Offense isn't running on empty

By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Faced with nearly a season full of statistics that say it is not so, coach Mike Tomlin still believes his Steelers can run the ball.

"I think we're capable of changing the pace on offense," Tomlin said Tuesday. "We're capable of running it, we're capable of passing it."

No, they are not, say the cold, hard facts. The Steelers rank lower than they have in their history at 31 in the 32-team NFL with an average of just 77.4 yards rushing per game. Their 3.4-yard average per carry ranks 30th. They have not had a 100-yard rusher in the past 21 games, the longest active draught in the NFL.

Yet halfback Le'Veon Bell, who missed the first three games this season with a sprained foot, could set a team record for rookies. His 927 yards combined rushing and receiving rank third in history among their rookies. Franco Harris had 1,235 yards in 1972 and Bam Morris had 1,040 in 1994.

Bell has 589 yards rushing on 174 carries, a 3.4-yard average. He has 338 yards on 38 receptions. John L. Williams set the Steelers record for receptions by a back with 51 in 1994, and Merril Hoge had 50 in 1988. With 12 catches in his past two games, Bell certainly is within range of setting the team record there.

The Steelers believe they have a better running game than the stats show because they consider many of their short passes runs.

"A lot of teams are going to stack the box and stop the run," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "If you can get the ball in a receiver or a tight end's hands quickly and they can get four to five yards, then you count that as a good run play."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2013/12/12/Steelers-not-running-on-empty-thanks-to-short-passes/stories/201312120240#ixzz2nF2RLPI3

Bell has been impressive as of late. His ability to juke and slide through the minimal holes our line has created has helped our offense. However, I can only fathom what could have been if our o-line was a complete unit, like it was in 2005-06.

I believe we can run the ball too. The problem is that we don't have the personnel to run the schemes necessary to run the ball and protect Ben. And that creates issues in all aspects of the offensive game plan.

1. truck, you say he is juking and sliding.... is that like suddeness and glide?   
2. BR7 is talking about plays of getting the ball out quickly. Wait, what?   

Whyant5 wrote:

1.  truck, you say he is juking and sliding.... is that like suddeness and glide?    
2.  BR7 is talking about plays of getting the ball out quickly.  Wait, what?   

I refuse to entertain your suddenness and glide...NEVER!