- Mar 19, 2006
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http://times-news.com/localsports/x1168753100/For-Steelers-this-isn-t-the-year-of-the-yard
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Since the first quarter of a 19-16 overtime victory at Buffalo on Nov. 28, the Steelers? offense has scored one touchdown in 11 quarters and an overtime period. That score, a Ben Roethlisberger touchdown pass to Issac Redman in Baltimore, was directly created by a Polamalu forced fumble that gave the Steelers the ball at the Ravens? 9 in the closing minutes of a 13-10 win on Dec. 5.
The only two touchdowns the Steelers scored in beating Cincinnati 23-7 on Sunday came on interception returns by Polamalu and LaMarr Woodley. The offense was limited to three Shaun Suisham field goals despite holding a nine-minute advantage in time of possession and a 354-190 edge in yardage.
The Steelers won the Super Bowl two seasons ago with a superior defense and an average offense. But in this Year of the Yard, the Steelers realize they can?t keep operating this inefficiently on offense, especially if they eventually must go on the road during the playoffs.
Two of their last three games have been against teams, the Bills (3-10) and Bengals (2-11), that are among the league?s worst, yet the offense accounted for only one touchdown in those two games. Sunday?s opponent ? the Jets (9-4) ? figures to be considerably tougher despite losing its last two games.
?We just weren?t scoring touchdowns,? wide receiver Mike Wallace said. ?We were getting down there. We just have to finish drives. That?s our biggest problem. We don?t really ever have a problem moving the ball. It?s just finishing drives.?
Maybe it?s not a worry now, but perhaps it could become one in January. Running back Rashard Mendenhall has three 100-yard games, but only one in 10 games. And the Steelers are sixth in the league with 803 penalty yards, 440 in the last four games alone.
Through Sunday?s games, the NFL is on pace for the highest averages in league history for total yards per game (676.5), net passing yards per game (448.1) and touchdown passes (a projected 750). The Steelers, so far, are nowhere close to establishing any such high marks, with the offense ranking as the franchise?s 13th best since 1970 and the passing game ranking as the seventh best.
http://times-news.com/localsports/x1168753100/For-Steelers-this-isn-t-the-year-of-the-yard
:0074
Since the first quarter of a 19-16 overtime victory at Buffalo on Nov. 28, the Steelers? offense has scored one touchdown in 11 quarters and an overtime period. That score, a Ben Roethlisberger touchdown pass to Issac Redman in Baltimore, was directly created by a Polamalu forced fumble that gave the Steelers the ball at the Ravens? 9 in the closing minutes of a 13-10 win on Dec. 5.
The only two touchdowns the Steelers scored in beating Cincinnati 23-7 on Sunday came on interception returns by Polamalu and LaMarr Woodley. The offense was limited to three Shaun Suisham field goals despite holding a nine-minute advantage in time of possession and a 354-190 edge in yardage.
The Steelers won the Super Bowl two seasons ago with a superior defense and an average offense. But in this Year of the Yard, the Steelers realize they can?t keep operating this inefficiently on offense, especially if they eventually must go on the road during the playoffs.
Two of their last three games have been against teams, the Bills (3-10) and Bengals (2-11), that are among the league?s worst, yet the offense accounted for only one touchdown in those two games. Sunday?s opponent ? the Jets (9-4) ? figures to be considerably tougher despite losing its last two games.
?We just weren?t scoring touchdowns,? wide receiver Mike Wallace said. ?We were getting down there. We just have to finish drives. That?s our biggest problem. We don?t really ever have a problem moving the ball. It?s just finishing drives.?
Maybe it?s not a worry now, but perhaps it could become one in January. Running back Rashard Mendenhall has three 100-yard games, but only one in 10 games. And the Steelers are sixth in the league with 803 penalty yards, 440 in the last four games alone.
Through Sunday?s games, the NFL is on pace for the highest averages in league history for total yards per game (676.5), net passing yards per game (448.1) and touchdown passes (a projected 750). The Steelers, so far, are nowhere close to establishing any such high marks, with the offense ranking as the franchise?s 13th best since 1970 and the passing game ranking as the seventh best.
