Steelers’ offense putting pieces together
Pittsburgh’s offense has been running on all cylinders of late. Running back Le’Veon Bell rushed for 118 yards against the New York Giants last week.
Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell ran for 118 yards against the Giants last week.
PITTSBURGH – It took more than four months but the Steelers’ offense is finally starting to look like what the team expected when it arrived at training camp in late July.
Injuries and suspensions kept the Steelers from putting all of their of skill-position players on the field at the same time for much of the season.
For a team that has played in the postseason without its top running backs and/or top receiver the past two seasons, it’s better late than never.
The ironic thing is that a team that had a stated goal of scoring 30 points per game because of its offensive firepower might no longer need to do that because of a resurgent defense.
The Steelers haven’t broken that 30-point barrier in any of their past three games, yet all three resulted in wins, thanks to the defense.
“We should have had 30 points,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said on his weekly show on KDKA-FM. “I missed Ladarius (Green) late on third down. I put a little too much air under it. I wanted to be safe and not let the guy undercut it. I missed him on that.”
That play came on a third-down pass Sunday with the Steelers leading the New York Giants, 21-7. They kicked a field goal, and with just 1:43 remaining that was more than enough points, though the Giants scored a touchdown with 26 seconds to play.
Though the Steelers (7-5) haven’t been reaching their 30-point goal, Roethlisberger is fine with that. He’s more intent on getting the team into the playoffs for the third consecutive season than he is about statistics.
The emergence of Green has Roethlisberger excited about the possibilities, starting with this Pittsburgh’s game Sunday at Buffalo (6-6). Green, the team’s biggest acquisition in free agency, caught six passes for a career-high 110 yards and a touchdown against the Giants. He joins Antonio Brown, Sammie Coates and Eli Rogers as Steelers receivers who have reached the 100-yard mark this season, giving opponents plenty to worry about.
“That’s what we’ve been needing,” Roethlisberger said of Green, who has been active for four games after opening the season on the Physically Unable to Perform List.
“I think Eli’s been doing a good job down the middle. With Ladarius, that’s two guys who can work the middle of the field. Now, maybe you can’t cheat off the hash (mark) like you normally do to help on A.B. because you have a big play down the middle. It should just open things up for A.B. and other guys on the outside.”
And possibly the running game.
If safeties have to be concerned with both Brown, who is tied for the NFL lead with 88 receptions, and Green, it could open more running lanes for Le’Veon Bell.
Bell had 100 rushing yards in each of his last three games – the first time he’s done that in his career – and the Steelers could get a boost this week with the return of DeAngelo Williams from injury. Williams has missed four games after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee. He has a chance to play against the Bills.
“It’s probably more of a legitimate discussion with DeAngelo,” said head coach Mike Tomlin.
The same could be said of Coates, who has just one reception for four yards since suffering a laceration and two broken fingers on his left hand Oct. 9 in a win over the New York Jets.
Coates is healthy but circumstances haven’t allowed for him to be reincorporated into the offense. Coates was targeted by Roethlisberger three times two weeks ago at Indianapolis but did not have a reception. He played four snaps against the Giants but did not have a pass thrown his way.
“He’s growing. He keeps doing more things,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s not easy to be a wide receiver and two hurt fingers on the same hand. He’s doing some great things on special teams. We targeted him a few times in Indianapolis. This week, the game plan, the calls, weren’t there to get him the ball. We worked the middle of the field because they were taking A.B. and the outside away.”
It all makes for a dangerous offense, even when it isn’t scoring 30 points.
“This time of year, you’ll take a win 2-0, 3-0, whatever you have to do,” Roethlisberger said. “A win is a win. To go out there and score 24 against (the Gaints), and our defense played great … that’s a really good feeling.”
Tomlin said rookie nose tackle Javon Hargrave and safety Shamarko Thomas are in concussion protocol and must clear that before they return to practice. … In addition to Williams, Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot) and placekicker Chris Boswell (abdomen) have a chance to play this week. … Tomlin said the Steelers could use a linebacker to spy on Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who has 469 rushing yards. … The Steelers are 8-1 in December since 2014.