The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line has been one of the biggest weak points on the team over the past few years. Injuries and inconsistent play have taken a toll not only on the line, but on the offense as a whole. Over the past three years the Steelers run game has continued to drop in production. That number could be targeted at the offensive line’s play over the past few years.
Last season, the Steelers ranked 20th in the league in rushing attempts. That is their lowest league ranking since 1971. The Steelers only ran the ball 412 times during the 2012 season, which is their fewest attempts since the 1991 season when they ran the ball 394 times. What’s worse is unlike many of their good rushing seasons the Steelers yards per carry were not good coming in at a measly 3.7 yards per attempt. That 3.7 yards per carry ranked the Steelers 28th in the league. Pittsburgh finished the season with only 1537 rushing yards and a lackluster 8-8 record.
Heading into next season one of the Steelers biggest goals is to turn the running game around and get back on track. Getting the running game going will take a lot of weight off the rest of the offenses’ shoulders. Surprisingly the Steelers still ranked second in the NFL last year in time of possession. However, a strong running game would allow them to hold the ball even more, which would help take pressure off of the defense that ranked first in total yards in 2012.
Even so, that number one ranked defense was ranked sixth in points per game given up 19.6 points per game last season. That is their fourth worst total points per game on defense in the past ten years. It’s also the first time under Dick LeBeau that the defense didn’t rank first or second in points allowed while ranking first in total yards.
A stronger running game could change that. More running means more time of possession and less time on the field for the defense, which should mean less points given up in 2013. That running game all starts up front and that means better performances from Marcus Gilbert, Mike Adams, Maurkice Pouncey, Ramon Foster and, 2012 first round pick, David DeCastro.
“We all hit each other up and wanted to make that commitment to be here,” said Pouncey in an interview with Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. “I think everybody felt the same way. Everyone had the same mindset that we all wanted to be here working“That is the beauty of the position we play,” said Foster. “It’s five guys trying to play as one. That is part of being on the offensive line, and with that comes us pushing and encouraging each other to get better all of the time. I think all of us being together here shows the commitment we have. We are just trying to build the chemistry with each other; we have to play right next to each other. We all feel like we need to win this year, and it’s all on us on the offensive line. We have to carry the team.
Many would argue that it is the Steelers defense and Ben Roethlisberger that carry the team, but the offensive line will play a large role in carrying the offense in 2013. When the Steelers drafted running back Le’Veon Bell in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft they showed that they are looking to improve their rushing offense. That will all start with the five guys up front.
“The offensive line carries our quarterback, and our quarterback is our franchise here and he runs everything,” said Pouncey. “We have to keep him healthy and up to make plays for us. We always know the defense is going to make plays for us, so it’s going to be our time to shine this year.”
“This year we have some guys that can come in because of experience,” said Pouncey. “We all saw DeCastro’s toughness coming back from a major injury and playing at a high level at the end of last year. Now he is looking strong, running well with the other guys and we can’t wait to see what he brings this year.”
Major injuries, and injuries in general, have been the offensive line’s biggest issue over the past few years. Just last season David DeCastro, Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams all wound up on injured reserve. Staying healthy and gelling as a unit will be very important for the offensive line during OTAs, training camp and the pre-season.
Right now the Steelers offensive line is working out together at the Steelers’ facilities and are preparing for the team’s OTAs, which start tomorrow. According to Teresa Varley of Steelers.com Pouncey is leading the group. Earlier this off-season Pouncey said he needed to be a more vocal leader and it sounds like he is doing just that based on Varley’s comments about the offensive line’s workout: “In a corner of the Steelers weight room Maurkice Pouncey’s voice could be heard above the throbbing beat of the music blaring through the speakers.”
“‘C’mon man, c’mon man,’ Pouncey encouraged his fellow offensive linemen as they pumped weights one more time, then another, driven by the encouragement. ‘Let’s go.’”
“I think this year is going to be a tougher training camp than in the past,” Pouncey said.
This year’s training camp may, in fact, be tougher than any Pouncey has participated in during his first three NFL seasons. That is because last year’s 8-8 performance is the worst season Pouncey has participated in. This year is also the first year that the Steelers will not have Max Starks holding down the left tackle spot since Pouncey joined the team.
Finding a replacement for Starks at left tackle will be an important part of this off-season. The two players that will compete for that spot are Gilbert and Adams. Another training camp battle that could form this off-season is 2012 seventh round pick Kelvin Beachum fighting for a starting job. Last year Beachum played well at right tackle while filling in for an injured Mike Adams.
“It’s the start of it right here. You can tell the guys have been working before we got to this day,” Foster said. “We are building stronger relationships. We have a tight knit group, but it’s something we want to build on being we have so many young guys. Guys have families, live in other states, but we are all here to win number seven.”
