Bob Smizik: Steelers are running on empty

Sunday, November 12, 2006
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Are the Steelers embarking on a course that will take them on that very dangerous and slippery slope -- where, to their regret, they've been before -- known as abandoning the run for the pass?

Looks that way.

Consider their philosophy last Sunday in what was an absolute must-win game against the Denver Broncos.

The team that was known far and wide to live by the run went at the Broncos with a game plan that accentuated the pass. That's not particularly outrageous except they adopted this philosophy with a quarterback who had thrown four interceptions -- two of which were returned for touchdowns -- in a loss to Oakland the week before.

In other words, Ben Roethlisberger cost them the game the week before, let's see if he can do it again?

Coach Bill Cowher's rationale for favoring the pass was that he wanted to spread out the Denver defense to open up the run. But since when do the Steelers allow the opposition to dictate their strategy? Their philosophy almost always has been: We're going to do what we do best; try and stop us.

Cowher has been down this path before. In 2002, when the Steelers won five of their final six games, he fell in love with the passing artistry of Tommy Maddox and the following season abandoned his career-long reliance on the running game to throw the ball 519 times -- a team record.

In the wake of that 6-10 season, Cowher renewed his vows with the running game and the results have been spectacular. The Steelers were 15-1 and lost in the AFC title game in the 2004 season. Last year they won the Super Bowl. So why would he even consider going back, particularly when Roethlisberger has struggled much of the season? Why would he put his fate in the hands of a quarterback who has thrown 14 interceptions -- two more than in all of 2005 -- including four inside the 20-yard line?

Perhaps it's because he has lost confidence in his running game.

If that is the case, there would be a basis for such thinking. There is plenty of evidence to indicate the Steelers' running game isn't what it once was. It might have something to do with Willie Parker, who is not the bruising-type runner Cowher has favored in the past, which is not to say he wasn't highly successful last season. It might have something to do with diminishing success on the offensive line.

The Steelers, who play the New Orleans Saints this afternoon at Heinz Field, are 16th in rushing in the NFL, 16th in rushing attempts and 17th in yards per carry. Those numbers are considerably lower than in the past and much of that decline has to do with the fact they are behind more this season than in the past and must often forsake the run for the pass in such situations. But there were hints of decline last year.

In 2005, although the Steelers led the NFL in rushing attempts, they were fifth in rushing yards and only 12th in yards per attempt. Overlooked in their playoff success was that the running game was often along for the ride rather than integral to the success of the team.

In the opening playoff game, against Cincinnati's defense, which ranked 20th against the run, the Steelers ran for a more-than respectable 144 yards on 32 carries. But the following week against the 16th-ranked rushing defense of Indianapolis, they gained 112 yards on 42 carries, a meager 2.7-yard average. Against Denver's second-ranked rushing defense in the AFC title game, they ran 33 times for 90 yards, another 2.7-yard average. In the Super Bowl, against the fifth-ranked rushing defense of Seattle, they had some very nice numbers -- 33 carries, 181 yards and a 5.5-yard average. But until Parker broke his 75-yard touchdown run, the Steelers again had been struggling. Without Parker's run, they averaged 3.3 yards against the Seahawks.
It has often been the same this season. Against teams with good rushing defenses -- particularly San Diego, Atlanta and Jacksonville -- the Steelers have had little success running the ball. Nor could they run against Oakland's weak rush defense. They did run the ball well and often against Cincinnati and Kansas City.

The Saints are 17th against the run, which means the Steelers should go back to their base philosophy of run, run, run and give Roethlisberger a chance to regroup and pick his spots.

If they don't, well, we will know Cowher is in love again.

(Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com. )