The Identity Crisis in Pittsburgh
It is time to address the elephant in the Steel City locker room: the Steelers are allergic to the ground game, and it is becoming a chronic condition. While the coaching staff seems content to treat the offense like a high-stakes game of 7-on-7, the actual reality of the season suggests a much simpler solution is being ignored.
Jaylen Warren: The Man Left in the Cold
Let’s talk about Jaylen Warren. Through six games, the man has been a wrecking ball, racking up 460 yards on just 84 carries. That is a 5.5 yards per carry average that would make most starting running backs blush. Yet, despite dropping 127 yards on Cincinnati and 101 on Indianapolis, he is often relegated to the background. When a player gives you that kind of efficiency, you don't limit him to 14 carries like we saw against Tampa Bay. You feed him until the defense screams for mercy.
The 64-36 Paradox
The math is simply not mathing in the play-calling room. Pittsburgh is currently obsessed with the pass, running a 64% pass-to-36% rush split. When you are averaging 4.6 yards per pop on the ground, abandoning the run is not just a strategic error—it is a choice. Arthur Smith seems to believe Aaron Rodgers needs to carry the entire city on his back, but the numbers suggest the offense is at its best when it keeps the chains moving on the grass, not through the air.
Saving the Quarterback
Speaking of Aaron Rodgers, the man has taken 19 sacks already. That is 19 too many for a quarterback who isn't exactly in his twenties anymore. A commitment to the run game isn't just about controlling the clock; it is about survival. If you want to keep the pocket from collapsing like a cheap lawn chair, you have to force the opposing pass rush to respect the run. A balanced attack makes play-action actually viable, rather than just a polite suggestion that defenses are happy to ignore.
If Pittsburgh wants to win, they need to stop auditioning for an air-raid highlight reel and start playing football in the trenches.