STEELERS 101

This is going to be a quiet Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh. With the 1-2 Pittsburgh Steelers on their bye week, many fans will get a long look at what the rest of the NFL has to offer.

One thing they will like see during any game they may choose is a solid running game, something that has been lacking in the Steelers offensive attack throughout the first three weeks of the season. This was extremely evident in the Steelers miserable 34-31 loss to the Oakland Raiders in week three, where the team abandoned the run early and often.

Of course, the root cause of this early season ineptitude is hard to pinpoint. Is it the offensive line? Is it the running backs? Is it the game plan and play calling? Honestly, it appears to be a combination of those three and more. With one of the biggest being the development of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the receiving corps.

For Steelers fans that want to hold onto the past, where defense and running games were at the forefront of Steelers Championships, they may want to turn a blind-eye to the reality of the 2012 franchise. This offense has the look of a record-setting aerial attack that can overcome the difficulties of a struggling defense (a fact that takes a backseat to the running game in some eyes).  With the defense unable to get off the field on third down, moving the ball and scoring will be at a premium, no matter how the Steelers get to the End Zone.

Of course, a balanced attack would make their offense even more dangerous, and a running game ranked 30th in the NFL in total yardage heading into this bye week, improvements must be made. While starter Isaac Redman and back-up Jonathan Dwyer have shown flashes, they have not been consistent in their ability to help move the chains. Unfortunately, the same can be said for the offensive line, which at this point appear better suited in pass protection. 

One player that may help is 2011 starter Rashard Mendenhall, who may be back in uniform against the Philadelphia Eagles in week five. The former first-round selection from Illinois looks tailor made for this new offense and could add a dimension that the team lacks, an experienced back with versatility in both the run and pass game.

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Tags: Ben Roethlisberger, Football, Isaac Redman, NFL, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Steelers, Rashard Mendenhall

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