Lack of scoring an issue for Steelers
A look at the worst scoring teams in the NFL reveals a list of clubs dealing with injuries, a lack of stars or both – except for one.
While many would be hard-pressed to name any offensive players in Tennessee, Jacksonville or Oakland, that shouldn’t be the case for the Steelers.
Despite boasting an offense that includes a quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, who is seventh in the league in total yards passing, and a running back in Le’Veon Bell and receiver in Antonio Brown, who are each second at their positions in yardage, the Steelers have scored just 27 points in the past two games, and seven came on a defensive touchdown.
The Steelers have fallen to the bottom third of the NFL in scoring, and their 20.7-point average is three points behind last season’s 23.7.
More important, Pittsburgh, which ranks fourth in the NFL in total yardage, is 30th in yards per point scored. The Steelers score one point every 19.2 yards gained. Only Tennessee and Jacksonville are worse.
The Steelers have stopped scoring in the red zone, where they have converted just one of their past seven trips into a touchdown, including going 0-for-3 in Sunday’s 31-10 loss at Cleveland.
Shouldn’t having three players who are considered among the best in the league at their respective positions add up to more points?
“It should, but I can’t put a finger on why we’re not scoring or what it is,” said running back Le’Veon Bell, who ranks second in the NFL with 793 total yards. “We’ll find a way to figure out what guys are good at what and eventually start getting the ball in the end zone.”
Eventually might be too late.
At 3-3, the Steelers find themselves in last place in the AFC North.
It’s still a better start than last season’s 2-4 record at this point, but that’s hardly a consolation.
After playing four of their past five games on the road, the Steelers come home for three consecutive home games, beginning Monday night against the Houston Texans.
If the offense doesn’t find a way to translate yardage into points, there is a danger or things spiralling out of control.
Offensive coordinator Todd Haley is taking a lot of heat for the scoring issues. Many of the players, however, are quick to point out that they don’t feel that’s fair.
“I think we’re a team that’s pretty good at running and throwing, so I’m not sure that it’s play selection,” said wide receiver Lance Moore, who scored the team’s lone touchdown against the Browns. “As players, all we can do is execute what’s called.”
Execution has been an issue this season.
Against the Browns, Markus Wheaton dropped a third-down pass inside the Cleveland 10 that led to a botched field goal attempt, and Roethlisberger later overthrew a wide-open Wheaton in the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 9. That ended a possession that had the Steelers at the Cleveland 1 before left tackle Kelvin Beachum drew a personal foul.
Moore also dropped a pass at the Cleveland 10 in the third quarter, and Bell and receiver Justin Brown each failed to get two feet down in bounds along the sideline to negate possible long pass plays.
“You can’t point the finger at anybody else,” said Bell, who had 82 yards rushing and 23 receiving, his sixth consecutive game with more than 100 total yards. “You have to point it at yourself and figure out what you could have done better so we can score points.
“I take it upon myself. I can’t look at Heath (Miller) or (Roethlisberger) or anybody. I feel like I should play better. I didn’t do enough for us to win the game. I feel like I should have been better. I should have run better routes. Ben could have hit me. It’s a lot of things.”
Odds and end zones
Rookie offensive lineman Wes Johnson, released by the Steelers Saturday so they could elevate safety Ross Ventrone from the practice squad to the active roster, was claimed by the New York Jets. The Steelers had hoped to re-sign Johnson, a fifth-round draft pick. … The Steelers opened as 3-point favorites over Houston for Monday’s game.