How Good Is The Steelers Offensive Line This Season?

by Brandon on Jan 29, 2011 5:00 PM CST in Green Bay Packers Analysis

I've read from various sources that the weak link on the Pittsburgh Steelers this season is their offensive line. It's easy to see why when you look at their roster. Their starting left tackle is Jonathan Scott, who's been cast off by different two teams (Bills and Lions) in his five year career. Their starting right tackle is Flozell Adams, who did not appear to receive an offer from any team other than the Steelers after the Cowboys released him. They've been forced to start them because Max Starks suffered a season ending neck injury, and Willie Colon tore his achilles.

Football Outsiders has the Steelers offensive line ranked No. 19 overall on run blocking and No. 29 in pass protection. Their struggles are a good reason why RB Rashard Mendenhall was only ranked No. 22 overall. And they got more bad news this week as they'll probably be without their injured rookie C Maurkice Pouncey.

However, Ben Muth praised their performance in the AFC Championship game. I'm not a fan of the Jets defensive line, and I chalked the offensive line's performance up to a weak game from them. But Muth saw Scott and Adams doing a much better job at run blocking than he'd seen from them all season, and they deserve a lot of the credit for Mendenhall's big game.

What do you think of the Steelers offensive line? Do you think they'll have a much harder time against DE Cullen Jenkins and NT B.J. Raji?

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I would say they did a fantastic job, considering

Mendenhall gained 1,273 yards, at 3.9 YPC, and 13 TD’s…If that’s awful, I’ll take it.

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by Steel Spike on Jan 29, 2011 5:23 PM CST reply actions

3.9 yards per carry is hardly fantastic

This isn’t the Franco Harris era. Unless you’re saying that Mendenhall isn’t a very good runner (personally I think he looks good out there). Not saying the Packers o-line is any better – our running game is pretty poor – but I wouldn’t say 3.9 is good.

53 Bears, 1 Cup

by I voted for Kodos on Jan 29, 2011 8:42 PM CST up reply actions

Running behind OUR line?

Imagine if Rashard had even a top 10 line to run behind…Scary…

by Steel Spike on Jan 29, 2011 10:45 PM CST up reply actions

I think Spike was saying that those stats aren't awful

sure, they could be better, but for an offensive line that is made up of duct tape and spare parts, those stats ain’t half bad.

by shleeve on Jan 30, 2011 12:02 AM CST up reply actions

Yes

And for comparison, here’s Mendenhall’s stats next to Chris Johnson’s.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/headtohead?player1=MEN393702&player2=JOH127799&player3=null&player4=null&position=runningback&playerOne=Rashard+Mendenhall&playerTwo=Chris+Johnson&playerThree=Select+a+Player…&playerFour=Select+a+Player…

Rashard had 91 less yards than CJY2K, and 2 more rushing TD’s. Hmm….

by Steel Spike on Jan 30, 2011 2:06 AM CST up reply actions

CJ is a lot of hype

Although, those stats can be deceiving. You think the Titans were in as many “run out the clock games” as the Steelers?

by Wiedmann on Jan 30, 2011 2:43 AM CST up reply actions

CJ won the rushing title last year

He’s supposed to be the best running back in the league. Didn’t the Ten Teeth Tits have all their starting O-limemen come back for this season as last?

The Steelers had 9 games this year where they either lost (4) or had to keep passing to catch up/break a tie. Whereas, the Tits had 10. Pretty telling stat, don’t you think?

I mean, the “Great” Chris Johnson should have been able to get at LEAST 1,500 yards from those other 6 games, right? C’mon! He’s Chris F’ing Johnson!

by Steel Spike on Jan 30, 2011 2:54 AM CST up reply actions

I never thought CJ was all that, like he's made out to be

Interesting stat about running/passing situations, though. It does make me reconsider. Your O-line’s main problem is pass blocking more than run blocking, though, right?

by Wiedmann on Jan 30, 2011 3:06 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah, pass blocking is the line's major issue

I have little problems with the run blocking.

by Steel Spike on Jan 30, 2011 11:34 AM CST up reply actions

HOLY SHIT, A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR TEAMS!

by Wiedmann on Jan 31, 2011 2:41 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Chris Johnson is overrated.

He’ll have 20 carries for 2 yards, then break one for 40+ that saves an abysmal YPC.

"Are you joking? Star Trek V is the standard against which all badness is measured!" Raj Koothrappali from The Big Bang Theory

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Jan 30, 2011 5:01 PM CST up reply actions

You could say that for a lot elite guys though — Peterson, Turner, etc. Teams just play the run against these types of guys, which obviously makes it difficult to for them to consistently gain good yards. Most of the time they break a big one by either making a ridiculous move, or capitalizing on a miscue by a defender (plays the wrong gap or something).

I don’t think Johnson is overrated or anything at all. Teams just loaded the box against him, and he didn’t have a Qb who could force teams to play him honest.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Jan 30, 2011 6:37 PM CST up reply actions

True.

You could say that for a lot elite guys though — Peterson, Turner, etc.

You could’ve said it about Barry Sanders, as well, as demonstrated in the playoff game where the Packers held him to negative yardage.
Doesn’t mean he wasn’t an elite back.

1,2,3...WHITE HOUSE!!!

The glass is full to the brim!

I'd rather be correct, than politically correct.
I'd rather be right.

The Bears still suck!

by NorthStarr on Jan 30, 2011 11:12 PM CST up reply actions

Barry was unlike any other back in the NFL

by Wiedmann on Jan 31, 2011 2:40 AM CST up reply actions

They'll probably have a terrible game pass blocking considering our front seven

But the can certainly out run-block our O-line

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by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Jan 29, 2011 5:28 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Raji and Jenkins are licking their chops

That OL is not very good. When you have defensive linemen in a 3-4 that can get after the QB, you’re in pretty good shape. I’m expecting Pittsburgh to come out and establish the run, use a lot of screens, and attack the middle of the field. The Packers generally perform well against the screen. We’re not worried about the run, because when they put an emphasis on stopping it, it will be stopped. It is the middle of the field that worries me though. Last year whent he Steelers spread the field in bunch formations, they attacked the middle of the field at will. By the middle of the field, I’m speaking of between the numbers. Warner did the same last year. This year, I do recall announcers mentioning how the Packers tend to leave the middle vulnerable after the Philly playoff game. Atlanta didn’t attack it and Chicago….well, they’re the Bears. I really am expecting a defensive game though. Both defenses will have their way with the OL, so it’s up to the QB to guide their team to victory and be efficient.

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-Chris Gates 11/15/2010
***Really Chris, REALLY?! The division's best team?! LOL! That's quality DN writing right there!

NFC Champs baby, Go Pack Go! It's time to bring the Lombardi Trophy home!!!!!!

by Jabooty on Jan 29, 2011 5:38 PM CST reply actions

OL troubles for Pitt...

The Pack will apply pressure to Ben with success; the key will be to finish the plays! We can’t allow him to make a lot of big plays. If he is able to consistently scramble away from the rush, we will have real problems. I like Raji and Jenkins to collapse the pocket. Our LB’s and Woodson will need to finish the plays.
For us, our OL is probably going to struggle with Woodley and Harrison. Hopefully Rodgers can use quick routes to neutralize this. Wish the game was tomorrow. GO Pack!

by Jeigh AK on Jan 29, 2011 9:21 PM CST reply actions

knowing what we know

We know about Mendenhall. We know about Raji and friends. But the issue, as I see it, is how impactful the loss of Pouncey will be. Notwithstanding ducttaping OLs, how will his loss hurt the Steelers? I’m amazed at how little coverage this issue has received because the loss is huge. Its one thing to game plan an OL into adequacy by schemes and playcalling against mediocre teams. It’s another against a strong defense. Look at the Bears. Capers ripped that line apart. Is there a reason the same won’t happen against the Steelers? If there is, I’d like to hear it. As I see it, Pouncey was the key in both run and pass blocking. The loss is a lot bigger then anyone has suggested so far.

by marcopo on Jan 30, 2011 6:39 PM CST up reply actions

+1

I see Raji having a field day against Negursky (sp?). Hell, he has a field day against most good C’s. Not too mention the matchup of Adams vs. Matthews is quite favorable. I remember Matthews absolutely eating his lunch last season when we played the Cowboys. That’s not even mentioning Jenkins either, who in my opinion, is our best defensive lineman, and possibly the best pass rushing 3-4 DE in the league.

On top of that, our secondary matches up really well with their receivers because of our speed. I just don’t think they’re going to be able to do a whole lot against us, unless they really get the running game going (which is a possibility).

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Jan 31, 2011 11:39 AM CST up reply actions

I think they'll struggle mightily

With Raji. But he’s not easy to deal with for anyone. But with the injury at center that’ll be tough. I think its one of our big advantages.

by Pack Man on Jan 29, 2011 10:01 PM CST reply actions

The sack numbers are somewhat deceptive ...

… because by Roethlisberger’s own estimation, he’s responsible for something like 25% of them because he holds the ball so long.

But yes, the OL is not very good. Both Jonathan Scott and Flozell the Hotel have a lot of trouble with speed rushers, so Clay Matthews is licking his chops. In terms of run blocking, almost everything goes right behind Flozell, because he is still ungodly strong in that department, but the backside often has trouble holding up its end. Even in the Jets game you saw Rashard breaking a ton of arm tackles from Jets defenders near the line of scrimmage. The reason why Rashard had such a huge game against the Jets is because the Jets couldn’t tackle (though the Jets also gave up 160+ yards against the Steelers in their last encounter).

by Tequila0341 on Jan 30, 2011 9:18 AM CST reply actions