The Steelers are tweaking their running game, but how remains a mystery

[polamalubeast]

The running game is enjoying a renaissance in the NFL.

Some teams are embracing an old-school approach on offense, and they’re having success, too. It’s part of the ever-changing landscape of the league.

Pro-style quarterbacks aren’t being produced by colleges much anymore, so coaches are taking advantage of the new skill sets of multi-faceted young quarterbacks such as Lamar Jackson, the NFL’s MVP last season.

In 2018, after benching Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco in favor of Jackson, the Ravens morphed into a running team midseason, overtook the Steelers in the AFC North and made the playoffs. It was a move born out of necessity. The Ravens were 4-5, and there were rumors John Harbaugh was going to be fired.

There are other times when coaches simply want to be different and go against the grain. They zig while the rest of the league zags.

That’ what the Patriots did at the end of 2018. Late in the regular season and throughout the playoffs, it was the running game and not Tom Brady’s arm that delivered a sixth Lombardi Trophy to Foxborough.

Now running offenses are everywhere in the NFL. Tennessee rode Derrick Henry to the AFC championship game last season. The Bills made a run to the playoffs, too. The 49ers made it to the Super Bowl with an offense that revolved around the running game.

All of those teams proved it’s possible to pivot from passing to running and still contend.

The Steelers are exploring ways to improve their running game, which once again was among the worst in the NFL last season. Just don’t expect a drastic change in philosophy.

“You guys love talking about the running game like it’s the starting point of the offense,” veteran right guard David DeCastro said this week. “I just always try to tell you guys; it is a combination. You can’t have a good running game without a good passing game, without an honest, balanced offense.


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[Butch]

I agree with DeCastro. Our running game sucked because we had crappy QB play. Didn't the Chiefs win the SB on the arm of Mahomes?