Steelers need better offensive line play
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger couldn’t have felt like there were three Pro Bowl linemen protecting him against the New England Patriots. Facing the most persistent pass rush he has experienced during his 13 months as an NFL starting quarterback, Roethlisberger was sacked four times in a 23-20 loss on Sept. 25. He completed only 12 of 28 passes for 42.9 percent, easily the worst completion rate he has had in his 18 career starts.
That wasn’t the worst of it for an offensive line that was considered the NFL’s best last season, when the Steelers were No. 2 in rushing and sent left tackle Marvel Smith, left guard Alan Faneca and center Jeff Hartings to the Pro Bowl. Faneca and Hartings also made All-Pro.
The running game that was rarely shut down a year ago during a 15-1 season managed only 79 yards on 23 attempts, with Willie Parker held to 55 yards on 17 carries following three consecutive 100-yard games.
“We did not play to our ability and the standards that we’ve set here,” coach Bill Cowher said Tuesday. “You like to think that it’s something that is correctable. Sometimes you’re going to have a day like that. … We did not have our best game.”
Right guard Kendall Simmons said it’s not necessarily the sign of bad games to come, considering how consistently well the line has played for more than a year. Simmons is back after missing last season with a knee injury, and the only new offensive line starter is right tackle Max Starks.
“It was a bad game, but it’s no reason to panic,” he said. “Now, if it were three or four bad games in a row …”
The Patriots also changed their defensive fronts repeatedly, playing more four-man fronts than they did in previous games. That’s why the Steelers (2-1) are expecting the Chargers (2-2) to give them a lot of different looks during Monday night’s game in San Diego.
The Chargers didn’t let New England’s running game do much damage during San Diego’s 41-17 win Sunday, holding Corey Dillon to 63 yards. The score had something to do with that as New England was forced to throw most of the time in the second half after falling behind, but so did a San Diego defense that is allowing only 91.5 yards per game rushing.
“Hopefully we’ll improve from last week to this game,” Cowher said. “It’s a big challenge, but I’d like to think we can play better.”
Cowher doesn’t seem worried that the Steelers might be rusty after what will be a 15-day layoff, an extremely long one resulting from last weekend’s bye. The Chargers will have been off only seven days, but did have to make the long flight home after playing Sunday.
“The extra day won’t have any effect on it,” COwher said of playing on Monday rather than Sunday. “We’re going to have to weather the flurry that will be involved with the emotions, the speed of the game and playing a high-quality football team.”
NOTES: WR Hines Ward (hamstring) is listed as questionable, though Ward said he will play. … LB Joey Porter (knee) and cornerback Ike Taylor (knee) also are questionable. … The teams last played two years ago, with the Steelers winning 40-24 in Pittsburgh in a meaningless late-season game. … Asked what he would do in the hours before kickoff to prepare, Cowher said, “Sleep.” The Steelers won’t get home until rush hour Tuesday morning, and the coaches will immediately go to their offices to start working on the Oct. 16 game against Jacksonville.