Sep 16, 2014 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – The quarterback leads the AFC in passing yards.

The running back tops the conference in yards from scrimmage and first downs produced.

And the Pro Bowl receiver is one game away from tying an NFL record of 18 consecutive games with at least five receptions and 50 yards.

And yet, somehow, the Steelers have produced just nine points in their last six quarters.

To quote Slim Pickens in “Blazing Saddles,” “What in the wide, wide world of sports is going on?”

Though the Steelers scored 27 points and gained 364 yards in an amazing first half in their opener against the Cleveland Browns two weeks ago, the offense has stagnated since, in part because of its own mistakes. Though the Steelers gained 440 yards in their last six quarters, they had only three drives of 50 or more yards and two of those ended in turnovers.

Getting slot receiver Lance Moore back this week when the Steelers (1-1) play at Carolina (2-2) Sunday could help.

Moore, one of the team’s top signings in free agency, has not played since suffering a groin injury in the preseason. But the veteran slot receiver practiced Monday and should be ready for his first action with the Steelers.

A longtime member of the New Orleans Saints, Moore is accustomed to playing the Panthers twice per year. Moore’s first career catch came against Carolina in 2006 and he has 44 receptions for 641 yards and four touchdowns against the Panthers in 11 games. Moore has 346 career receptions, more than starters Antonio Brown and Markus Wheaton have combined.

“He knows how to play football; he knows how to play the position of wide receiver,” head coach Mike Tomlin said. “So when we get him back out there we expect him to be a positive contributor to our efforts.”

For an offense that is diverse, with Ben Roethlisberger having an AFC-best 582 passing yards, running back Le’Veon Bell with 168 rushing yards and 136 receiving and Antonio Brown having 12 receptions for 206 yards, the Steelers aren’t sustaining drives.

As the slot receiver, Moore can help. Last year’s slot receiver, Jerricho Cotchery, now a member of the Panthers, caught 46 passes for 602 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns. He also played a key role in the run game as a downfield blocker.

The Steelers envision a similar role for Moore.

“They have to do a lot of sighting in terms of the blitz game,” Tomlin said of what’s expected of slot receivers. “They are often involved in interior blocking in regards to some of the running game. They have to be a well-balanced wide receiver, a football player first (and) a wide receiver second. I used to say that about Hines (Ward) because he embodied what you value in a guy who is capable of playing inside. It’s somebody who’s a football player first and a wide receiver second.”

With Moore out of the lineup, the Steelers turned to second-year pro Justin Brown, who spent last season on the practice squad. Brown had three receptions against Cleveland, but also had a key drop on third down late in the game. Last Thursday against Baltimore, Brown’s only reception resulted in a fumble that ended the Steelers’ opening possession at the Ravens’ 15-yard line.

With Moore back, Brown might be hard-pressed to get onto the field. Tomlin, however, has too many other issues to deal with than to be concerned with Brown’s confidence.

“I want to encourage him to maintain possession of the football,” Tomlin said. “That’s first and foremost. We can’t do anything without possession of the football. That supersedes anything else.

“He’s responsible for his confidence. He better maintain possession of the football.”

Tomlin said everyone on the team practiced Monday. Running back Dri Archer (ankle) and nose tackle Steve McLendon (shoulder) practiced on a limited basis. … Tomlin, when asked about right tackle Marcus Gilbert and the four sacks he has allowed, said, “I expect him to come back fighting like Rocky.”