Pittsburgh Steelers Must Stay the Course, Keep It On The Ground

Ben Roethlisberger’s much anticipated debut will be this Sunday, when the rival Cleveland Browns come to Heinz Field to match up against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh has positioned itself as an early favorite to make a deep playoff run, following a strong 3-1 start, behind quarterbacks Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch.

The fast start has not relied on the aerial attack, as it did last season. Rather, a strong running game, which is producing 133.5 yards per game, which is only two and a half yards less than their passing game, good enough for last in the league.

In fact, Pittsburgh’s offense ranks 29^th, averaging 269.5 yards per game.  Roethlisberger alone averaged 288.5 yards per game passing, in 15 games last season.

Roethlisberger threw for a team record 4,328 yards in 2009, but the team missed the playoffs.

While the Steelers will not run the ball 60 percent of the time, as they are currently, they should not return to the 60-40 pass/run ratio that they had last season either. Though Roethlisberger will be more than ready to sling the ball around, he does not want to disrupt the success of the team either.

“I think there's a lot of great chemistry on this team right now. They're playing great football—offense, defense, special teams—from what I've been able to watch the games.”

“I'm not coming in trying to be anything more than what I am. Just trying to be helpful, be a teammate, and do whatever I can to help this team win football games. I think they're off to a great start and I just want to come and contribute however I can to try to win football games.”

Roethlisberger will have a good chance at winning in his comeback, as the Steelers face the Browns, whom they have dominated recently, winning 18 of their past 20 games against Cleveland.

One smudge on that record was last season when the Browns, who were the worst offensive and defensive team in the league, beat the Steelers 13-6.

Pittsburgh will not forget that game, and they should not forget how they lost, trying to force the pass in poor weather conditions.

The same should be said for this season. Pittsburgh has won with a strong ground game and a dominating defense. The Steelers should stick to this formula, especially as Roethlisberger is worked back into the lineup.

It will be tempting, however, to immediately allow Roethlisberger to go back to the air according to Hines Ward.

“He is our franchise quarterback, so we are not going to close our playbook to anybody," said head coach Mike Tomlin.

Wide receiver Mike Wallace also believes the Steelers will throw the ball more.

”It's definitely going to go in another direction, but I don't think it is going to change too much from what we've been doing. At the same time, we are going to throw the ball.”

There is a different perspective from an offensive line that has enjoyed their success on the ground.

“We are running way too successfully. And in order for us to be a truly successful team, we have to be two-dimensional," said offensive tackle Max Starks.

So far this season, the Steelers have been one-dimensional. The pass has offered virtually nothing, which has allowed opposing defenses to stack the box in an effort to stop the run.

In reality, a better passing game with Roethlisberger back under center should help open up the ground game, and as a result, allow the offense to live to up to its potential, as opposed to being ranked near the bottom of the league.

“That's not us," Wallace said. "It is insulting to us...but you will see how fast we skyrocket.”

Still, balance will be the key, according to Antwaan Randle El.

“(Roethlisberger) is our all-world quarterback, but what we've established is great. We are going to add him to that establishment. We are not going to get away from things we are used to. We may put it up a little more, but at the same time, it is going to open up the run game.”

With that balance, an already strong Steelers team could look even better. They are two Jeff Reed missed field goals and one fourth quarter blown lead from being 4-0, and those games were with their third and fourth string quarterbacks at the helm.

Now that Roethlisberger is back, the Steelers are in position to make a move, not only in the AFC North, but also in the NFL.

But let it be clear, the road to the Super Bowl should be on the ground.