Offense in need of a quick fix
CLEVELAND – In the past two games, the Steelers faced a pair of defenses that, all kindness aside, stink.
The statistics show the defenses of Jacksonville and Cleveland aren’t very good. And neither passes the eye test – unless they happen to be playing the Steelers.
What else can you say when two defenses that are ranked at the bottom of the league each allow 10 points to the Steelers?
Suddenly, any defense playing the Steelers seems to be the second coming of the Steel Curtain.
Oh, sure, the Steelers are putting up plenty of yards. They had another 359 yards Sunday against the Browns.
But they’re junk-food yards – loaded with empty calories.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown put up 118 yards on seven pass receptions. Running back Le’Veon Bell had 105 total yards, gaining 82 rushing and another 23 receiving.
And the Steelers scored a touchdown in a 31-10 loss that was their worst defeat against Cleveland since losing 33-13 at Heinz Field in 2003.
Somehow, this one felt worse, more akin to the 51-0 beating the Browns put on the Steelers to open the 1989 season. At least the 1989 Browns were a decent team, one that went on to win the AFC Central title with a 9-6-1 record.
The current Browns won’t be confused with that team anytime soon. Yes, they’re 3-2, but nobody outside of Cleveland expects them to win the AFC North.
And nobody expects to see that out of these Steelers, either.
These Steelers are a broken record, alternating wins and losses regardless of the opposition.
The most disappointing part is an offense that can’t find any kind of rhythm. And this isthe group that was supposed to lead the way.
“I missed some throws, didn’t make some good calls at times,” said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “I just need to be better. I hold myself to a higher standard.”
The time has come for everyone to hold Roethlisberger to a higher standard. Yes, he led this team to three Super Bowls, winning two. But now, he’s not performing at a high level. He’s missing open receivers, making bad reads and not getting the job done.
The major issue for the offense is ineffectiveness in the red zone. Pittsburgh had three trips inside the red zone Sunday and came away with no touchdowns. Worse yet, the Steelers botched a field-goal attempt and turned the ball over on downs twice.
It’s tough to win when you only score field goals. It’s even more difficult to win when you get nothing.
Is play calling an issue? Perhaps.
The Steelers entered Sunday ranked 26th in the NFL in scoring touchdowns inside the red zone, a statistic that won’t be helped by the 0-for-3 performance against the Browns.
Last season, they were 12th in red-zone offense. The year before that, they were 17th with the same guy, Todd Haley, drawing up and calling the plays.
Perhaps the Steelers underestimated the loss of wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who had 10 touchdowns last season, all coming on plays from inside the 20-yard line. At 6-1, Cotchery was a bigger target than Antonio Brown or Markus Wheaton.
Or perhaps this current offensive group isn’t all that good.
None of those seem to solely be the issue.
Roethlisberger had stretches of brilliance this season, as did Haley. And the Steelers have dynamic players in Bell and Brown, who are good enough to score touchdowns.
But inconsistency is a killer. At times, the quarterback hasn’t been good. At times, the play calling hasn’t been good. And, at times, the Steelers missed having a target like Cotchery in the red zone.
It’s added up to a struggling football team. That much, we know for sure.
The record says the Steelers are a 3-3 team.
The feeling about the Steelers? The are 3-3 and headed for 5-11 if they don’t fix this offense soon.
F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.