What Has Become of the Almighty Steelers?

Let’s go down the Pittsburgh Steelers’ must-have checklist to success shall we:

1) A defense chalk full of play makers- James Harrison, Lamar Woodley, Casey Hampton, Lawrence Timmons, Ryan Clark, Brad Keisel, James Farrior….Check, (albeit minus one DYNAMIC playmaker in Troy Polamalu)

2) A gigantic, physical, mauling offensive line built to dominate the oppositions defenses in the run game- the 5 starters on the Steeler’s offensive line weigh an average of 323.8 lbs, not exactly built for the speed and agility of a spread offense….Check

3) A physical possession receiver who can block to help the run game and a versatile receiver with play maker/deep threat ability…Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes…Check

4) A franchise quarterback to manage the game and make all the throws….Roethlisberger…Check

5) A running back with a special blend of power and speed and an ability to grind between the tackles throughout the game...Mendenhall…Check

6) An overwhelming dedication to the running game...Steelers offense averaging 21 designed run plays/game...Missing

Shocking to say but the Steelers have officially fallen in love with the pass. While I understand getting the most of a $102 million quarterback investment, Pittsburgh’s decision to throw instead utilizing their traditional nasty smash-mouth run heavy offense has been their downfall. Pittsburgh has built their franchise around two factors, hitting opponents in the mouth until they cry with the run game, and giving opposing quarterbacks fits of happy-feet with their pressure heavy defense. This season, the Steelers have abandoned their run game, which has weakened both their offense and defense. Follow my logic here, when the Steelers run effectively, they both control the clock, and allow Big Ben to be a very intimidating play-action quarterback. The first factor being the catalyst to the second, allows Ben to go deep to Holmes, Wallace, Sweed (when he doesn’t drop it) or over the middle to a deceptively fast Heath Miller when safeties hesitate or bite on the run fake. All of this means that, the Steelers live on utilizing the run to set up the pass.

This offensive strategy helps put the opposition down early which, combined with the #1 rush defense in the NFL, forces the opponent into panicked pass heavy play-calling; allowing the Steelers’ defense to pin their ears back and rush the passer all game. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, as they get away the offense which their team is built for, they lose the ability to control the clock. Furthermore, as their offensive line is built for run blocking, not pass protection, opposing defenses are finding it easier to force the Steelers into offensive mistakes (as shown by the 8 sacks on Big Ben vs. Cleveland). This gives the opposition better field position, and keeps the scores close allowing the opponent to play a balanced offensive style making the Steelers’ pass rush less effective as Harrison and Woodley now have to worry about the run as well as getting a rush.

We have been in awe of the Steelers’ defense for what seems like decades; however, the more their offense becomes enamored with the pass, the more we find holes in that vaunted Steel Curtain. In recent weeks, those holes have been primarily in the secondary, as it has been picked apart by the likes of Bruce Gradkowski, Matt Cassell, and Joe Flacco. Without that ability to consistently pressure the quarterback, the Steelers’ linebackers have been forced into coverage instead of blitzing and Pittsburgh’s corners have been exposed. With the pressure no longer a guarantee, opposing teams can launch a more balanced attack, picking apart their coverage underneath and effectively running through a fatigued defense.

In summary, while the loss of Troy Polamalu is an incredible detriment to the ability of Pittsburgh’s defense, it is not his absence that has caused the downfall of the defending champion Steelers. Even with a healthy Polamalu, the Steelers must still return to their roots of a physical run-heavy offense, or face an off-season on the outside looking in.