Red zone becoming dead zone to Steelers
PITTSBURGH – The yards are coming at a record pace for the Steelers.
The points? Not so much.
Pittsburgh is averaging 404 yards per game, the fourth-highest total in the NFL and a total that would break the team record of 391.1 set in 1979. But all of those yards have not added up to many points.
The Steelers rank just 18th in the NFL in scoring at 22.8 points per game.
That disparity was on display in a 17-9 victory at Jacksonville Sunday, when the Steelers gained a healthy 372 yards but managed just 10 points by the offense.
The issue was drives again bogged down inside the 20-yard line, an area commonly known as the red zone. Pittsburgh scored one touchdown on three trips inside the Jacksonville 20, kicking a field goal and losing a fumble on the other two possessions.
“I thought the way we were able to control the ball, possess the ball and move the ball, I didn’t think our points reflected that, and that’s really a function of some red zone failure,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.
It’s been something of a recurring theme for the Steelers (3-2), who travel to Cleveland (2-2) for a rematch Sunday with the Browns. The Steelers pulled out a 30-27 victory over Cleveland on opening day, scoring one touchdown on three trips inside the Browns’ 20.
The Steelers had 16 possessions move inside the opposing 20 this season and have scored only seven touchdowns. That 43.8 touchdown percentage ranks 26th in the league, far behind leader Denver, which is converting nearly 77 percent of its opportunities in the red zone into touchdowns.
“We just need to continue to work, correct and rectify it and make sure it’s a strength for us,” said Tomlin. “I know when we are playing well we are putting points on the board with seven. We have a great deal of confidence in (kicker) Shaun Suisham, but we need to put seven points on the board.”
That could be especially true this week against the resurgent Browns, who are averaging nearly 26 points per game and had all four of their games decided by three or fewer points.
Cleveland is converting just under 65 percent of its red zone possessions into touchdowns, a rate that ranks 10th.
At issue for the Steelers is they are overly reliant on the pass in the red zone. Last season, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 55 of 103 pass attempts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line for 366 yards and 20 touchdown passes. Pittsburgh ranked 16th in touchdown percentage in the red zone.
This season, Pittsburgh has been pass-heavy in the red zone, throwing 70 percent of the time, a curious choice considering the team added bulldozing running back LeGarrette Blount in the offseason to pair with Le’Veon Bell.
Bell is second in the NFL with 460 rushing yards. Blount averages 6.4 yards per carry. The duo has three touchdowns, but didn’t get a single rushing attempt on six plays inside the Jacksonville 10.
“Play selection is always the first place you look in terms of identifying issues (in the red zone),” said Tomlin. “Looking back at it, I wish maybe we would run the ball some considering that the passes were unsuccessful. … We have to execute better, we have to look at our play selection and we’ll do both.”
Tomlin said rookie linebacker Ryan Shazier ran in a pool Monday and was scheduled to do some light running Tuesday to test a sprained right knee that has sidelined him for two games. Shazier could practice this week. … Tomlin also said safety Shamarko Thomas’ injured hamstring, suffered Sunday, wasn’t as bad as initially feared and Thomas could practice at some point this week. … When asked about criticism he received for calling a pass play late in the game to Antonio Brown, which allowed the receiver to extend his NFL record for consecutive games with at least five receptions and 50 yards, Tomlin replied, “I don’t care, to be honest with you. I really don’t.”