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In search of a Steelers rushing attack
by Jack Finn
Nov. 11, 2014
The Steelers ability to run the ball has waned as the season has progressed. It needs a shot in the arm as winter football approaches.
The Steelers' hiring of offensive line coach Mike Munchak in the off-season was met with virtually unanimous approval. It was an opportunity for a set of high-pedigree players to finally reach their expectations under the tutelage of a renowned offensive-line guru with the rushing attack being the principal focus.
The Steelers have invested two first-round picks and two second-round picks in offensive lineman since 2010, all of whom have, at one stage or another, flashed the ability to be dominant in the run game. In addition, the Steelers invested a second-round pick in Le'veon Bell in 2013. Add to that the fact they possess a top-tier quarterback and a top-tier passing game.
On paper, the Steelers have literally checked off every conceivable box conducive to a successful ground attack. They've got a stud back, invested heavily in the offensive line and they've got the aerial attack required to keep the defense from stuffing the box.
However, as we all know, the game isn't played on paper, and writing about it won't give you a six-yards-per-carry average. Here's a breakdown of the Steelers' rushing attack so far in 2014...
Opponent Run/Pass Ratio Rushing Yards Rushing Touchdowns Yards Per Carry
Cleveland 28/35 127 2 4.53
Baltimore 18/37 99 0 5.5
Carolina 34/30 264 1 7.76
Tampa Bay 27/41 85 0 3.15
Jacksonville 28/36 111 0 3.96
Cleveland 38/42 138 0 3.63
Houston 25/34 76 0 3.04
Indianapolis 32/49 117 0 3.66
Baltimore 25/37 55 0 2.2
New York 17/43 36 0 2.12
First things first. It's important to establish some context because raw data is meaningless without it.
Both games against the Baltimore Ravens and the most recent tilt against the Jets, although poor, are not quite as bad as they first appear. The Week 2 game against the Ravens and Week 10 game against the Jets got ugly pretty fast for the Steelers due to turnovers and general poor play, placing the running game on the back burner for a large chunk of the game. Likewise, the Week 8 clash against the Colts had the Steelers essentially running out the clock against a continually-loaded box, something that will tend to skew the stats unfavorably.
Conversely, I'd say their most impressive showing, Week 3 against the Panthers, is a little misleading also. It was still a strong performance on the ground but LeGarrette Blount piled on some big chunks of yardage in garbage time when the Panthers defense had essentially quit on the game.
Aside from that, the statistics can be interpreted more or less as they are, and it isn't pretty for the Steelers running game.
The first thing that stands out is the staggering lack of rushing touchdowns. I don't care if Ben Roethlisberger is playing like the love child of a Marino/Unitas/Manning triumvirate, zero rushing touchdowns in seven weeks is appalling. The Steelers are currently in a three-way tie for second-least rushing touchdowns in the NFL, in front of only the Oakland Raiders.
In terms of total rushing yards, the Steelers rank right in the middle of the pack at 15th with 1,081 yards, although it should be kept in mind the Steelers haven't had their bye week yet. Yards gained in any particular game do not greatly interest me for any reason other than who makes the Pro Bowl each year, because it's a case-by-case situation. For example, the Steelers only had 55 rushing yards in Week 9 against a stout Ravens defense, but anyone who watched the game would have seen that this was sufficient to execute their game plan that day.
Third, outside of the aforementioned Jets and Ravens games, the Steelers are striking a solid balance between the pass and the run in a league that has gone crazy for the pass. The Steelers' 267 rushing attempts currently ranks seventh in the NFL and, even taking into account bye weeks, they reside comfortably inside the top-10. Clearly the rushing attack has been given every chance to succeed.
Finally, the most telling statistic about a running game is its yards per carry. As you can see, the Steelers have been wildly inconsistent, ranging from 7.76 YPC against the Panthers to as little as 2.2 against the Jets and Ravens. Their average YPC over 10 games this season is 4.1, again placing them dead in the middle of the pack at 15th. However, if you strip away the Week 3 aberration against the Panthers, you get what I'd say is a truer representation of the Steelers ground game, which is 3.55 YPC. That would place them 27th in the NFL, rubbing shoulders with the Raiders again.
That, then, is the biggest indicator of the Steelers failure on the ground. An effective ground game doesn't require two or three runs a game of 40+ yards; it needs consistent clips of 7, 9 and 11 yard gains to keep the chains moving and to keep the defense honest, while giving your own defense some rest. But that's not what the Steelers are getting. They're getting 1 yard, 4 yards and a 3rd-and-iffy. Just based on recent memory, I think I can count on two hands the numbers of times the Steelers have converted 2nd-and-8 by running the ball. That won't get the job done.
It's not as if the Steelers are facing top-notch run defenses across the board. The Cleveland Browns currently sit 28th in the NFL in rush-defense, Then there are the Jaguars sitting two spots below them at 26th; or the Panthers at 23rd, the Texans at 21st and the Buccaneers at 18th.
The Steelers, of course, have faced three run-defenses ranked inside the top-10. The Colts are ranked 10th, the Ravens are ranked 6th and the Jets are ranked 5th. While that may partially excuse their rushing performances against the Ravens and the Jets, if you can't muster better than 36 yards from 17 attempts then you've had a downright awful day no matter how talented the competition.
So what is the cause of this lackluster running game?
Well, as always, it starts with the guys in the trenches. Ramon Foster isn't really very good. Kelvin Beachum is always going to be somewhat limited in traditional run-blocking because of physical shortcomings. Marcus Gilbert is still very streaky even in his fourth year. Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro, both in the upper echelons of their respective positions, aren't perfect themselves on every play and, even if they were, they can't consistently raise the play of the three guys around them.
Furthermore, there's no semblance of commonality across the offensive line. Discounting Pouncey and DeCastro, who would excel anywhere, Foster, Glbert and Beachum are worlds apart as players. Foster is a jack of all trades, which predictably means he's the master of none. Marcus Gilbert isn't likely to wow anyone with his explosiveness, and he relies much more on his strength when run-blocking. Conversely, Kelvin Beachum is going to rely much more on precise technique and explosiveness simply because he lacks ideal strength.
In short, the Steelers offensive line has no true identity.
Look at the example set by the Cleveland Browns and the Dallas Cowboys. Cleveland was planning to install a zone-blocking scheme with a heavy dose of the zone-stretch, thus requiring some capable athletes to play on the line. The Browns assembled an athletic offensive line built around studs Joe Thomas and Alex Mack, as well as rookie surprise Joel Bitonio. The early results were tremendous prior to Mack's injury. I'd credit that to having five guys all capable of playing in the same scheme. Anyone know what happened to that outside-zone the Steelers were practicing during the summer?
Likewise, the Cowboys have assembled a line of five pure maulers, all fully capable of road-grading their opponents out of the way en route to what has been a historic level of success on the ground this season.
One more interlinked problem; Bell continues to show tremendous patience in the backfield, even if I sometimes wish he'd burst through on occasion just to pick 4 or 5 yards and be done with it. However, this hasn't gone unnoticed by opposing defenses, who now are playing him with reciprocal patience. They aren't trying to guess by shooting gaps or over-pursuing, they're being patient and letting him make his move. This, combined with a lack of holes to run through, has served to keep Bell reasonably well bottled-up recently. In addition, Bell still doesn't possess top-tier vision as yet.
Time for an obligatory Game of Thrones reference: Winter is Coming. In fact, it's already cold as hell.
As good as Ben Roethlisberger has been, even he can't throw six touchdown passes on a snowy day at Heinz Field. It's getting to the time when it's not about how many yards you can throw for anymore, but for how many you can get on the ground. The Steelers' running game has precious little time to find itself an identity and get its act together.
In a season defined by peaks and valleys, the Steelers' rushing attack could be the poster-child.
[URL]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com...rushing-attack[/URL]
__________________
by Jack Finn
Nov. 11, 2014
The Steelers ability to run the ball has waned as the season has progressed. It needs a shot in the arm as winter football approaches.
The Steelers' hiring of offensive line coach Mike Munchak in the off-season was met with virtually unanimous approval. It was an opportunity for a set of high-pedigree players to finally reach their expectations under the tutelage of a renowned offensive-line guru with the rushing attack being the principal focus.
The Steelers have invested two first-round picks and two second-round picks in offensive lineman since 2010, all of whom have, at one stage or another, flashed the ability to be dominant in the run game. In addition, the Steelers invested a second-round pick in Le'veon Bell in 2013. Add to that the fact they possess a top-tier quarterback and a top-tier passing game.
On paper, the Steelers have literally checked off every conceivable box conducive to a successful ground attack. They've got a stud back, invested heavily in the offensive line and they've got the aerial attack required to keep the defense from stuffing the box.
However, as we all know, the game isn't played on paper, and writing about it won't give you a six-yards-per-carry average. Here's a breakdown of the Steelers' rushing attack so far in 2014...
Opponent Run/Pass Ratio Rushing Yards Rushing Touchdowns Yards Per Carry
Cleveland 28/35 127 2 4.53
Baltimore 18/37 99 0 5.5
Carolina 34/30 264 1 7.76
Tampa Bay 27/41 85 0 3.15
Jacksonville 28/36 111 0 3.96
Cleveland 38/42 138 0 3.63
Houston 25/34 76 0 3.04
Indianapolis 32/49 117 0 3.66
Baltimore 25/37 55 0 2.2
New York 17/43 36 0 2.12
First things first. It's important to establish some context because raw data is meaningless without it.
Both games against the Baltimore Ravens and the most recent tilt against the Jets, although poor, are not quite as bad as they first appear. The Week 2 game against the Ravens and Week 10 game against the Jets got ugly pretty fast for the Steelers due to turnovers and general poor play, placing the running game on the back burner for a large chunk of the game. Likewise, the Week 8 clash against the Colts had the Steelers essentially running out the clock against a continually-loaded box, something that will tend to skew the stats unfavorably.
Conversely, I'd say their most impressive showing, Week 3 against the Panthers, is a little misleading also. It was still a strong performance on the ground but LeGarrette Blount piled on some big chunks of yardage in garbage time when the Panthers defense had essentially quit on the game.
Aside from that, the statistics can be interpreted more or less as they are, and it isn't pretty for the Steelers running game.
The first thing that stands out is the staggering lack of rushing touchdowns. I don't care if Ben Roethlisberger is playing like the love child of a Marino/Unitas/Manning triumvirate, zero rushing touchdowns in seven weeks is appalling. The Steelers are currently in a three-way tie for second-least rushing touchdowns in the NFL, in front of only the Oakland Raiders.
In terms of total rushing yards, the Steelers rank right in the middle of the pack at 15th with 1,081 yards, although it should be kept in mind the Steelers haven't had their bye week yet. Yards gained in any particular game do not greatly interest me for any reason other than who makes the Pro Bowl each year, because it's a case-by-case situation. For example, the Steelers only had 55 rushing yards in Week 9 against a stout Ravens defense, but anyone who watched the game would have seen that this was sufficient to execute their game plan that day.
Third, outside of the aforementioned Jets and Ravens games, the Steelers are striking a solid balance between the pass and the run in a league that has gone crazy for the pass. The Steelers' 267 rushing attempts currently ranks seventh in the NFL and, even taking into account bye weeks, they reside comfortably inside the top-10. Clearly the rushing attack has been given every chance to succeed.
Finally, the most telling statistic about a running game is its yards per carry. As you can see, the Steelers have been wildly inconsistent, ranging from 7.76 YPC against the Panthers to as little as 2.2 against the Jets and Ravens. Their average YPC over 10 games this season is 4.1, again placing them dead in the middle of the pack at 15th. However, if you strip away the Week 3 aberration against the Panthers, you get what I'd say is a truer representation of the Steelers ground game, which is 3.55 YPC. That would place them 27th in the NFL, rubbing shoulders with the Raiders again.
That, then, is the biggest indicator of the Steelers failure on the ground. An effective ground game doesn't require two or three runs a game of 40+ yards; it needs consistent clips of 7, 9 and 11 yard gains to keep the chains moving and to keep the defense honest, while giving your own defense some rest. But that's not what the Steelers are getting. They're getting 1 yard, 4 yards and a 3rd-and-iffy. Just based on recent memory, I think I can count on two hands the numbers of times the Steelers have converted 2nd-and-8 by running the ball. That won't get the job done.
It's not as if the Steelers are facing top-notch run defenses across the board. The Cleveland Browns currently sit 28th in the NFL in rush-defense, Then there are the Jaguars sitting two spots below them at 26th; or the Panthers at 23rd, the Texans at 21st and the Buccaneers at 18th.
The Steelers, of course, have faced three run-defenses ranked inside the top-10. The Colts are ranked 10th, the Ravens are ranked 6th and the Jets are ranked 5th. While that may partially excuse their rushing performances against the Ravens and the Jets, if you can't muster better than 36 yards from 17 attempts then you've had a downright awful day no matter how talented the competition.
So what is the cause of this lackluster running game?
Well, as always, it starts with the guys in the trenches. Ramon Foster isn't really very good. Kelvin Beachum is always going to be somewhat limited in traditional run-blocking because of physical shortcomings. Marcus Gilbert is still very streaky even in his fourth year. Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro, both in the upper echelons of their respective positions, aren't perfect themselves on every play and, even if they were, they can't consistently raise the play of the three guys around them.
Furthermore, there's no semblance of commonality across the offensive line. Discounting Pouncey and DeCastro, who would excel anywhere, Foster, Glbert and Beachum are worlds apart as players. Foster is a jack of all trades, which predictably means he's the master of none. Marcus Gilbert isn't likely to wow anyone with his explosiveness, and he relies much more on his strength when run-blocking. Conversely, Kelvin Beachum is going to rely much more on precise technique and explosiveness simply because he lacks ideal strength.
In short, the Steelers offensive line has no true identity.
Look at the example set by the Cleveland Browns and the Dallas Cowboys. Cleveland was planning to install a zone-blocking scheme with a heavy dose of the zone-stretch, thus requiring some capable athletes to play on the line. The Browns assembled an athletic offensive line built around studs Joe Thomas and Alex Mack, as well as rookie surprise Joel Bitonio. The early results were tremendous prior to Mack's injury. I'd credit that to having five guys all capable of playing in the same scheme. Anyone know what happened to that outside-zone the Steelers were practicing during the summer?
Likewise, the Cowboys have assembled a line of five pure maulers, all fully capable of road-grading their opponents out of the way en route to what has been a historic level of success on the ground this season.
One more interlinked problem; Bell continues to show tremendous patience in the backfield, even if I sometimes wish he'd burst through on occasion just to pick 4 or 5 yards and be done with it. However, this hasn't gone unnoticed by opposing defenses, who now are playing him with reciprocal patience. They aren't trying to guess by shooting gaps or over-pursuing, they're being patient and letting him make his move. This, combined with a lack of holes to run through, has served to keep Bell reasonably well bottled-up recently. In addition, Bell still doesn't possess top-tier vision as yet.
Time for an obligatory Game of Thrones reference: Winter is Coming. In fact, it's already cold as hell.
As good as Ben Roethlisberger has been, even he can't throw six touchdown passes on a snowy day at Heinz Field. It's getting to the time when it's not about how many yards you can throw for anymore, but for how many you can get on the ground. The Steelers' running game has precious little time to find itself an identity and get its act together.
In a season defined by peaks and valleys, the Steelers' rushing attack could be the poster-child.
[URL]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com...rushing-attack[/URL]
__________________
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