At the quarter mark of the 2019 season Steelers are a work in progress

The Steelers must get the running game on track to protect their young QB

The Steelers are a quarter of the through the 2019 season and have amassed a woeful 258 yards on the ground.  This translates to an average of 64.5 yards per game.  If we want to be in the mix come playoff time, rushing the ball for less than 65 yards per game will not put us in the mix; it will; however, put us home for the holidays watching the playoffs on TV.

This was the long-winded way of saying that the Steelers need to run the ball with more alacrity and with more effectiveness than we have through the first four games.  Truth be told, I personally do not care how we win games, as long as we win; however, establishing an impactful running game will only help the cause and will help take some pressure off Mason Rudolph.

Although I like what I have seen thus far from Rudolph, he has only started two games. I think the offense will continue to evolve and improve as the weeks go on, but the reality is that the Steelers can not afford to lose more than six total games if we want to have a shot at making the playoffs.

The flip side of getting the running game on track is that it opens up the passing game. You can not keep opposing defenses honest if your offense is essentially one-dimensional.  Through four games, the passing game is ranked five spots higher than the running game.

I understand this is a passing league and, again, by what means we achieve victory is inconsequential, but if it’s a close game and the Steelers are trying to salt away a win, the running game will be our friend.  Right now, it’s akin to an acquaintance.

Let’s take a look at the other side of the equation.