Why don't we have a running game?

Two things, You have to have a OC,OL coach, QB that understands
the run game. 2) You have to have players that want to block, and running backs that can hit
the hole when it is open.

 

That's more than two things And you forgot about a head coach who can actually tell a player, or an OC, or an O-line coach what to do.

All of the below can be influenced by a head coach who is willing to impose his will.

1. OC
2. O-line coach
3. QB who understands the run game
   
4. Players who want to block
5. RB's who can hit the hole

 

Maybe they worry more about winning than pleasing fan's concerns about a run/pass balance. Maybe...

 

it's a combination of things...……..
1. predictable play calling
2. O-line not opening holes
3. Starting rb not running with authority

#3 is the biggest worry..... James Connor just isn't finishing his runs like he used to...… He's well aware of the knock against him when his health is concerned, and seems to be running to not get hurt for the sake of being available...…. problem is that this particular type of running leads to a lot of tippy toeing and what should be a 7 yd run ends up being a 2 yd run...……. once a rb starts worrying about getting hurt, then his effectiveness is gone.
we've seen the same thing out of chris redman, barry foster, Rashard mendenhall etc...….
unless connor gets out of his own head, then we will be looking for another power back

 

Barry Foster was a different situation. Once he got injured, he didn't want to play anymore. He didn't think team doctor's were looking out for his best interest.

 

actually, the situation is quite similar...……. as you said, once foster got injured, he didn't want to play anymore...………. While I believe connor still wants to play, injuries change you...…. just like the others I listed before, when injury hits, it gets into your head and even if you don't realize it, you do things differently...….. Connor is no exception..... he has had multiple injuries and last season had to be his most frustrating yet, and I can see it in his running now...… once you change your style, you don't make the biggest impact

 

Because the OL is better at pass blocking, than run blocking.

 

I remember during the prime of the Patsies dynasty when they seemed to almost always beat us, they threw the ball almost every down. Also remember Brady saying something like he wanted to throw on every down against us. If you have the receivers and the game plan to substitute running with short pass plays, it can be done but has risk. Dropped passes lose downs, tipped balls can get picked.

I think we can set up some running with passing. Bungles had bad pass coverage so our inability to run did not hurt much in that game. Probably not many teams can take away the short pass game. Ratbirds slowed us down short passing, but we found a way. They seemed to sell out for short passes, but left 10-20 yard area easier to throw from what I saw, but we did not exploit that like we should have.

 

We have seen teams win championships without strong running games in the past, so it is possible. It helps that Roethlisberger has a history of throwing the ball well in bad weather. I'm not dismissing the concern, but I am hopeful that they can get back to having a decent running game, which they had earlier in the season.

 

As I mentioned earlier, this is nothing new. Anyone remember this from last season? (and also from previous seasons):

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports...nny-snell-jaylen-samuels/stories/202001160155

 

But that leads to the 64 million dollar question......why?

Is it because they are just not good at it or is it because it isn't being emphasized? I don't believe that good solid linemen cannot be taught to run block as well as pass block.

I believe it is being ignored, in essence, by the coaching staff. Or, Futchner's play calling is putting them in positions which aren't suitable for them.

 

I honestly don't understand that the people who think that because we are 9-0 there is nothing to discuss?

Perfection is a goal, not a destination....in other words, you can never reach perfection.

We are fans, we discuss everything Steelers, that means the good and the not-so-good.

Why do people get upset when other people dissect the team, and their performance? Is it because some people aren't capable of thinking on that level and thus nobody else should be allowed to do it either? Some sort of "entitlement" thing?

 

Damn, Moats said our front guys just aren’t good enough to get yards on their own and we need to resort to tricks to run.

That is a hard pill to swallow considering the guys on that line. I guess some of them lost a step? That means this is as good a running game we will get all year.

Better fix the run or we’ll be one and done.

 

Is why I say formations and play calling is the key ..Exactly why Offenses like the T and the Wing T got created .. We used to call the Wing T the Hide the Ball Offense you really had no ideal who really had the ball...With enough confusion you can run 6 on 8 you use the confusion to get the LB'S caught behind piles creating cut back lanes ..

Another thing we would do against Defenses we couldn't move is stop the next level blocking the next level blocker became a double team ..I remember 1 Team had a super NT that kid weighed 300 plus and was strong as a OX , they spread their LB'S wide and ran a single high we had to get that hole to get our RB on their Safety.. Our guy ran for 278 yards and he didn't even play the 4th Quarter.

We used 3 guys 1 of the Guards always helped the Center and we pulled the Tackle backside and ran 21 and 22 blast almost all night ..

The moral to the story is if you see a problem on tape do something about it with scheme and play calling ..We know Pouncey can't get the push needed to run inside send him some help and stop the next level stuff..Get the RB 3 yards he is respsonsible for the rest...

 

It's the O-line coaching and no ability to throw it deep. We lost our O-line coach and a little over a year later we can't run block. I'd say pass blocking seems to be showing signs of breaking down as well. How many times were defenders in the backfield last week on run plays? That's not the running back. We need a RB now more than ever that can make people miss since our O-line is struggling. Otherwise our RB's are capable... I think history has proven this. Conner is still averaging over 4 yards a carry but it's getting ugly recently because of the way defenses are playing us.

Last several weeks we have played some of the worst defenses in the league. Game planning the steelers - just pressure Ben and bring a safety up to defend the short to medium passing zone which makes it even tougher to run. Ben can't throw the deep ball and our WR's show very little ability to create separation on deep routes...they also struggle to go get it when it's in the air. Claypool has the physical skills and is showing signs of being a great WR but he's developing still. JuJu has great hands , plays physical and smart...but lacks speed. The other 2 wr's drop balls, make frequent route mistakes, and lack the physical skills to create the separation they need. When they get the ball in there hands they are good if they aren't tripping on their own feet and tend to go down with little effort. Washington and Johnson have not progressed like I was hoping. Ben's passes always need to be perfect when throwing deep....if not the WR's are not getting their hands on it.

Need any more proof to what I'm saying just watch the last 2 games. Defenses are playing with 1 safety deep - daring us to throw deep. This allows them to defend the short passes and stuff our run game. You can tell Ben wants to throw deep more than ever but his accuracy deep is killing us right now. No separation by the WR's only makes it more difficult.

 

You make some very valid points we do lack that 4.3 guy to get great seperation , but I look at it the same as the running game if you don't have the speed then you scheme it and use play calling and personnel ..We just recently started pairing Ebron and Claypool these 2 are the key to more success against that Single high stuff IMO..If both run deep from the same side a streak from Claypool on the outside and a deep post from Ebron. On the other side you run a Arrow from DJ to attack that Safety and a crosser to give Ben another check down and a simple dig or curl from the other WR ..In most cases the CB playing Claypool will let him go and become the defender for the Arrow or the Crosser this means the Single High would become man coverage against Claypool and Ebron gets man coverage with no Safety help..

Teams try to play Ebron with a bigger Defender it seems and Ebron is Athletic enough to run away from his guy so our best Deep Ball might be 25 yards right down the middle to Ebron with no defender left to tackle him..

 

Remember that time Gary Russell scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl? I remember that, that was awesome.

 

One thing is for certain...if the running game doesn't pick up significantly then James Conner's days are numbered here unless he continues to accept the veteran minimum year after year. If you can't run behind this passing game with Ben as the starter then what do you think is going to happen with a lesser qb at the helm which the Steelers are in danger of having to deal with by the time Ben ends his career.

 

It looks to me that the defenses seem to know what we are doing or they have unbelievable intuition. Playing the Girls, their linebackers seemed to be in the hole before our OL could block them and shut us down every time. I haven't reviewed the games over and over again and break it down to validate this but something is wrong when we go from doing well in the run game to being nearly shut down game after game. Running the jet sweep with Chase was a good change but now that has been scouted and not all that successful as it was as an example.

Here is a question: If Bell was available and affordable from the Jets right now, how many would favor brining him back? The trade deadline is past, but what if?

 

The Cowboys gambled and played a version of the 46 defense knowing hat Ben is more apt to throw a 20 to 30 yard pass than a middle zone 8 yard dump off. They sold out to stuff the run daring Ben to beat them which eventually he did. Pointed out after Tomlin 's presser that the Bungles played a lot of single high safety stacking the box again gambling that Ben wouldn't make them pay, he did.

In answer to the question no Bell would be fairing about the same. Its the scheme and play calling that is getting guys blown up and not the talent of the back. They have a speed guy and he was getting barely two yards on poor blocking.

Tomlin said they aren't up to par on the run game and that they are addressing it so we will know soon enough

 

Bell was available. He plays for the Chiefs now.

 

2015 Broncos 104 yards passing, 90 yards rushing...SB winner. Not the model I would choose, but like you said it has been done.

 

Just out of curiosity, have you been stuck in some type of time warp?

 

If you get hurt, it affects you mentally. Brain doesn’t look at ypc, it just wants to protect the body. Survival instinct. It will subconsciously program the body to take less hits and even make you sick before a game. I think Connor is dealing with this now. He doesn’t seem to be having fun, and that’s a symptom of you trying to do what the subconscious is telling you to avoid. My two cents.

 

T Bell was THE best years ago when he was on the Steelers roster. His time is passed. He's a backup 3rd down back now. Wouldn't take him back to the Steelers due to the negative history. Another team might pay him league minimum as a 'role player'. And he might be moderately successful in that role. But never for the Steelers.