PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Benny Snell was praised for gaining just 23 yards. But it was the final series of the Ravens game and it was the first time since week three against Houston the Steelers were able to grind out a win on the ground in a one possession game.
The Steelers are working on consistency with the run game.
“We talk about finish,” said offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner. “We talk about techniques and fundamentals to get yourself into that position where you can explode on somebody. You can continue a drive block and not be a one trick pony and get one pop and then next thing you know the guy is jumping on the pile trying to strip the ball out, just another hit that one of our backs doesn’t
have to take.”
“It goes onto everybody,” said Pro Bowl guard David DeCastro. “Everyone has to win their one-on-ones when called upon.”
“It’s finding that little bit of edge to maintain a block,” Fichtner says. “That goes for receivers. That goes for tight ends. That goes for anybody blocking for a running back. We have to keep pushing it. Our guys understand it. I think if we keep them fresh as best as we possibly can, I know game day they will give you the best energy, and they have.”
It’s not an easy thing to work on in today’s NFL, contact is very scarce in practice and really limited even in training camps. Combine that with this season and very little hitting except in games, hard to keep your edge when you aren’t wearing gear for many practices.
“Yeah, they’re not getting a lot of padded practice, and you’re giving a lot of walkthroughs with hats on in an attempt to keep you fresh and keep you healthy,” Fichtner sad. “We can get some live type of work, but it’s really not the banging and clanging that we do.”
Judging by the reaction DeCastro gave during a Zoom call on Saturday, he’s heard the talk about rushing the ball and just wants a win.
“We got great talent on the edge, I don’t really care what it takes,” DeCastro said. “You can’t force the run if it’s not there”.
“I’m an O-lineman I don’t really care. You say ‘run game, run game’, whatever it takes.”
“It’s not my job to draw up the plays or script it. Listen to Ben and Randy and go from there.”