For Steelers’ offense, versatility is key
Steelers fullback Roosevelt Nix (45) throws a block to help spring Le’Veon Bell for a touchdown run against the Bills in Buffalo Sunday.
Chris Hubbard
PITTSBURGH – If you looked solely at the numbers put up by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown in the past four games, you might think the Steelers aren’t playing well on offense.
More important, you might get the idea the Steelers aren’t winning.
The numbers of each Steelers’ stars are pedestrian over the past month by their standards as Roethlisberger has just five touchdowns and four interceptions and Brown hasn’t had a 100-yard game in any of the past four.
But the Steelers are winning, picking up victories in all four games to improve to 8-5 and grab sole possession of first place in the AFC North with three games to play.
On Sunday, they’ll take that lead into Cincinnati (5-7-1) with an opportunity to end any shot the Bengals have of making the postseason.
As it has been the past few weeks for the Steelers, going bigger might be better.
The Steelers started moving that way a few weeks ago when they began using reserve offensive lineman Chris Hubbard as an extra blocker. The past two weeks, fullback Roosevelt Nix has been featured as a lead blocker more.
The Steelers used that package 24 times in last week’s 27-20 win at Buffalo, a game in which they ran the ball 26 times – not including three QB kneel downs to end the game – in the second half, asking Roethlisberger to throw just five passes in a game that running back Le’Veon Bell set a team record with 236 rushing yards.
It helped the Steelers win for just the second time in 11 opportunities when Roethlisberger has thrown three or more interceptions, as he did against the Bills.
“That’s a positive, being able to perform when your quarterback is having a bad day at the office. Other guys were able to step up and make things happen,” said Roethlisberger. “That’s what the team is about. That’s why this is the ultimate team sport. Guys step up for each other. At this time of year, whether it’s elements, the weather, the conditions, injuries, whatever it might be, you’ve got to be able to have other facets of the offense step up and rise up. Bringing Hub in, bringing Nix in, doing different kinds of things in December and January-type football. You’ve got to be able to make adjustments on the fly if you want to win.”
That big package offers some major issues for opposing defenses.
Do they try to match who the Steelers are putting on the field or continue to play their base package and hope it works?
“It creates a little bit of an issue when you have an outside linebacker trying to go up against an offensive lineman that we have lined up as a tight end,” said Roethlisberger. “So just an extra blocker. Then, Rosey in there is another guy who just creates match-up problems. Just like in the passing game, situations when you have a wide receiver on a linebacker or a tight end on a safety. Things like that. Usually, it’s to your advantage.”
And it helped the Steelers overcome a bad road game from Roethlisberger, which is more common. At home,
Roethlisberger has typically been dynamite. He’s thrown 56 TDs against 14 interceptions since the start of the 2014 season. He has 22 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.
For Roethlisberger, the goal is winning, whether that be because he threw five touchdown passes or just five passes total in the second half.
“He is the ultimate team player and shows great leadership,” said offensive coordinator Todd Haley. “It was a win, and that is what we were really trying to get. Obviously, there were some hiccups. They didn’t fall on his shoulders, but he’s the quarterback. He understands how it goes. But he did a lot of good things in that game for us and gave us a chance to win.”
The same goes for Brown, who some see as a prima donna, worried only about his numbers. In Pittsburgh’s past four games, he has 24 receptions for 299 yards and four scores, solid numbers for most, but well below his typical production.
“He is a great player. He is a great teammate. He understands that the goal is to win,” Haley said. “Sometimes, the best way to win may not be throwing it 40 times. But he works. He does his job. He does what he is supposed to do. He is on his details all the time. He is prepared. I wouldn’t trade him for anybody.”
After being a full participant in practice Wednesday, running back DeAngelo Williams (knee) did not practice Thursday. He’s been out five games after having his knee scoped. … Also sitting out were safety Shamarko Thomas (concussion) and receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot). … Guard Ramon Foster (chest), right tackle Marcus Gilbert (ankle), offensive lineman B.J. Finney (concussion) and nose tackle Javon Hargrave (concussion) were full participants. … For the second consecutive day, wide receiver A.J. Green (hamstring) was a limited participant for the Bengals. He has been out since Nov. 20.