Defense struggling to stop the rush even as offense tries to get it going
Can’t run, can’t stop the run is not often a formula for success in the NFL.
The Steelers nearly defied that over the past two games, but they prefer not to test that theory for a third time when they play the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night at Heinz Field.
Tackle Al Villanueva put it simply:
“The running game in football always opens up the pass, and it keeps the defense more honest, instead of pinning their ears back and getting after the quarterback.”
The Steelers ran for just 101 yards the past two games and yielded 303 yards rushing. Yet they came within a couple of fumbles and an inter-ception in the end zone last Sunday of possibly sweeping the road games in Jacksonville and Denver.
They also don’t believe they can continue to do so little either running or stopping the run if they are to continue to lead the AFC North.
“We can’t get one-dimensional, however the game plays out,” center Maurkice Pouncey said, noting that they need James Conner down this stretch to produce more on the ground.
“We got to get him the ball, get him back heated up again, get him some runs he feels comfortable with, get him more involved in the game plan, things like that. Obviously, whenever he was doing things like that, it looks really, really good like that.”
Conner hit a stretch of four consecutive 100-yard games that totaled 474 yards, all Steelers victories as he took over the AFC rushing lead, which he still holds at 849 yards.
That string came to a halt when he left the lopsided win against Carolina on Nov. 8 with a concussion after rushing for 65 yards. Over the two games since then, he’s rushed for just 78 yards on 22 carries. He also dropped two passes in Jacksonville and lost a fumble at the Denver 21 last Sunday.
“He just has to know we’re all behind him,’’ Pouncey said. “Football’s a game and we all make mistakes.
“Obviously, you’re going to be emotional whenever you don’t do things you go out there and want to do, but you just have to keep staying focused and know that you’re a great player and you’ve done a lot of great things and keep on that same path. This whole team is behind him, and he knows that.”
Over on the other side, the Steelers played like the defense that began the season, when it allowed 304 yards rushing to the first two opponents and started 0-1-1.
Undrafted rookie Phillip Lindsay became the first back to top 100 yards against them this season in Denver on Sunday, with 110 yards on just 14 carries.
They can’t keep allowing that and expect to continue their success.
“We have to be more gapsound and we have to tackle better, it’s that simple,’’ linebacker T.J. Watt said.
His brother, Derek, is the Chargers’ fullback, but he won’t be blocking for Melvin Gordon, who has 802 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Gordon has an injured knee. Austin Ekeler, an undrafted rookie last season, has 409 yards rushing and is expected to start.
Even though the Chargers have one of the elite NFL quarterbacks in Philip Rivers, “Any NFL team is going to have to run the ball in order to open up the passing game,’’ Watt said.
“You can’t be one-dimensional in this league, so they’re going to have to run the ball. I don’t know if they’re going to have to do things differently with Gordon not in there, but we’re going to prepare for everything that can happen.”
Having Stephon Tuitt back at defensive end should help that cause for the Steelers. He missed the past two games with an elbow injury.
The Chargers are 13th in the NFL, allowing 107.1 yards rushing per game, fewer than the Steelers had combined in their past two.
“We want to have the ability to step into a stadium and dictate our personality that day,’’ Mike Tomlin said. “I’ve been open about that. Sometimes we’ll come into a stadium and be run-heavy, be focused on that. Sometimes we’ll come into a stadium and be capable of throwing it every down. It’s how we choose to attack.
“We’re thoughtfully norhythmic if you will in that regard. We strike for balance, and balance being we’re capable of attacking in the ways that we choose.”