Foote and the rest of the Defense must stop the run to have any chance of success. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

The Redskins Running Game (2012)

Just like any Mike Shanahan coached team/Offense, the Redskins’ running game is an efficient and well-oiled machine.  So far this season, Washington ranks 3rd in Total Rushing Attempts (229), 1st in Total Rushing Yards (1,244), 2nd in Yards Per Carry (5.4), T-1st in Rushing Touchdowns (11), and 1st in Rushing Yards Per Game (177.7).  Last weekend, the Redskins rolled up 248 Yards on the ground against the defending Super Bowl Champions!  What makes these numbers even more impressive though is the fact that the Redskins have received so much productivity from two members of their most recent Rookie class.

Just like Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Reuben Droughns, and pretty much every other late-Round Running Back drafted by Mike Shanahan, Alfred Morris has already become the next unlikely, yet successful. featured Back in the Shanahan Offensive system.  To Morris’ credit, the Rookie from Florida Atlantic has shined this season to the tune of 138 Carries, 658 Yards, 4.8 YPC, and 5 Rushing Touchdowns, and proved himself to be quite the formidable Zone runner.  Morris has performed so well this season that he currently ranks 2nd (behind Arian Foster 659 Yards) in the League in Total Rushing Yards .

Unfortunately for the Steelers, Morris is not the only running threat they must contain.  Quarterback Robert Griffin III is a former track athlete with moves and speed to burn on designed runs.  Griffin III will surely have some designed runs drawn up for him in the game-plan, and is a threat to break contain and turn what could be a Sack, into a positive play on the ground.  Washington’s electric signal-caller rolling on some designed draws and play action bootlegs off of Zone fake handoffs with Morris scares me plenty.  But what truly frightens me is if “RGIII” is able to break loose and turn up the field for a 76 Yard dash like he did against the Vikings two weeks ago.  On the year, “RGIII” has tallied 468 Yards on the ground on only 64 Carries, and is just as adept at using his legs as he is using his arm (70.4% Completion Percentage in 189 Attempts).

The Steelers Run Defense (2012)

To be completely fair to the Steelers, their Run Defense has not been what one would call “statistically atrocious” so far this year.  In fact, Pittsburgh has done a decent enough job against the run this season if one looks squarely at a couple of different statistics.  The Steelers currently rank 6th in Total Rushing Yards Allowed (555) and 9th in Rushing Yards per Game Allowed (92.5).  Yet as stout as those numbers seem, those specific statistics are a tad skewed once one considers the fact that Big Ben & Co. rank 2nd in Total Possession (34:49) per game.  In addition, because so many Offenses are playing from behind against the Steelers in the 4th Quarter, they have found success against and attacked the Pittsburgh’s inconsistent Secondary (The Steelers have actually led in the 4th Quarter in all of their 6 games).  When one looks closer at the stat sheet and the situational stats, Pittsburgh’s Defense actually ranks 19th in Yards per Carry Allowed (4.1), and as a unit have had their struggles so far this season against the run as age, undisciplined play, and solid Backs have burned them.

Let us not forget how much success Zone scheme runners like Darren McFadden and Chris Johnson had against the Steelers’ Defense over the past few weeks.  I am sure that we all remember how McFadden lit the Steelers up for 113 Yards on only 18 Carries (6.3 YPC), and a 64 Yard Touchdown in Week 3.  McFadden would have definitely racked up more Yards during the game on the ground, but as I stated before, since the Raiders were behind for most of the game and in the 2nd Half, his opportunities on the ground were limited.  “CJ2K” had a nice game against the Steelers in Week 6 as he rushed for 91 Yards on 19 Carries.  And just like McFadden, Johnson’s chances were also limited because the Titans Offense was forced to/found success through the air in the 2nd Half of the game when they attempted to play catch-up.

Final Thoughts

To win Sunday’s game, or at least have a legitimate shot, the Steelers must stop Washington’s running game, period.  If Griffin III is allowed to be in 2nd & 5 or less and 3rd & 4 or less situations all game long, it could be an extremely long day for Pittsburgh and their Defense.  Winning on 1st & 2nd Downs against the run is a task every Defense tries to accomplish on a game-in-game-out basis.  But against the Redskins and their Rookie Quarterback, stuffing the run to create 2nd and 3rd & Long situations is an absolute “must” for the Steelers.  This strategy in turn will help to lessen the blow of the play-action passing game off of the Stretch/Zone plays which are staples of the Shanahan Offense.

The last thing that the Steelers’ inconsistent Defense can stand to do is become undisciplined against the run, lose the Time of Possession battle, and subsequently allow the Redskins to not only force Big Ben & the Offense to sit on the sidelines and wait idly as “RGIII” & Co. finish extended drives (mostly on the ground) with 7′s and 3′s.  The run game is the “bread ‘n butter” for this Washington Offense, and like it or not “Steeler Nation,” if Pittsburgh’s Defense loses in this area, things could turn sour in a hurry on Sunday afternoon.

Chime in Readers:  Will the Steelers’ Defense step up against the Run this weekend?  If so, why?  Can the Steelers pull out a victory?  Share your answers, as well as any other comments, questions, or concerns in the section below.

Stats Courtesy of: Team Rankings.com, ESPN.com

Rashard Mendenhall enjoyed a terrific 2012 debut. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Tennessee & Their 2012 Run Defense

To say that the Titans have had their issues stopping their opponents’ running games would be a vast understatement.  During their 1-4 start, Tennessee’s Defense has been sieve-like against the run, and their stats are indicative of just how much improvement is needed in said area.  The Titans rank 28th in the League in Rushing Yards per Game Allowed (144.2), 29th in Total Rushing Yards Allowed (721), and 17th in Yards Per Carry Allowed (4.2).  Overall, Tennessee’s Defense has allowed over 100 Yards Rushing in 4 out of their 5 games, 6 Rushing Touchdowns over said span, and allowed their opponents’ Backs to look downright awesome.

Stevan Ridley ran roughshod over the Defense in Week 1 (21 Carries, 125 Yards, 1 TD), Mikel Leshoure had a fantastic N.F.L. debut in Week 3 (26 Carries, 100 Yards, 1 TD), the combination of Jackie Battle and Curtis Brinkley found success in Week 2 (32 Carries, 112 Yards, 2 TD’s combined), Arian Foster coasted to a solid day in a blowout win for Houston in Week 4 (24 Carries, 86 Yards, 1 TD), and Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart were very effective in last weekend’s game (23 Carries, 129 Yards).

What the Steelers Offense Can Do Tomorrow

Had Mendenhall not been available, and Redman not been moved into his effective “Smasher/Short Yardage Back” role, I would have some concerns as to which weakness would give between the teams.  But after watching the Interior of the Steelers’ Line (Maurkice Pouncey, Willie Colon, and Ramon Foster) win the day against Philadelphia last weekend, I have hope that the Steelers can pound the rock with consistency against the Titans.

What will also help the Steelers’ running game tomorrow is the fact that their passing game has so many weapons for Big Ben to target, and will force Tennessee to not completely load the box.  Tennessee will have to dedicate time, effort, and personnel to account for Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, and Heath Miller when they are on the field.  Less players stacked to stop the run game means more room to work with for the Linemen and Backs.  But even if the Titans do end up getting cocky and throw more than seven players near the Line of scrimmage, Big Ben should be able to burn them in the passing game.  Tennessee ranks second to last in Passing Touchdowns Allowed (12), 28th in Pass Yards per Game Allowed (280), and have allowed opposing passers to complete a League-high percentage of their passes (74.6%).

With numbers like these, I would not be mad to see Big Ben & Co. slice and dice Tennessee’s Secondary if they are hell-bent on stopping the run.  But to get the Titans to fully worry about the run game throughout tomorrow’s contest, the Offense must find ways to tote the rock effectively on the ground.  If this can happen, it would not shock me to see the Offense as a whole enjoy their most balanced and effective game of the season.

Final Thoughts

As nice as it was to see the running game show up against the Eagles, I hope that Mendenhall and the rest of the Backs are able to exploit Tennessee’s porous run defense and have a huge collective night tomorrow.  Tennessee’s issues with stopping the run (as well as the pass) are clearly evident, and I am sure that “Boss Todd” and Big Ben are ready to give the Titans a steady dose of the running game tomorrow.  The more consistency the Steelers are able to find toting the rock over the next few weeks, the better and more versatile this Offense will become.  And let’s face it readers, this Offense will need to bring their “A Game” every single week for the rest of this season, because their Defense has been too sieve-like too many times already in 2012.

So let’s get excited Steelers Fans, because we could see a return to some old fashioned “Steeler Football” tomorrow night with the ground game!

Figures and Stats Courtesy of: Pro Football Reference.com and ESPN.com

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