Steelers look to run game against Ravens
PITTSBURGH — The Baltimore Ravens turned into a defensive powerhouse right around the turn of the century. Since then they’ve allowed 44 100-yard rushers.
The surprising stat is that the Ravens managed a .386 winning percentage in those games.
The unsurprising stat is that they’re 0-5 when the Pittsburgh Steelers rush for 100 yards.
That’s why the Steelers are determined to run the ball better than they did on Sept. 30, when they rushed for only 19 yards, the fifth lowest in franchise history and the fewest since 1970.
Le’Veon Bell, of course, didn’t show up this week so that means James Conner remains the man on the spot.
Conner has been mentioned with some all-time greats in this his breakout season. Names such as Steve Van Buren, Jim Brown and Eric Dickerson were used next to Conner’s on an NFL release this week, but Conner will be trying Sunday to join a list that includes Amos Zereoue, DeAngelo Williams and Le’Veon Bell (twice). Those are the Steelers backs who’ve rushed for 100 yards against the Ravens, once again one of the more physical defenses in the league.
“They make you earn that. They make you work for it,” said Steelers guard David DeCastro. “You can tell whenever you’re blocking those guys that it’s a testament of wills, a battle of wills, and it’ll be on display on Sunday, especially at this point in the season.”
The 4-2-1 Steelers can put a major dent in the 4-4 Ravens’ chances this week, and that’s what makes Conner’s job so important after his puny output in the 26-14 loss to the Ravens.
“We have to start faster,” Conner said. “They have a great defense, one of the best defenses in football right now. So we’ll have to protect the ball and really stay disciplined and move the ball.”
The Ravens are the No. 1 scoring defense in the NFL (17.1 points allowed per game), as well as the No. 1 yardage defense (294). Against the run they’re ninth in yards per game (98.1) and seventh per carry (3.9).
The Steelers made them appear indestructible, but a closer look says a combination of circumstance and decision-making didn’t help:
n Behind 7-0, the Steelers turned it over on their third play, all passes.
n A holding penalty on their second series created first-and-20 to minimize the run opportunities.
n Down 14-0, Conner carried five times on the 11-play field goal drive (one was negated by defensive holding). But Conner only gained seven yards on those four carries.
n Down 14-3, starting the fourth series, Ben Roethisberger went to winging it 17 times on 18 snaps to score 10 points in two series and tie the game before halftime.
n To open the second half, the Steelers seemed determined to feed Conner. He carried twice for seven yards, but a short pass lost five yards, forced a punt, and the Steelers seemed to forget about Conner once again. They threw on eight of the next 10 plays, fell behind 20-14, and then threw four straight, punted and fell behind 23-14 to set up the all-passing finish.
So it was a combination of falling behind early and late and coaching/quarterbacking decisions to throw even when tied or behind by one score. There also was some uninspired running, so all three areas have to improve Sunday in Baltimore, particularly against a defense that leads the NFL with 27 sacks.
“You can paint whatever picture you want regarding the run game the last time we played them,” said Mike Tomlin. “It never came to fruition for a number of reasons.”
It came to fruition last Sunday. The fans even began a “Conner! Conner! Conner!” chant late in the third quarter of his 146-yard game.
“That was really special,” said Conner. “I had to listen to it a couple of times to make sure I was hearing it right, make sure they were saying my name. The city of Pittsburgh, I’ll never forget that. That was really special for me.”
Tomlin was asked what it is the fans like about Conner.
“He’s run for 100 yards in three straight games,” said Tomlin. “I mean that’s not hard to figure out.”
Since the Baltimore game, Conner has rushed for 367 yards (5.7 ypc.) and six touchdowns in three games. He matched Bell’s three-game streak of 100s in 2016, which had been the first time since Willie Parker in 2007.
If Conner manages a fourth consecutive 100-yard game, he would be the first since Jerome Bettis ripped off four straight in 2004. More importantly, it would probably mean a win over the Ravens and more leg room at the top of the division.
“Persistence,” said DeCastro. “That’s what’s important. The Ravens do a good job playing team football. They play well, they’re coached well. You can tell it’s in their culture and they take pride in it. It’s going to be one of those battles of will I think.”
Does Conner — this week’s AFC Offensive Player of the Week — have the will that Bell, Bettis, Williams and Zereoue before him have displayed against the Ravens?
“No question,” DeCastro said. “He’s shown his passion. He cares. Now it’s about being smart and all of us working together and getting him some holes and let him do the rest.”
NOTES – Artie Burns confirmed he played first-team cornerback Wednesday in place of Coty Sensabaugh, who’s out with a toe injury. Burns was asked a series of questions by reporters, but provided very short answers, if any. Finally, when asked if he was late for last Saturday’s walk-through, Burns said, “You’re asking me questions that you already know about. C’mon now.” … Rookie WR James Washington, inactive last Sunday, said he received first-team reps Wednesday, “a lot more reps than I got last week,” he said. … RT Marcus Gilbert returned to practice. He hurt his knee on the last play of the Bengals game. “It’s just arthritis, and at the end of the game I kind of jammed it on the last play on (Carlos) Dunlap’s bull rush. It was turf and my knee just caught it and it shut me down last week. But I’m much better.” … Bud Dupree missed with an illness and Maurkice Pouncey was given the day off.