Twitter @BoMarchionte
It is so hard to find the right recipe for success. Each team in the National Football League believes they have the blueprint for winning. Although that winning formula is often misguided and leads to failure.
A few years back it looked like Pittsburgh employed two players to help it achieve the NFL’s ultimate prize.
Envying the Steelers offense in 2017, with Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown was easy. It was intoxicating to watch. The patients of Bell as he would navigate untouched through defenses while Brown toe-tapped his way to big plays on cue.
Force feeding Bell and Brown down the throats of opposing defenses appeared to be the key to long-term success. Arguably the best players at their respected positions, Pittsburgh leaned heavy on the Pro Bowl duo.
The blueprint in Pittsburgh offensively was based around two all-world players, the pair were fun to watch and hard to stop. Although the underbelly of their statistical stardom created plenty of highlight reels, they never materialized into playoff victories.
Fast forward to 2020 and the Steelers are undefeated (9-0) and are in the driver’s seat for the #1 playoff seed in the AFC, as well as a three game cushion on both the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns for the division title.
It is no secret that the offensive philosophy has been altered.
Instead of being dependent on two players the Steelers offense has blossomed into a feeding frenzy for everyone in the offense.
In his final season in Pittsburgh, Bell accounted for 65% of the running plays in 2017. He led the team with 321 carries and accounted for another 106 targets out of the backfield. Nearly forty percent of the entire offense (39.9%) was centered around Bell and his then magnificent abilities.
The new version of the running game has James Conner accounting for 55% of the running plays ran by Pittsburgh. Ten percent lower than Bell when he was the main ball carrier. The distribution is evident with Benny Snell, Jaylon Samuels and Anthony McFarland Jr. getting their opportunities in the offense.
Throughout the season, tiny bursts of production amongst the running backs have been sprinkled into the play calling, keeping defenses on their toes and unaware of where the ball is going.
Ben Roethlisberger, the most tenured Steelers player in the history of the franchise, might be the biggest benefactor of the new approach. Roethlisberger looked handcuffed at times when Brown was on the roster, throwing into double or triple coverage to appease diva receivers me-first attitude, or witness his sideline outbursts.
In their final season together in Pittsburgh, Bell (106) and Brown (163) combined for 46% of the total targets in the Steelers passing attack. Their talents made them easy to target and so they were fed, time and time again.
This season the passing game has an entirely new look.
JuJu Smith-Schuster is the most targeted receiver with 70 but counts for only 21% of total distribution in the passing game. Brown accounted for 28% in his final season with the team.
Diontae Johnson (19%), Chase Claypool (17%), and Eric Ebron (15%) make up the top four most targeted players on the offense. Conner is the leading running back with just eight percent of the passes thrown his way. Bell accounted for 18% of the passing targets, in 2017. Nearly the exact production now is dispersed throughout a unit of unselfish receivers.
Roethlisberger is flourishing in the new system. His touchdown (6.6) to interception (1.2) ratio are both careers best while using the wide variety of weapons to insure the best possible outcome to get points on the board.
We all drank the Kool-Aid.
That sugar deliciousness tasted so sweet but was not sustaining. There is more substance to the Steelers offense now. It embraces the team mentality that has helped them reach 9-0 for the first time in franchise history.
Time will tell if this is the winning formula for Pittsburgh to go deep into the playoffs.
Strength in personal statistics or strength in numbers are different.
Hopefully, the latter prevails.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt