Stopping the Run, Stephon Tuitt’s chance, and Bell’s workload

It’s Browns Week! Week 6 in the NFL has come and the Steelers are preparing to wrap up their series against the Cleveland Browns this Sunday and we’re busy looking around for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Friday, Oct. 10^th.

Steelers ready to stop the Browns run

Through the first two games of the Steelers season, the run defense was far from an immovable object. ESPN Steelers reporter Scott Brown reminds us that the Browns rushed for 119 yards in the second half of the game when the two teams met in Week 1. Since then, however, the Steelers have allowed an average of 53.7 rushing yards in their last two games. This newly stingy run defense will definitely be challenged by a Browns team that is fourth in the league in rushing, averaging 143.3 yards per game.

Tuitt makes his move

Perhaps instrumental in the Steelers hopes to stop the Browns rushing attack this weekend will be the No. 2 pick Stephon Tuitt becoming a more regular fixture on the defensive line rotation. Mike Prisuta tells us that Tuitt might just be working his way into that after making a big play in practice this week that resulted in an interception. Tuitt explained how he made the move to grab the ball.

"“I was on the edge. I had contain. All I did was try to move my way inside, and I was going to use my speed so they wouldn’t break contain. He ended up throwing the ball right to me because he was getting tremendous pressure from the other side.” – Stephon Tuitt"

Ring Le’Veon’s Bell

Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell had only 15 touches in Sunday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but, as Dan Hanzus points out, the Steelers will be wise to get the ball to Bell more this week against the Browns, who have one of the worst run defenses in the league. The Steelers were particularly pass-happy in the red zone, which was all on Ben Roethlisberger as he claimed that he called those plays thinking the team had the advantage in the passing game. The Steelers offense scored only one touchdown against the Jags in spite of gaining almost 400 yards. Perhaps Ben shouldn’t call all the plays all the time? For the Steelers to properly take advantage of the Browns poor rush defense, Bell needs to get the ball in his hands in the red zone.