Where Was The Run?

From what I saw, the big difference on offense from this week, to last was the running game. They gave the ball to James Conner. He didn't have much success. Then, they didn't try anything, or anyone else. We didn't see the Fullback, Roosevelt Nix, handle the ball at all this week. Samuels, nor Ridley got any carries this week. If the Steelers could have established the run, it would have taken a lot of the pressure off of Roethlisberger. Instead, he was pressured the entire game, causing mistakes, and turnovers. When you are facing a pressure defense like Jacksonville's, you gotta establish the run. It makes sense to me. Why not?

 

I didn't think Ben was pressured all day. I think Ben was just off for most of the game. Then he miraculously turned it on just in time. Unreal turnaround for a guy having a terrible day to that point. But as far as the run game we rarely have much success running against powerful fronts. Also we need to use the pass to set up the run more than the reverse.

 

Gotta wonder how healthy Connor is.

 

He certainly had a terrible game but I think they got decent pressure on him.

 

It wasn't there. Conner is good but he's not a gamechanger.

 

That front 7 would have abused Conner all game. I don't think they trusted him or the oline at the end of the game either . Going shotgun at the end was implying that

 

Decent pressure over the course of the game I will agree with. They were not pressuring him all game imo. They did pretty well against our o-line which is spectacular at pass blocking but I think for a lot of the game Ben was feeling more pressure than was actually there.

 

I don't think the Steelers sustained drives to get a chance to establish the run game. Part of the reason for that was that the Jags controlled the clock with their run game in the first half.

 

I will dismiss some of the overplayed narratives considering those are irrelevant anyways.


Regarding Conner's lack of touches, much of that has to do with the lack of the offensive line not getting him any space to work with. The other half is likely due to the fact that Conner may not be 100% yet.

 

Ryan clark once said tom brady "sees ghosts" in the pocket when he played against those stout Jets defenses when they were good. I think ben was seeing ghosts today

 

Conner is young and he is going have some bad games. He had a couple great runs today, but it seems that the tactic is that when we get down, we pass. With that said the only play that disappointed me with him today was the dropped TD, but I can forgive that. I hope that Ben will not go away from throwing him the ball now though. After all, he kept throwing to Bryant through his multitude of drops in seasons past.

 

I happen to agree. Listen Bell is gone and at this point the relationship has been damaged to the point that even I wouldn't want him back, but Connor is not a special talent. He's got size and speed and those two things can help you pick up a lot of yards when there are holes to run through. I don't think Connor is going to get much by himself though, whereas guys like David Johnson, Zeke, Bell, would.

 

I have zero problem with a guy who gets what is there. He simply can't drop balls like he did today but otherwise he is fine.

 

Bell was made better by an all pro oline. Conner is the benefactor of the same. He had a bad game but was not given alot of touches which i believe is do in part because he is not 100% and because they stuffed him pretty good. Oline did not have their best game today.

 

Yup. He will be a top ten back with the team we have but talent wise he just isn't in the class of the top tier. I'd put gurley,zeke, Kamara, hunt, saquon, and Gordon just of the top of my head above him currently. But he is a good player no doubt but not a game changing hall of fame talent.

 

If that's the case Conner should he all pro at the end of this yr, and be considered a top 5 player, and the best back in the game.

 

You aren't going to be able to run the ball effectively every game , this was one of those games.

 

When you don’t convert 3rd downs and throw a couple interceptions you’re going to struggle to get a running game going. We went 3 and out on three straight possessions. Then proceeded to throw an int on first down. Followed it up with a 4 play drive and then another interception.

 

I think this be one James would like to forget, was not his sharpest outing. But we didn’t control the ball at all, I think had we been able get some 1st downs, more run calls would of come, but we fell behind time became a factor the running the ball went out the window

 

I wonder if his ears were ringing after that cheap shot to the back of his head

 

Neither was Bell.

 

The run was in the same black hole the rest of the O was for 3 quarters

 

The only problem I have with Conner's game today was the drop at the end. That nearly cost his team the game. With one exception, he had nowhere to go when he ran the ball and the Steelers had to give up on the run once they were down, 16-0, late in the third quarter.

 

Agree with Conner. Bell would not of done any better today running as there was no place to run. With that Conner should of caught that last pass. I actually think that that's going to help him in the long run because he seems to learn from his mistakes, similar to last year when he was bad in picking up the blitz, now he is very good at it.