Through eight quarters of football, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new offense has roused up the locals with a dizzying array of contradictions. It’s a run-heavy offense that struggles to run the ball. It’s a dynamic passing attack that rarely throws downfield. It has forsaken the no-huddle, dominated the time of possession, unleashed a previously underused tight end, and reigned in a previously swashbuckling quarterback.
Yes, Todd Haley’s new system has been difficult to judge. The overarching objective seems to be this: Keep quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on his feet and out of harm’s way. A noble idea, as Big Ben has endured more punishment over his career than any current elite quarterback.
But it’s a bold move to take the car keys away from a two-time Super Bowl winner in the middle of his prime years. Even Roethlisberger seems to bristle at the notion that he needs to be protected from himself.
So far, there has been plenty of good, bad, and ugly. 27 points against a solid defense is nothing to scoff at. For all the struggles against the Denver Broncos, the game wasn’t over until the final drive. The receiving corps looks to be one of the best in the NFL.
Still, the Steelers are 25th in the league in total offense. They’ve rarely used the no-huddle, and you can count on one hand the number of times they’ve gone deep in two games. The only thing clear is that Haley-Roethlisberger could turn out to be Pittsburgh’s most uneasy but necessary alliance since Frick and Carnegie.
The final scoring drive against the Jets on Sunday provided a perfect microcosm, showcasing the strengths and flaws of the new offensive system.
It was efficient: The Steelers methodically moved the ball 75 yards in 14 plays, taking a whopping 10:13 off the clock and effectively sealing the win. It was their longest drive since 2007.
It lacked creativity: The 14 snaps featured mostly straightforward runs and very short, quick passes. There were no deep balls, misdirection plays, or play-action passes. Ike Redman’s 14-yard catch-and-run was the only play that went for over 10 yards.
It was disorganized: The drive featured a sack and a false start penalty, two staples of the old offense. Also, for the third time in the game and fifth time this season, the Steelers had to burn a timeout only because they couldn’t get the play called and lined up fast enough.
It was successful: The drive ended with a bruising 2-yard touchdown run by Redman that easily clinched the victory and reeked of “old-school Steeler football.”
Now, it’s long been a talking point for every postmodern Steeler fan that the team must RUN THE BALL. They must “establish the run” and “pound the rock.” Why? Because that’s old-school Steeler football, that’s why.
The Steelers have taken this notion to heart, showing a blind commitment to the run through two games, even though (a) their best back has yet to play, and (b) the remaining ball carriers have gained 141 yards on 54 carries, a paltry 2.6 yards-per-carry. Only the Titans and Raiders have gained less yards on the ground.
Still, it’s only Week 2. No offense has been better on 3rd down; no offense has been better at controlling the clock. Roethlisberger was especially sharp against the Jets, spreading the ball around to ten different receivers for two touchdowns and just seven incompletions.
Haley has inherited a Ferrari, and so far, he’s kept in under 60 miles an hour. There’s nothing wrong with this, of course. Perhaps he’s saving the long balls and play-action passes for when they are truly needed. Perhaps he’s not yet comfortable with the weapons at his disposal, after overseeing the bumbling Chiefs offense for the past two seasons.
But the bottom line is this: Each of Roethlisberger’s contemporary elites – Brady, Rodgers, Brees, and the Mannings – has complete control of their own offense, one that is built around them, runs through them, and is tailored to their strengths and weaknesses.
There’s a reason so many teams with great quarterbacks have been successful without a consistent ground game. In this age of 5,000 yard passers, the run-first offense has become nearly as antiquated as the Wing-T. You won’t see Brady or Rodgers handing off 30+ times a game, just like you won’t see LeBron James running the 4-corners offense. A great quarterback needs to have the ball in his hands.
It’s been said that this Steelers offense is still a work in progress, which is understandable in mid-September. When we see a finished product, Roethlisberger has to be more than a handoff machine and dink-and-dunk passer. In January, he’s going to have to do Big Ben things: throw deep, escape from the pocket, take chances, and run a fluid no-huddle. Hope the Steelers let him.
