First loss leaves Steelers with plenty to work on
PITTSBURGH (AP) » The number in the loss column is at “one.” The number of issues the Pittsburgh Steelers are facing after their first setback of the season is considerably higher.
The shor t c omings masked by timely turnovers and just enough offensive splash during Pittsburgh’s 11- 0 start were on full display during a stunning 2317 upset at the hands of Washington on Monday night.
The of fensive l i ne, missing center Maurkice Pouncey for a second straight game because of COVID-19 protocols, was pushed around by Washington’s younger, more athletic front. The running game, minus James Conner, who like Pouncey sat out due to COVID-19, generated a whopping 1.67 yards per carry and went 0-fer in three shots from the Washington 1 in the second quarter before being abandoned almost completely.
Facing fourth- and-1 at the Washington 25 with the game tied in the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh eschewed a run and instead had quarterback Ben Roethlisberger send an illfated lob down the sideline to rookie running back Anthony McFarland Jr. that fell incomplete.
“I live by a coaching creed ‘ If you can’t get a yard, you don’t deserve to win’ and that was the case for us in this game,” coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday.
It’s been that way lately. Pittsburgh’s 21 yards rushing marked the franchise’s third- lowest total since 1970. While Tomlin has stressed repeatedly the Steelers don’t need to grind it out to win — not with Ro
ethlisberger having a remarkable comeback season after missing most of 2019 with a right elbow injury — the inability to produce any sort of consistent offensive balance has taken its toll.
And while Tomlin is aware of how short-handed his offense is without two of its key cogs, he also doesn’t care.
“That (ticks) me off because we’ve got to be the type of group that endures regardless of who is available,” he said.
Tomlin is optimistic both Pouncey and Conner will be available next Sunday against Buffalo (9- 3). Yet they will need more than just having their familiar numbers in the lineup to get things right. There’s a mindset associated with running the ball and in that area, the Steelers have been lacking.
“In terms of quality of play, we haven’t been physical enough,” Tomlin said.
Fixing it can be tricky.
Practicing in full pads is almost non- existent even during a “normal” December, let alone one in the middle of a pandemic. Tomlin pointed out the Steelers spent as much if not more time in pads than most clubs during training camp.
“We carry our pads every day through the team development process,” he pointed out.
Time to hope muscle memory returns quickly. WHAT’S WORKING Technically, it’s more like “Watt’s working.”
Outside linebacker T. J. Watt picked up his NFLleading 12th sack against Washington despite playing without usual running mate Bud Dupree. The other half of one of the league’s best pass-rushing duos is out for the season after tearing the ACL in his right knee.
Not that it mattered much against Washington. Watt was his typically
disruptive self, though he did miss a golden opportunity in the fourth quarter when he tried to “scoop and score” on a Washington fumble rather than just fall on it. Washington’s Logan Thomas recovered instead. WHAT’S NOT Pittsburgh is struggling when it tries to get tough in short yardage. Against Washington, it didn’t get any better when it tried to get cute. Facing third-andgoal at the Washington 1 in the second quarter, Roethlisberger tried a play-action pass to Jerald Hawkins.
Two things here. Actually, three. First, Hawkins only became eligible just hours before kickoff after being activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list. Second, Hawkins is a backup offensive lineman by trade. Third, that’s exactly what he looked like when he stumbled into his route and watched Roethlisberger’s lob sail well out of reach.