Behind the Steel Curtain
The Steelers are 1-1 following a 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the home opener at Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh is back on the road this week against the New England Patriots, a place the franchise hasn’t won since 2008.
Arthur Smith’s offense is 30th in rushing, averaging 62.5 yards per game through two contests.
Jaylen Warren owns 85 total rushing yards and is pacing at a 3.4 yards-per-carry average. Aaron Rodgers has been sacked seven times, and the Steelers need improvement from their ground attack to open up play action and help their 41-year-old captain.
What does Rodgers want to see in the run game?
“10+ yard runs,” Rodgers said. “I think that’s what Pat (Meyer) wants to see and what Mike T and Art (Smith) want to see.”
The Steelers are converting 36% on third down, and Rodgers wants to see Warren and Kenneth Gainwell reach the second level to break explosive runs.
“We’ve seen our backs on secondary players has been a good matchup for us,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers is a fan of Warren, who earned a two-year extension through 2027.
“He’s a quiet guy,” Rodgers said. “He’s kind of what I thought from afar. The biggest compliment I can give him is that when you’re behind a four-straight 1,000-yard rusher, you’re seen as a change-up back. He’s a guy who could be a No. 1 back on any team in the league. Really thankful for him.
“The play that he had the other day was one of the greatest catch-and-runs I’ve seen,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers compared it to a catch Donald Driver made with the Packers in 2009 when Driver pushed past a defender at the five-yard line to reach the end zone.
Mike Tomlin stood behind his offensive line on Tuesday, saying he feels “great” about the line and that Broderick Jones played “significantly better” in Week 2. Rodgers echoed the same sentiments on Wednesday.
“I feel great about the offensive line,” Rodgers said.
PFF graded four of the Steelers’ five offensive lineman below a 60 grade for their performance on Sunday. Left tackle Broderick Jones earned a 47.9 overall grade, the lowest of all five starters.
Right tackle Troy Fautanu (50.1), left guard Isaac Seumalo (53.5), and right guard Mason McCormick (58.1) all ranked below 60; and center Zach Frazier (66.2) wasn’t much better, ranking as the 18th-best center in the NFL.
Despite the struggles and concerns, Rodgers isn’t panicking. The four-time MVP is looking for alternatives and still believes in the Steelers current personnel.
“Our backs are slippery enough. We have to get them up to the second level clean,” Rodgers said. “It’s not always on the line, sometimes combination blocks, sometimes the tracks. We just have to be perfect with our execution. If the track is supposed to be a certain way, let’s run that track.”
The Steelers play New England at 1 p.m. Sunday and have lost eight of their last nine to the Patriots, who lead the league in sacks...
