Discipline key for Steelers in pass rush
The Steelers said they aren’t looking ahead to any of the possible playoff opponents during their off week. But the one thing they know for sure about their first opponent is that they’ll have a mobile athlete at quarterback capable of making plays by scrambling.
Jacksonville’s Blake Bortles, Kansas City’s Alex Smith and Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota are among the NFL’s top rushing quarterbacks. So is the quarterback of their most recent opponent.
DeShone Kizer of the Browns had six runs for 61 yards in the regular-season finale, and the Steelers know if they remain undisciplined in the playoffs, they’ll be in trouble against any of the quarterbacks they face.
“I think that’s very critical for our success,” defensive end Cameron Heyward said. “You look at the last game, we gave up some rush lanes that were huge that allowed them to run the ball and pick up third downs when it was third-and-long. If we can keep mobile quarterbacks in the pocket we’ll have a lot more success. We can shut down the lanes and make him think more about the rush and throw it down the field. If you give them wide open lanes they’re going to exploit you. That’s more critical in the playoffs.”
Rarely do players willingly admit to disregarding their assignments to make a selfish play. But this was a special circumstance on New Year’s Eve. The Steelers were going to do whatever it took to set the franchise record for sacks in a season. And if that meant losing contain on some of their rushes, then so be it.
“We all know what the problem was,” outside linebacker Bud Dupree said. “Everyone was thirsty trying to break the record. We were going to do anything to get it. We messed up our rush lanes a couple of times. We watched the film.”
Dupree and others promised a more disciplined approach in the playoffs.
“This is all or nothing now,” Dupree said. “You can’t be selfish. Guys have to be disciplined. We have to do our job and contain them.”
The Steelers know from experience that Smith, Mariota and Bortles can make plays by breaking contain. Each had their moments in the regular-season meetings against the Steelers.
Mariota got out of the pocket and ran for a 7-yard touchdown in the Steelers’ 40-17 victory in November. Bortles broke contain once and ran for 9 yards to get a first down in the Jaguars’ 309 victory in October. Smith broke contain and threw 57 yards to DeAnthony Thomas late in the game to bring the Chiefs within striking distance in the Steelers’ 19-17 win, also in October.
The play Smith made probably is the best example of how one broken play can create havoc for a defense and potentially ruin a game. To that point in the game the Steelers had dominated the game. They led, 12-3, with less than seven minutes remaining.
The big play by Smith forced the Steelers into a situation where they had to score again late to put the game out of reach.
“That’s a good example of how you have to do it for 60 minutes-plus,” Heyward said. “We know we can stop mobile quarterbacks, but it’s about doing it time and time again. We have to be more consistentin that approach.”
Smith ran for 355 yards in the regular season. Bortles ran for 323 and Mariota 312. In the playoffs, the Steelers will have to be on guard for more designed running plays for quarterbacks or more impromptu scrambles.
During the regular season, coaches don’t want to put their quarterbacks at risk. But in the playoffs, when it’s lose or go home they aren’t as hesitant to let their quarterbacks use their mobility.
With a playoff berth on the line last week against the Jaguars, Mariota ran a career-high 10 times for 60 yards. Afterward his teammates implored him to continue his running ways in the playoffs.
“That’s old Marcus, before the injury,” teammate Jurrell Casey told The Associated Press. “That’s him. This is the Marcus I’ve been waiting to see — him using his legs and making things happen. We need to see that more out of him going forward.”
The Steelers used a spy on Mariota in the regular season but not on Smith or Bortles. Ryan Shazier, who has since been injured, drew that assignment along with T.J. Watt.
The Steelers playing more man coverage complicates matters for the defensive linemen and outside linebackers, but that’s a risk defensive coordinator Keith Butler is willing to take because his defensive backs have performed well when he has called man coverage.
“That goes with the territory,” Butler said. “Sometimes you’re trying to get a good rush. Sometimes you leave rush lanes open, and they get out and get a first down. That’s the downside to playing man coverage. There’s a lot of upside to playing it, too. You kind of weigh both. You mix it in there and play some man and some zone. We’ve kind of become a pretty good man team, I think. We have to be able to use both.”
Heyward said it’s up to the defensive linemen to adjust their rushes in those situations when man coverage is called.
“Sometimes the best rush you can make is sliding into a gap and not necessarily getting up the field and creating a bigger lane for the quarterback,” Heyward said. “You have to have smart rushes, too. As you grow older you learn that more and more.”
Traditional pocket quarterbacks typically have more success in the playoffs. That’s why the Patriots and Steelers are favored to reach the AFC championship game. But there have been times in recent years when running quarterbacks have enjoyed strong postseason runs.
In 2015, Cam Newton led the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl with his hybrid style. Seattle’s Russell Wilson won Super Bowl XLVIII in 2013 and advanced to the Super Bowl again the following season.
The Steelers don’t want to open the door for another mobile quarterback to find his way to a Super Bowl through them.
“We just can’t let them find a crease,” Dupree said. “Sometimes when you’re rushing the passer on a fourman rush, it’s usually five linemen blocking four. Someone is going to be double-teamed, and it will make a crease. The person being double-teamed has to know that and play fundamental football. Just make sure you’re not allowing him to scramble because they can hurt you with big plays when they break contain because some guys come off coverage and will be wide open. Or he could run for 20 yards because it was man to man on the back end. There is a lot we have to take into consideration. It can’t be a selfish game in these playoffs. We have to come up with a plan and make sure we execute it.”