Starkey: How the Steelers stabilized

[Count Steeler]

Nobody expected the Steelers' season to hit a crossroads in the third week of October.
But it did.
Coming off a dreadful loss at Tennessee — two weeks after an equally dreadful loss at Oakland — Mike Tomlin’s depleted crew lugged a 2-3 record into a Sunday night game at Cincinnati.
Among the missing were Troy Polamalu, Maurkice Pouncey, Rashard Mendenhall, Isaac Redman, Marcus Gilbert and, sadly, Mike Wallace’s hands, which never got off the bus.
Two days before the game, Ben Roethlisberger had referred to Todd Haley’s offense as “dink and dunk,” a phrase that has since become a source of amusement but wasn’t so funny on the heels of a meager outing against Tennessee’s historically hideous defense.
It got less funny as the first quarter wore on. The Bengals on their first drive shoved the ball down the Steelers’ throats. Wallace dropped footballs like they were flying porcupines. Baron Batch somehow lost Antonio Brown’s gorgeous spiral in the lights.


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[GBMelBlount]

The Steelers chose a most unusual way to fight their way out of that 14-3 hole — on a drive that started at the 11 after a special teams penalty (imagine that).

Haley — perhaps sensing that none of his players could catch — unexpectedly turned to his 31st-ranked running game and third-string tailback Jonathan Dwyer.

To that point, the Steelers had attempted 16 passes against six runs (for 9 yards). Yet Haley’s play progression went like this:

Dwyer right.
Dwyer left.
Dwyer right.
Dwyer left.

Seems to me that’s the point where the Steelers forged an identity for 2012.


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Great read Count.

I truly do feel (as said in the article) that we were at a crossroad in our season.

While I don't think we are out of the woods yet I cannot say enough about how proud I am of how this team has fought through adversity to once again be a true contender for #7 imho.

[Craic]

I agree, a great article.

I'm also very happy I'm seeing exactly what I've wanted for the last few years. An offense that is balanced - and can run when they have to, can pass when they have to, and is willing to do either or both to any extreme depending on circumstances. This run first or pass first crap is too far in the past, and makes teams too one-dimensional.