we intend to strike a balance offensively and possess the ball and score. It’s just probably a little early for us, at this point, to paint with a broad brush.”

[URL]http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Looking-to-get-ground-game-rolling/7f26a810-43a1-4ed0-8882-7350c9c187ef[/URL]

[steelz09]

Goal-line packages are different...but that type of specialty offensive formation should be reserved almost exclusively for goal line or short yardage situations, not on 1st and 10 from your own 20, or 2nd and 7 from their 45.

Remember, if we take out a FB for an extra WR, then the defense must respond by bringing in an extra DB and removing someone from their front 7. So the big guy in the box that the FB would likely be blocking is no longer there anymore(it's now a skinny guy opposite Manny Sanders instead).

I just think it comes down to our o-line doesn't win their 1-on1 matchups. If they can't win their matchups, the formation doesn't help/hurt matters.