Steelers running toward victories
PITTSBURGH – Statistics show the Steelers’ rushing offense ranks 27th in the NFL, certainly not a spot they wanted or hoped to be early in the second half of the season.
While Pittsburgh’s 80.6-yards-per-game average is anemic by anyone’s standards, the running game has displayed signs of life in recent weeks.
The Steelers generated 136 yards on the ground in Sunday’s 23-10 win over the Buffalo Bills and are now averaging 105 yards over their past four games.
That’s still not where the Steelers want to be with their running game, but it’s a marked improvement over the 61 yards per game they averaged in their first five games.
“(Offensive coordinator) Todd Haley has been talking about getting something going on the ground,” said wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery. “It opens up everything else. You need to be able to be balanced.”
The numbers for the Steelers would tend to back that up.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has thrown for 2,534 yards through nine games, second in team history only to his 2011 output of 2,632 through nine games, but his biggest passing games have not resulted in wins.
In Pittsburgh’s three victories, Roethlisberger is averaging 209.3 yards passing per game. In their six losses, that total increases to 317.6. The Steelers’ run-pass ratio in their wins is 51-49. In their losses, that ratio tilts heavily toward the pass, with the Steelers throwing the ball 70 percent of the time.
Certainly, Roethlisberger throws the ball more when the Steelers fall behind, but the Steelers’ complete lack of a rushing attack in most of the losses also has contributed to Roethlisberger being forced to pass more.
“Being balanced is always key for us,” said Roethlisberger.
Striking a balance between the run and pass could be critical this Sunday, when the Steelers host Detroit (6-3) at Heinz Field.
The Lions rank seventh in the NFL in scoring, averaging 26.4 points per game. So, limiting Detroit’s offensive touches by controlling the clock could be critical.
Two weeks ago against Dallas, the Lions generated 623 total yards in a 31-30 victory.
Thanks to their running game, the Steelers held the ball for more than 35 minutes in the win over the Bills.
“That’s what we want to do, run the ball effectively, control the clock and keep our defense off the field,” said rookie running back Le’Veon Bell. “We want to do that in every game.”
Bell has been a big part of that, not just by running the ball, but by catching passes.
Bell’s 57 rushing yards led the Steelers against the Bills, but he also added 39 yards receiving. Over his past four games, he’s managed 385 total yards.
The Steelers see those short passes to the running backs as an extension of their running game.
“We’ve got to be balanced,” said Bell. “I don’t view us as a running team or a passing team. I think we’re a balanced team. We’ve got guys on the outside who can make plays. We’ve got guys in the backfield who can make plays. The quarterback can obviously make plays.
“We’ve got to stay balanced on offense. We’ve got to be able to run the ball, so teams can’t just stop the pass. We can’t fall behind. We have to just continue to get better.”
Cotchery leads the Steelers with six touchdown catches, all six have come inside the red zone. … Linebacker LaMarr Woodley, the Steelers’ sack leader with five, said he doesn’t expect a calf injury that forced him out in the second half against the Bills to keep him from playing against the Lions. … Guard Ramon Foster has a high ankle sprain, an injury that could keep him out several weeks. … With his 74 yards in punt returns on two attempts against the Bills, Antonio Brown has risen to second in the AFC in punt return average at 13.7 yards.