Usually, when Steeler Nation makes a 'stairway to seven' reference, it is for another desired Super Bowl win. Unfortunately, though, with the season starting the way it has, it now more accurately applies to the things needed to get out of the rut they're in currently.
The
Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a real quandary. It's obvious
that this team has many issues and that they are in a rebuilding
transition. Basically, they're in a fix.
The
problems that plagued the second half of the 2012 season have crept
into the 2013 season as well. Injuries, miscues, turnovers and lack of
turnovers on defense are ubiquitous. Players simply aren't making plays
when they absolutely need to make them, and, worse yet, they're pressing
to try to make them.
"I
think you heard that a lot on the sidelines, 'Let's go make a play'"
said safety Ryan Clark. "When it used to be, 'Let's just go play. We
can't start pressing to do things because of what's on the scoreboard."
Such
"pressing" has been seen on both sides of the ball. Maybe most evident
being the interception thrown by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. When
trying to make a play downfield, his pass to wide receiver Jerricho
Cotchery was high and behind him. It was essentially what iced the game
for the Bengals.
What
the Steelers wanted to do on offense was seemingly at odds with the
play-calling, personnel and/or formations, also, though. To say they
were out of sync offensively is blatantly stating the obvious. But
something else stands out.
Over
the course of his career, Big Ben has proven to be very good on third
down, but not so far this season. Especially when facing third downs of
over nine yards (9.08 to be exact) on average needed amongst the 12
third downs Monday night. Could that be related to sub-par play on first
and second downs?
"Easily.
Easily that’s scenario," said head coach Mike Tomlin "If you just took a
snap shot of the third down opportunities in the game, third-and-eight,
third-and-nine, third-and-10, globally speaking, you’re not going to
convert a lot of those or not going to convert those at the type of rate
that’s going to allow you to be successful."
With
all of this said, we have touched on most all of the seven things
necessary to turn the team around enough to salvage the season. Let's
begin with...
A LESS OFFENSIVE LINE -
The big uglies (which is a much nicer epithet than the "boobs" as Jayden calls them) actually played better Monday night.
Right
tackle Marcus Gilbert allowed an early sack, then allowed only one more
quarterback pressure the entire game. Left tackle Mike Adams, though he
allowed five QB pressures, didn't give up a sack.
Fernando
Velasco played at high level despite having one week of practice to
get to know the terminology. Continue on this continuity curve and they
could just be a formidable unit in weeks to come.
DEFENSE NEEDS TO MAKE PLAYS -
This
is basically self explanatory. The defense played well Monday, but not
well enough. Sacks and turnovers continue to elude this team.
LaMarr
Woodley was fairly disruptive, Lawrence Timmons was Lawrence Timmons, Ziggy Hood, Steve McLendon and Cameron
Heyward played strongly and Jarvis Jones had double the snaps of Jason
Worilds. Jones is proving, via defense as well as special teams, that he
should be on the field most of the time.
Despite
this, more is needed. The defensive line had the majority of the QB
pressures for the second time. There was pressure, but none turned into
sacks. There was a strip-sack/forced fumble that was called an
incomplete pass (another call the referees missed), but it wasn't
challenged by the coaching staff.
These
need to be turned around in order to get off the field more
often and into the hands of Big Ben so that he can run...
THE NO-HUDDLE OFFENSE -
Now,
I realize that you can't run it all the time because the
no-huddle playbook is limited right now. But, once more of their key
personnel are available they'll be able to open things up more. This is
where Big Ben can be...well, Big Ben.
Big
Ben loves the no-huddle and the offense has looked better this season
when running it. While it was supposed to be highly utilized last season
and wasn't, this year the Steelers actually look like an NFL team when
running it.
Against the Tennessee Titans, the Steelers scored their only touchdown from the no-huddle, and sustained three drives Monday night when in fastbreak mode. Since
Big Ben is the best player on the Steelers offense, the ball should be
in his hands as much as possible. i.e. the no-huddle offense. Employing
it should be coupled with...
A QUICK-STRIKE PASSING GAME -
Having
wide receivers like Antonio "The Energizer Bunny" Brown and Emmanuel
Sanders, dictates that you mix up the patterns to match their skill
sets. Either can play outside or in the slot. Both are fast - 4.5/40 and
4.4/40 respectively - and both are small-ish at around only six feet
tall.
A
short, quick passing game within the no-huddle simply works to their
advantage. They have shown that they can make plays underneath and in
crossing patterns, and are at their best after the catch. Once they do
that, they should then...
PLAY MARKUS WHEATON -
Markus Wheaton is fast. He can also play outside or in the slot, and his quickness is sudden and blatant. We saw flashes of it in the preseason and that skill set, that approach to danger, is one of the things missing from the offense right now.
His speed (officially 4.45/40, but also ran an unofficial 4.34/40) isn't quite that of another MW of note, but he still has speed to burn. A track star in high school, he won 400- and 800-meter races at junior national track meets before also performing well in state high school meets.
Wheaton may not duplicate 39 passes for 756 yards and six touchdowns, but his ability to stretch the field has already been seen and Big Ben (and Tomlin) has said that we'll "start to see him getting in more this week." That element would then allow them to...
LET THE PASS SET UP THE RUN -
There's an old NFL saying, "the run sets up the pass." But, I'll never forget an NFL Films program where an NFL old-timer who was being interviewed about the early days of 'the forward pass' quipped with a smile, "the run sets up the pass? Bull(BLEEP)! The pass sets up the run!"
He was essentially correct, and it's a notion the Steelers should employ. As they use the no-huddle and a short, quick passing game, it would open up running lanes because of defenders being spread out more.
Add to that the fact that Felix Jones is more of a cutback, in space runner, and you have a fairly good formula. Plus, Le'Veon Bell, whence he returns, was used to running behind bad offensive lines at Michigan State.
None of this means anything, though, without...
THE RETURN OF HEATH MILLER -
The latest version of the unsung hero is desperately needed. Heath Miller led the Steelers last season with 71 receptions (in 15 games) for 816 yards. David Paulson and David Johnson have four catches for 50 yards between them.
However, what is more important is his blocking ability. He is one of the most complete tight ends in the NFL and remains very underrated. Tomlin said in his weekly press conference that they aren't "expecting Heath to step out of a phone booth with a cape on", but he would heal a lot of ills. Big Ben has already said that Heath "should run for president", so why shouldn't he put on a cape too?
~
TIDBITS: Much ado about nothing - Antonio Brown got into a "heated" discussion with offensive coordinator Todd Haley over his lack of touches. As Tomlin pointed out, the limited touches could be mostly attributed to the Steelers running only 55 plays compared to 79 for the Bengals.
“We’re just not getting enough snaps,” Tomlin said.
It
didn't stop Brown from voicing his dislike. Water under the bridge,
though, as Brown has come out and said that he and Haley are "good." - http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/74835/antonio-brown-says-he-and-haley-are-good
~
Cortez Allen and Brett Keisel (calf) missed practice Wednesday. Le'Veon Bell, Jarvis Jones (heel) were limited.
Heath Miller was a full participant in practice Wednesday and it is a possibility he starts Sunday barring any setbacks.
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