Steelers running on empty

By Scott Brown
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Thursday, November 27, 2008


Steelers running back Gary Russell runs against the Bengals.
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review file

The Steelers are on pace for their worst rushing season since 2003, and they rank 29th in the NFL with an anemic 3.6 yards per carry.

What is usually a staple of Steelers football is the one thing that has yet to fall into place for a team that is eyeing a run deep into January.

If the Steelers are searching for a way to jump-start their running game -- or an alternate way to move the ball on the ground -- they need to look no further than this Sunday's opponent.

The New England Patriots rank seventh in the NFL in rushing despite relying on largely anonymous running backs and the fact that they throw the ball more than 34 times a game.

"(It) would be a fair assessment to say that their running game works off of their passing game," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.

The Steelers may have to consider doing the same as they embark on the closing stretch of the season.

That may border on blasphemy considering the Steelers have long prided themselves on punishing opponents with a physical running game. Such an approach, however, is not without precedent as the Steelers used it during their stirring playoff run in 2005 and particularly in the AFC Championship Game.

Also, the Steelers may not have much of a choice except to use the pass to set up the run given the injuries that threaten to derail Willie Parker's season.

Parker has missed five games with knee and shoulder injuries. His status for Sunday's 4:15 p.m. game is up in the air because he is again having problems with his left knee.

Mewelde Moore has done a commendable job filling in for Parker, but the Steelers rank 24th in the NFL in rushing (101.7 yards per game). And if there is a question of how much the Steelers will be able to depend on Parker, there is no doubt that they will have to run the ball more effectively as the weather, like the schedule, makes for tougher sledding in the final month of the season.

"With the weather conditions later in the season, we're going to depend a lot on our running game," Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said. "At the same time, we're going to make plays in the passing game and use our passing game to spread it out. And maybe we can get long runs on the perimeter by throwing the ball and spreading everybody out."

The Steelers have used a short, controlled passing game to dominate time of possession against their past three opponents. So, in some ways, they have been setting up the run with the pass.

They just have not gotten similar results as the Patriots, who are averaging 131.3 yards on the ground behind Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk and BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said it is just a matter of the Steelers staying patient to get the running game going.

"The big thing is not to force the issue," Roethlisberger said. "You can't sit here and say 'OK, let's run it 20 times in a row just so we can get 100 yards. Take what they give us. Work the ball down the field whether it's short passes or long passes, screens or run plays.

"The last couple of games we've really held onto the ball. (The running game) will come in time, and whenever that is, it will be there, and it will be there strong."


Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.