The Steelers Gotta Utilize The Run, or Lose

The Steelers need to run the ball more. No one can expect Ben Roethlisberger to throw a perfect game. He is going to make mistakes. The Steelers need to balance their offensive attack out and take some of the pressure off of Ben. And, on the ground, they need more than just James Conner. They need to utilize the other backs, including the fullback, Roosevelt Nix. I would have liked to have seen one of the bigger backs at least take one shot at pounding that ball in the end zone from the 3 yard line, on that game-ending drive. I mean, come on!
If the Steelers don't utilize the run, and if they continue to put it all on the passing game, it is going to be more of the same, through the rest of the season. They can't expect to win the Super Bowl, or even advance very far in the playoffs with a one-dimensional offense.

 

Playoffs!? Don't talk about playoffs!!

 

This is the product of the change in offensive coordinator to someone that is just catering to Ben rather than winning.

 

I saw turnovers from both Connor and Grimble both were bad spots to fumble and lose ball.. It was execution that costed them the game. I also noted that Conner could not shake off the fumble earlier in the game. If he is going to be trusted and successful he has to put that shiat behind him and ball on.

 

Never thought about that. Good point. Haley had the cache to challenge Ben.

 

i don't think they trust conner. i'm starting to lose faith in him. has ball security issues in crucial moments and is just pretty much one dimensional type of runner. Need to get a RB in draft and also another WR. Switzer is good but washington does not look like he can play, should healthy scratch him the rest of the year and let eli rogers take over for him.

 

You gotta start Rogers practicing first in order to see if he is a viable alternative. They need to do this yesterday.....

 

Exactly, I just feel that the offense is way to unbalanced for no reason at all. The play calling is stale and predictable. Way to much passing on a day Ben really didn't have it. When he was injured we were running the ball right down the field then when he comes back we go right back to passing every down.

 

They were up 7 and Conner was running well, then they went dark. Don’t think he had another carry until that one on the goal line.

 

I agree with this. It seems to me that the coaching staff has lost faith in Conner. I'm really not sure what's going on. But whatever it is they are going to have to let Conner play through it. They are not going to get to where they are trying to go being this one dimensional.

 

This wasn't Fichtner's best game, to start the game they had like 9 consecutive passes . Those 3 goal line plays at the end were bad also, put Nix in the game and pound it in.

 

Unfortunately he is what we have so you have to trust him, there is no alternative and he is our best option. Not like Ben is any more secure as he throws picks straight to defenders as he misses receivers or tries to throw to a triple covered Brown.

 

trust and confidence is huge.Conner has neither right now. And im not sure i have it in him either. Thats a huge problem. 26 had us all spoiled the last couple years. Going empty backfield inside the 5 is normal for us now. Until they can get someone to slam it in inside the 5 this team goes nowhere

 

they should have at least brought in the big boys and a fullback and tried something from the 1 yard line a few times, interesting they dont do this

 

Nah. The run is nice, but if Grimble isn’t stupid, Ben throws just a tad better to an open Juju and Washington makes an easy catch in stride, everyone would be praising the blowout and Ben’s near-600-yard game. The Broncos’ secondary was pitiful bad and Fitchner called this game well... players didn’t execute.

 

Not saying we don’t run Conner more, actually that’s smart. But passing worked tonight, the players just didn’t execute

 

Yea just too many dumb mistakes today that costs them the game. Grimble absolutely cannot fumble that ball and has to score a TD there in that situation, and Conner has to hold on to the ball as well on that screen pass. You can’t turn the ball over 4 times on the road and expect to win. The Broncos aren’t a great team but they are good enough that if give them the ball 4 times you aren’t gonna win. Frustrating game indeed but still a lot of football left and everything the Steelers still can accomplish from winning the division to getting a number 2 seed over the Pats is still right in front of them and there for the taking.

 

You can’t have 4 turnovers especially when 3 are inside the other teams 25. Then throw in an easy blocked field goal attempt and expect to win. We were lucky to even have a chance to tie at the end.

It’s fair to say Steelers left 16-20 points off the board in this game.

 

Yep running game is killing us. Ben is forced to pass too much and thus the interceptions.

A good consistent running game will help greatly.

Any RB available?

 

Turnovers played BIG role, but why go pass happy when you are playing a defense ranked 27th against the run!!