O-line, Conner set to run into Bengals
By their very nature, offensive linemen would rather run block than pass protect. They get greater satisfaction from helping to produce a 100-yard runner than not allowing a sack, not that keeping their quarterback clean isn’t a high priority. Especially when the quarterback is Ben Roethlisberger.
Offensive linemen want to be aggressive. They want to fire out at a defensive lineman or linebacker, move them off their spot and out of the way, against their will.
More times than not, offensive linemen are in retreat mode when they pass block. They are back-pedaling, sometimes on their heels, waiting to be physically accosted.
“My buddy once defined pass-blocking as losing slowly, getting your butt kicked slowly,” guard David DeCastro said. “It’s hard to be aggressive. You can only do so much.”
“Any offensive lineman would say [they prefer] run block,” said center Maurkice Pouncey. “You go out there and get a 100-yard day, it’s pretty good day.”
The Steelers had a pretty good day running the ball last week against the Atlanta Falcons, producing the second 100-yard game in five starts for James Conner. They hope to do the same Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, who rank 23rd in the league against the run, allowing an average of 118.2 yards per game.
The Steelers have done that throughout their six-game winning streak against the Bengals, averaging 119.3 yards rushing and 31.2 carries per game.
“This team is too talented to sit back and pass block,” DeCastro said. “You got to be able to be efficient to run and at least keep them honest. If you got to pass, at least mix it in better.”
The Bengals are hoping the return of linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who is back after serving a four-game suspension for a failed drug test, will help. Burfict played his first game since Dec. 24 last week against the Miami Dolphins, who ran for 128 yards on 22 carries.
Meantime, the Steelers are hoping to build on Conner’s performance against the Falcons, when he ran for 110 yards and had 185 scrimmage yards. Even though he had struggled in the previous three games, Conner is fourth in the AFC in rushing (342 yards) and is tied with four other backs for the most 100-yard rushing games. He is also tied for most rushing touchdowns (5) after five weeks.
Curiously, Conner has three runs of more than 20 yards — as many as Le’Veon Bell had all last season — and his 30-yard run on the opening drive was the longest by a Steelers running back in nearly two years. Roethlisberger has offered several public endorsements of Conner, saying he “deserves to be on the football field” even if and when Bell returns.
“I don’t know that there has been much down,” Roethlisberger said. “I guess if you are saying in terms of rushing yards, but, if you look at the overall picture of what we ask him to do every week, I think it’s been going up every week. I think that’s what gets lost in what he’s been doing — pass-blocking, picking up the blitz, catching the ball out of the backfield. I don’t want to jinx it, but he’s caught almost everything I threw to him, and he’s in the right spot every time quickly.”
Even though Roethlisberger has more attempts (896) passing yards (6,654) and touchdowns (38) against the Bengals than any other team, the Steelers have relied heavily on the run against them since 2012. In the 13 meetings, including one playoff game, they have averaged 27.5 carries and 112.8 yards per game. They rushed for more than 150 yards four times. The Steelers are 10-3 in those games.
Coach Mike Tomlin said after the Falcons game “our big people set the pace” by being able to run the ball. That slowed the pass rush because Roethlisberger was not sacked for the first time this season.
“We were able to control the line of scrimmage and run the football offensively,” Tomlin said. “That put us in manageable third downs. I thought that minimized the abilities of guys like Takk McKinley and Vic Beasley to control the game on possession downs and provide the wave that their defense rides.”