How Le'Veon Bell Reinvented His Game and Became Steelers' Workhorse

If you are a fan of old-school Pittsburgh Steelers football, then that Monday night win over the Tennessee Titans had to be a welcome return to smashmouth football. Running back Le’Veon Bell carried the ball 33 times for a career-high 204 yards.

Monday’s effort was Bell’s third game of more than 100 yards on the season, but in terms of how it happened, this one was truly special. The Pittsburgh offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage, and regardless of the complexity of the play call, the big boys up front delivered. Just check out these highlights from NFL.com:

It has been a real joy to watch the evolution of Bell’s game as the season has progressed. His vision has steadily improved, and that new streamlined physique provides him with a serious burst through the creases created by his offensive line. Bell has displayed as good a balance of agility and power as any back in recent memory.

Against the Titans, Pittsburgh used multiple sets and personnel groupings to run the football. The Titans were selling out to bring pressure, and that meant lots of stacked fronts. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did a great job checking in and out of run plays depending on the look, but even when they didn’t, the offensive line put a hat on a hat and moved bodies.

Let’s take a look at a couple of plays that show the diversity and execution of the run plays on Monday night.

NFL Game Rewind

On this first run, Pittsburgh comes out in a hybrid 12-personnel look. The Steelers split tight end Heath Miller out wide, and then bring him back in motion. The Titans are crowding the line of scrimmage, expecting a run to the right here.

NFL Game Rewind

But at the snap, the beauty of the play design makes its appearance. The Steelers crash down on the Titans defensive front to the right. However, guard David DeCastro pulls left to get a crushing seal block on Tennessee linebacker Kamerion Wimbley. This became a trend over the course of the game. Wimbley had to get tired of seeing DeCastro coming around the corner on him.

DeCastro and Miller do their job peeling back and creating a lane for Bell. Bell sees the cutback and is up the field in a hurry. If wide receiver Markus Wheaton gets even a slightly better block, Bell gets 10 or 12 more yards.

NFL Game Rewind

This second run works because of Roethlisberger. Big Ben recognizes that the Titans are playing off, looking for the pass. He checks to a run because he knows he has numbers.

NFL Game Rewind

Taking a little different look at the same play before the snap, we see that Pittsburgh has the bodies to match up with Tennessee. Once the football is snapped, every Steelers player does their job. No missed blocks, no blown assignments. Bell has multiple creases to run through and makes quick work of the Titans defense for another nice gain.

NFL Game Rewind

Finally, we see a situation where Roethlisberger actually appears to check to a run, even though the Titans have nine guys around the line of scrimmage. So, if you are going to run right into the strength of the defense, do it with your best players.

NFL Game Rewind

Once the football is snapped, it looks eerily similar to the first play we broke down. The Steelers crash down, and DeCastro and Miller seal on the other side. Tennessee does a better job this time of keeping the Steelers linemen off of them, and the lanes for Bell are lean. So, Bell just takes the closest crease and uses his power to gain extra yards at the second level.

It's important to temper enthusiasm after Monday's performance. It was against the Titans, who went into the game ranked near the bottom of the league in run defense. The plan was simple, yet effective. The key will be what the Steelers can glean from this game that they can build on over the bye and utilize down the final stretch run of the season.

One thing is certain, if this team wants to make the playoffs—and go deep into them—there can't be any more 10- and 11-carry games for Bell like the two weeks prior to Monday's performance. The emergence of Bell and the offensive line is as promising a sign as this team has had all season that they can be a real contender in the AFC.