Steelers Woes Go Beyond Defense



Will Rashard Mendenhall Rescue the Steelers
Running Game?


I know I posted an article yesterday about how the Steelers' vaulted defense has become swiss cheese vs a no-huddle attack.  I stand by that post, and my comments.  However, upon further review the Steelers have plenty of other concerns as well, and some of them are offensive issues.

First, this team can't run the ball if their lives were on the line.  Steelers fans like myself thought that even though Mendenhall was out there was a good chance that Isaac Redman would be able to carry the torch just fine until Mendy returns.  Well, after 3 games it looks like there is alot to be desired.  The Steelers have no consistency at the RB position.  Redman hasn't looked like anything but a short yardage back in the first three weeks.  Jonathan Dwyer shows flashes of brilliance, but after a crucial fumble on the Steelers' 30 yd line...its safe to say he is spending the bye week in Mike Tomlin's dog house.  Chris Rainey has been a huge disappointment in my eyes in the first 3 weeks.  It doesn't help that every time he enters as an offensive player the Steelers are a 90% favorite to give him the ball.  Defenses see that and the play is snuffed out before it even develops.  The biggest surprise for me has been Baron Batch.  Fellow Black n' Gold Blitz contributor, Mason Noland, said he could see Batch being a young Mewelde Moore.  Sure does look like that is what he is turning out to be.  Watching him in the second half with the no huddle, it almost looked like Mewelede Moore was back on the roster.  He is great with blitz pickups, can catch the ball out of the backfield, and has shown elusiveness in open space.  What he isn't, is a RB that can run successfully between the tackles.  My biggest question is if Rashard Mendenhall will even make a difference in the running game.  He has always hesitated at the line of scrimmage, and who knows what he will be like with a surgically repaired knee.  I do think it will help to have a solid rotation at RB and not just throw people out there whenever.  I feel Redman should be a short yardage back, Dwyer the primary backup, and Batch during the no huddle and on 3rd downs.  That leaves Rainey on the inactive list.  Plain and simply because we have plenty of players who can return kicks/punts, but need more players who can make an impact on every down and not just a handful.  For a team that is known for at least being able to run from time to time, this team has yet to show anything that might resemble a running game.  Lets hope that help is on the way in the form of Rashard Mendenhall.

Special Teams is another concern.  This concern started when Al Everest was mysteriously fired.  The guy had done a solid job as the coordinator for several years and I wondered what the special teams would look like without him.  Weeks 1 and 2 weren't that bad.  Week 3, that was a different story.  Not only did the kick coverage teams give up big returns, but they were penalized on what could have been a back breaking punt return for a TD by Antonio Brown.  Butler, the rookie punter from Georgia, had his first NFL "shank" and didn't prove to have much power in his leg on Sunday.  Suisham has been solid, but lets wait to see him make some kicks of 45+ before you go nominating him for the Pro Bowl.  What will help this team on kickoffs?  Put the ball into (or out of) the endzone and don't allow a return.  Although there is no saying the defense won't give up an 80 yd drive, I like the defense's chances on holding someone from their own 20, than compared to our 48...which was where the Raiders returned a kickoff this past Sunday.

What I'm alluding to is that the Steelers "issues" are not just on the defense.  There is plenty of blame to go around after that horrendous loss to Oakland.  I'm sure SteelerNation is flipping out suggesting that the Steelers will be nothing more than an 8-8 team and the playoffs are not even a possibility.  Hold the phone.  Wait until this team gets healthy and then judge them.  The bye week should be a good thing...and if it isn't, well brace yourself for a long season.