What to Make of this Stat?

[NorthCoast]

The Steelers OL was generally regarded, and statistically near the top of the NFL last season in many categories. However, there was one curious stat that stuck out as out of place. The Steelers were dead last in the NFL in # of rushes up the middle that went for 10 or more yds. Rushing left they were middle of the league, rushing right 4th in the NFL in # of +10 yd rushes.

I figured with Pouncey managing the middle of the line, this stat would be more balanced. Maybe there's another explanation....

[feltdizz]

The Steelers OL was generally regarded, and statistically near the top of the NFL last season in many categories. However, there was one curious stat that stuck out as out of place. The Steelers were dead last in the NFL in # of rushes up the middle that went for 10 or more yds. Rushing left they were middle of the league, rushing right 4th in the NFL in # of +10 yd rushes.

I figured with Pouncey managing the middle of the line, this stat would be more balanced. Maybe there's another explanation....

The explanation is Bell doesn't like to run up the middle.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

The explanation is Bell doesn't like to run up the middle.

Actually, he runs up the middle quite a bit. It's just that very few of those runs go for 10 yards or more.

But this is another of those statistics that is not all that meaningful, IMO.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Pouncey gets to the second level, springing his RB for runs of 10 yards or more, when he pulls to his right or his left, moreso than when he is engaged with the NT directly in front of him on runs up the middle.

[Slapstick]

You also have DeCastro and Gilbert on the right side...

[Steel Maniac]

I consider it more of an aberration then anything else. Nothing to be overly concerned about.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I consider it more of an aberration then anything else. Nothing to be overly concerned about.

$$$$$
As long as the offense can consistently pick up first downs and put the ball in the end zone, it doesn't matter if they never get 10 yards running up the middle.

[winwithd]

[QUOTE=BradshawsHairdresser;695800]$$$$$
As long as the offense can consistently pick up first downs and put the ball in the end zone, it doesn't matter if they never get 10 yards running up the middle.[/QUOT


Where did we stand in short yardage or red zone rushing? It SEEMED to me like we could never get any push from the Oine inside the 5 yd line.

[feltdizz]

[QUOTE=winwithd;695801]

$$$$$
As long as the offense can consistently pick up first downs and put the ball in the end zone, it doesn't matter if they never get 10 yards running up the middle.[/QUOT


Where did we stand in short yardage or red zone rushing? It SEEMED to me like we could never get any push from the Oine inside the 5 yd line.

I think we were good in short yardage overall... RZ tho? seemed like we took the ball out of Bell's hands far too often pre-snap.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

The Steelers OL was generally regarded, and statistically near the top of the NFL last season in many categories. However, there was one curious stat that stuck out as out of place. The Steelers were dead last in the NFL in # of rushes up the middle that went for 10 or more yds. Rushing left they were middle of the league, rushing right 4th in the NFL in # of +10 yd rushes.

I figured with Pouncey managing the middle of the line, this stat would be more balanced. Maybe there's another explanation....

I'd be curious about "overall rushes up the middle" vs "% of rushes going for 10+ yards" vs "# of rushes up the middle". Just a raw number doesn't mean nearly as much without context...

Example - Jesse James had more TDs last year (3) than Heath did in his final year (2). Does that mean we upgraded at TE?

[NorthCoast]

I'd be curious about "overall rushes up the middle" vs "% of rushes going for 10+ yards" vs "# of rushes up the middle". Just a raw number doesn't mean nearly as much without context...

Example - Jesse James had more TDs last year (3) than Heath did in his final year (2). Does that mean we upgraded at TE?

You are right. And I started to pludge through the data to get that info but got lazy. The few games I did look at it seemed to be pretty evenly distributed left, right, middle. I'll leave it for a rainy day.

I think there are several factors. Pouncey is better in space and pulling than straight up against the beefy nose tackles, especially B-more's stout middle. Second, Bell's patience isn't a benefit in the middle, where holes are hard to open up and LBs can clog the lanes.