The groundwork for this offense was laid a long time ago but if ever there were a final nail in an on-going project it came last weekend in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ AFC Wild-Card win over Miami.
Despite being in control of the game, there was still an uneasy feeling in the Steeler Nation. That feeling was put to rest when the Steelers drove down the field using ten consecutive Le’Veon Bell carries in the second quarter. He would cap of the drive, rightfully so, with a touchdown run.
Ask any offensive lineman and he’ll tell you there is nothing better than ramming the ball down the throats of the defense via the run. It saps energy. It saps strength and it saps pride. The Steelers did this on that drive against Miami and that mentality will serve them well on Sunday in Kansas City.
With weather predictions of wind, freezing rain/ice and temperatures in the low 30’s, I expect to see the Steelers bring the lunch pail attitude on offense. The Chiefs have a good, opportunistic defense but they’ve also given up almost five yards per carry over their last four games. Bell himself is averaging a wild 7.5 yards per carry in his last two games against the Chiefs.
If that doesn’t add up to an offense looking to impose it’s will I don’t know what does. Given the weather and the raucous home crowd, a strong running game will serve the Black and Gold well. I am typically of the mind that in the NFL today and especially for the Steelers, you come out and set up the run with the pass. The postseason is often a different beast however and a return to ‘Old School’ football should serve the offense well.
That doesn’t mean I expect to see the Steelers become the professional version of the Naval Academy football team. With the O-Line and Bell pounding away, the play-action pass should be there and I expect stuff underneath to be there most of the day. With Ben Roethlisberger, anything in the passing game is available, but as he said this week, “We strive for balance.”
‘Old School’ football might not always involve balance but if it involves victory on Sunday I’ll take it.
Photo courtesy 6abc.com
