Rashard Mendenhall Injury: Steelers are Better Without Him Against Titans

The running game this year has been awful for the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is something that Steelers fans are not accustomed to, as the Steelers are a team that normally is defined as one that uses the running game to set up the passing game. 

Coming into the year after a Super Bowl run Mendenhall looked to continue his streak of 1,000-yard rushing seasons. It’s still early in the season, as Mendenhall can still turn it around and finish the year with 1,000 yards, but after four games it does not look good for the Steelers starting back.  

After four games this year Mendenhall has yet to not only have a game of 100 yards rushing but a game of over 75 yards rushing. For a team that in the past has led the league in rushing with and without Mendenhall, this year they rank 20th in the league.  

Is it because of a bad offensive line? The team's offensive line is responsible for their starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to be questionable with Mendenhall for next week’s game against Tennessee.  

It’s hard to believe that, since after Mendenhall left because of a hamstring injury the Steelers were able to use both Issac Redman and Mewelde Moore to rush for 93 yards combined. Redman averaged 6.7 yards per carry on six carries while Moore averaged 8.5 yards per carry on four carries. This is in comparison to Mendenhall’s 2.8 yards per carry on nine carries.  

If Mendenhall is unable to go on Sunday versus the Titans it will give the Steelers a change of pace with the two running back approach.  

This injury to Mendenhall’s hamstring isn’t a surprise as the last two years he’s carried the ball 242 and 324 times over 16 games. He was bound to break down sometime this season. It’s more of a blessing that he’s suffered this injury early in the season instead of around Week 14-16.  

The Steelers can win without Mendenhall this Sunday. They can sub in Redman, or Moore, or Jonathan Dwyer and not miss a beat in their running game.  

It’s the injury to Roethlisberger that should have the Steeler Nation worried heading into Sunday. If he is unable to go this team is at a bigger disadvantage against these 3-1 Titans.  

Keep Mendenhall out Sunday against Tennessee. Let him get some rest; because if the Steelers want to get back to Indianapolis in February they will need him at 100 percent. 

Twitter:@tjmcaloon