Running game becoming a burden for Steelers
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers run the football: Mantra or albatross? It has become mantra over the years, that much is certain. Chuck Noll won four Super Bowls by gaining 46 percent of his yardage on the ground, so there’s certainly evidence that the philosophy suits this northeastern franchise.
But lately, the motto is becoming more of a burden. Even during the recent five-game unbeaten stretch, the Steelers have shown signs of strain while attempting to close games out by running the ball. Those warning signs became reality last Sunday when the Steelers allowed a 31-17 lead after three quarters of play dissipate into a 34-34 tie.
Through three quarters, the Steelers’ high-octane offense threw for 298 yards and rushed for 122. In the fourth quarter, as the lead slowly and surely crumbled, the Steelers threw for 21 yards and rushed for 32.
“Playing the odds,” is the way Maddox described the philosophical shift.
Playing not to lose, though, might be more apt, and the feeling exists that losing is exactly what awaits the Steelers if they continue to lean on a running game that can barely compare to the effectiveness of their passing game.
The way our offense is playing,” said safety Lee Flowers, “the only mentality we should have is ‘If we can score 100 points, score 100 points.'”
Throughout the current unbeaten string, the Steelers are scoring an average of 28 points through the first three quarters of each game. They’ve done it by gaining 64 percent of their yardage through the air.
In the fourth quarters of the last five games, the Steelers have compiled a grand total of 12 points by gaining 68 percent of their yardage on the ground.
The abrupt shutdown of the offensive game plan certainly didn’t hurt the Steelers against the hapless Cincinnati Bengals, nor could the Indianapolis Colts rally despite the Steelers’ 5 yards of passing in the fourth quarter of that Monday night game.
The Baltimore Ravens, though, outscored the Steelers in the fourth quarter and the Cleveland Browns were allowed a late run. The Falcons became the first team to take advantage of the lull by outscoring the Steelers 17-3 in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game.
“There’s no need to try to hide whatever you have in your playbook,” Flowers pleaded. “For what? This game’s about winning and dominating. This is not about winning by three points or two points. You’ve got to have the quote-unquote Steve Spurrier mentality when he was in college. If you can throw up 75 points, throw up 75 points, period.”
Even with a passing game that’s cut off at the knees 25 percent of the time, the Steelers are throwing for 65 percent of their yardage. The 35-65 run-pass ratio is tilted more towards the pass than any season but one in the modern era of Steelers football that began in 1969. And in that 1995 season, the Steelers reached the Super Bowl with a run-pass ratio of 32-68.
Perhaps this year’s team can take that statistic as a good omen. Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher, who’ll try to stop the Steelers for three quarters Sunday, thinks so.
“When Pittsburgh made the run to the Super Bowl, one of the key factors was the group of receivers they had,” Fisher said. “They really got good quickly when the receivers came on. You are seeing that again. … When Pittsburgh has receivers and they are making big plays and they have someone to throw it to them … they are going to win a bunch of games.”
In 1995, Yancey Thigpen, Charles Johnson, Andre Hastings and Ernie Mills all finished with career highs in receptions. Quarterback Neil O’Donnell’s injury-shortened fifth year was his best to that point in his career in passer rating and touchdown passes.
As successful passing the ball as that quintet was, the current one is even better. Through nine games this year, Ward, Plaxico Burress, Antwaan Randle El and Terance Mathis have caught 26 more passes for 321 more yards than the 1995 group did in its first nine games. Maddox, by the same comparison, has thrown for 455 more yards and 10 more touchdowns than did O’Donnell.
By any measure, this passing game is exceeding that of the 1995 AFC champions. A similar destination could be in the works, too, unless of course the mantra turns into an albatross.
NOTES – Jerome Bettis (knee) has been upgraded to probable for Sunday’s game. Amos Zereoue will start, but Bettis expects to see more action than he did last week, when he served as a decoy for one overtime play. Bettis hasn’t carried the ball since gaining 33 yards on 11 carries Oct. 21 against the Colts. … The only change to the Titans’ injury list was the addition of nickel defensive back Donald Mitchell, who is questionable with an ankle injury.