*Gasp* A running game?
August 18th 2010 13:54
Maybe.
The first reason is a general NFL-wide trend that minimizes the pure running game. There are teams that will still feature it, a la the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens, but they are growing more rare. The NFL rules are designed to provide more emphasis on scoring, and more scoring is done through the air. While a team can survive with a mediocre running game, few can survive with the same level of passing attack. Sure, the rules tilt the odds towards the offense, but a defense ready to tee off against the passing game without having to worry about the run is one that will probably have its way against the offense. So all NFL teams are forced into ensuring they have at least an average or better passing attack, and sometimes that comes at the expense of the running game. For those coaches dedicated to the run, it requires a total commitment, and possibly more important, the right blend of players to make it work. Both the Jets and Ravens have strong offensive lines, strong backs, and big quarterbacks who will work the play-action passing game. The threat of the pass is there and that helps open the run, but in truth the run is a blunt-force object and its used to smash the opponent. Great if you can do it; getting behind however usually spells loss.
Pittsburgh in particular is an example of this. For years under Cowher it was run first, defense second, special teams third and passing game if we had time. Part of that was probably due to the fact that the Steelers running game and defense had all the stars, and for a long time Cowher had mutts at the QB position. Ben changed all of that, and his abilities obviously influenced the way the offensive coordinator calls the games. With Ben's talents, the team needed to get the most out of him, and hence became more of a passing team because it makes sense with that level QB at the helm. The running game took a step back because it was second-best to the passing game, and while the backs are pretty good...it's not like we have an elite back either. There's no Jerome Bettis back there.
The offensive line, too, has suffered in recent years. Under Cowher it was usually a strength. In the years where Bill's teams had losing records, fault often was laid right at the feet of the offensive line. Under Tomlin the line has not been above average once. It's worked, because with Ben's style having a semi-porous line is tolerable because Ben can escape. They've been average at opening holes for the running game, but they also had a mismatch between running game styles and running backs in my opinion. Parker was never good in the one-back system. He's the kind of guy who needs a lead blocker. Mendenhall, on the other hand, seems to thrive in that one-back set. We shall see.
What does this mean for this year? Well, curiously enough most observers are writing Pittsburgh off (but always with a tag line of "you gotta watch out for them"). It's easy to understand why. There are teams with more talent, and more cohesion, and are coming off of better years. They made noticeable upgrades in key areas in the off-season. Sure, it's easy to forecast the Ravens having a vastly improved offense with 3rd year QB Flacco now having a host of dangerous receivers along with that tough running game. The Jets are going to have a great defense, great running game and if Sanchez doesn't suffer any sophomore jinx, then an acceptable passing game. The Colts offense may actually be the second-best unit on that team, and there's a terrifying thought, right? The Bengals hope to take more forward strides, and adding TO certainly makes the degree of difficulty of stopping that offense much harder. But Pittsburgh just might have the right blend of players to make a go of it, especially if Maurkice Pouncey earns the starting center position. There seems to be a lean (at least in the reporting) towards him doing that. If he's an instant upgrade, despite being a rookie, then perhaps that line solidifies. If Flozell Adams can make the transition, then the tackle position solidifies. The Steelers would then have a serviceable tackle in Starks in protection (he's not great at grading roads in the run game) and a serviceable tackle in Adams in the run (he's not great at pass protection). Their guards are both considered good at the run game, decent at pass protection. So there you go, the makings of an offensive line with obvious strengths and weaknesses. Can the Steelers get running game production from this group?
I think that the players on this team truly enjoy the "us against them" mentality that comes from being overlooked. Guys like Hines Ward seem to need that label to bring out that nasty flavor in their game. In trying to be as objective as possible, I recognize that there are holes in this team. There's little or no depth in too many areas. There's some older players who are in their last year or two in football, let alone with the team. The receiving corps doesn't have a proven one-two punch with Holmes' loss. Ben's suspension puts the first four games under a microscope. But could they do it? Sure, they could, and this team retains much of the talent that won a Super Bowl two years ago. We shall see if the running game plays any part in that. Or whether it plays a part in another so-so season.
The first reason is a general NFL-wide trend that minimizes the pure running game. There are teams that will still feature it, a la the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens, but they are growing more rare. The NFL rules are designed to provide more emphasis on scoring, and more scoring is done through the air. While a team can survive with a mediocre running game, few can survive with the same level of passing attack. Sure, the rules tilt the odds towards the offense, but a defense ready to tee off against the passing game without having to worry about the run is one that will probably have its way against the offense. So all NFL teams are forced into ensuring they have at least an average or better passing attack, and sometimes that comes at the expense of the running game. For those coaches dedicated to the run, it requires a total commitment, and possibly more important, the right blend of players to make it work. Both the Jets and Ravens have strong offensive lines, strong backs, and big quarterbacks who will work the play-action passing game. The threat of the pass is there and that helps open the run, but in truth the run is a blunt-force object and its used to smash the opponent. Great if you can do it; getting behind however usually spells loss.
Pittsburgh in particular is an example of this. For years under Cowher it was run first, defense second, special teams third and passing game if we had time. Part of that was probably due to the fact that the Steelers running game and defense had all the stars, and for a long time Cowher had mutts at the QB position. Ben changed all of that, and his abilities obviously influenced the way the offensive coordinator calls the games. With Ben's talents, the team needed to get the most out of him, and hence became more of a passing team because it makes sense with that level QB at the helm. The running game took a step back because it was second-best to the passing game, and while the backs are pretty good...it's not like we have an elite back either. There's no Jerome Bettis back there.
The offensive line, too, has suffered in recent years. Under Cowher it was usually a strength. In the years where Bill's teams had losing records, fault often was laid right at the feet of the offensive line. Under Tomlin the line has not been above average once. It's worked, because with Ben's style having a semi-porous line is tolerable because Ben can escape. They've been average at opening holes for the running game, but they also had a mismatch between running game styles and running backs in my opinion. Parker was never good in the one-back system. He's the kind of guy who needs a lead blocker. Mendenhall, on the other hand, seems to thrive in that one-back set. We shall see.
What does this mean for this year? Well, curiously enough most observers are writing Pittsburgh off (but always with a tag line of "you gotta watch out for them"). It's easy to understand why. There are teams with more talent, and more cohesion, and are coming off of better years. They made noticeable upgrades in key areas in the off-season. Sure, it's easy to forecast the Ravens having a vastly improved offense with 3rd year QB Flacco now having a host of dangerous receivers along with that tough running game. The Jets are going to have a great defense, great running game and if Sanchez doesn't suffer any sophomore jinx, then an acceptable passing game. The Colts offense may actually be the second-best unit on that team, and there's a terrifying thought, right? The Bengals hope to take more forward strides, and adding TO certainly makes the degree of difficulty of stopping that offense much harder. But Pittsburgh just might have the right blend of players to make a go of it, especially if Maurkice Pouncey earns the starting center position. There seems to be a lean (at least in the reporting) towards him doing that. If he's an instant upgrade, despite being a rookie, then perhaps that line solidifies. If Flozell Adams can make the transition, then the tackle position solidifies. The Steelers would then have a serviceable tackle in Starks in protection (he's not great at grading roads in the run game) and a serviceable tackle in Adams in the run (he's not great at pass protection). Their guards are both considered good at the run game, decent at pass protection. So there you go, the makings of an offensive line with obvious strengths and weaknesses. Can the Steelers get running game production from this group?
I think that the players on this team truly enjoy the "us against them" mentality that comes from being overlooked. Guys like Hines Ward seem to need that label to bring out that nasty flavor in their game. In trying to be as objective as possible, I recognize that there are holes in this team. There's little or no depth in too many areas. There's some older players who are in their last year or two in football, let alone with the team. The receiving corps doesn't have a proven one-two punch with Holmes' loss. Ben's suspension puts the first four games under a microscope. But could they do it? Sure, they could, and this team retains much of the talent that won a Super Bowl two years ago. We shall see if the running game plays any part in that. Or whether it plays a part in another so-so season.
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