How the Steelers are NOT the Steelers of Old

Behind the Steel Curtain has done an excellent review of the Steelers' offensive tendencies in third and between 2-4 yards to go so far in 2008.

The results amount to this:

Pittsburgh Steelers on 3rd and 2 - 3rd and 4

Total Opportunities	Total Runs	Total Passes	1st Down % Running	1st Down % Passing	Sacks
41	3	38	100%	54%	7

My thoughts about these numbers:

• Once again, whenever someone says the Steelers are about running the football first, please turn the channel - those who know anything at all about the Steelers know differently.
  
• Anytime there is a 38-3 discrepancy in play calling, it is a bad thing. Defensive coordinators are very aware of tendencies and these numbers don't put much if any doubt in their heads about what the Steelers will do.
• Only 3 rushes, so the 100% conversion rate is skewed. But when you're only converting 54% of third and shorts when throwing the ball, you have to think about the play calling. That 54% includes sacks counted as passes.
• Steel Curtain notes that Ben has thrown 3 of his 11 INTs in these situations, meaning 27% of Ben's picks have come on just 11% of his passes. Is he forcing things more than normal in these situations? Whatever the reasons, they are something to be considered when making the play calls.
• Seeing them repeatedly fail recently on third and 1, it doesn't make a good case for running on third and two or three. But maybe with defensive coordinators looking at these numbers, running will catch them off guard. And let me also suggest that we see Gary Russell in these situations more and more often.

Overall, these numbers are further proof of the Arianization of the Steeler offense - pass happy and run to set up the pass - that has not proven successful on the NFL level.