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The s have an Aaron Rodgers drawback, but it surely has little to do with their veteran quarterback’s means to make performs.
Protecting him protected has shortly grow to be certainly one of Pittsburgh’s greatest considerations.
That was evident throughout Sunday’s 20-3 loss to the s, when communication breakdowns and missed assignments repeatedly put Rodgers beneath strain. One disastrous sequence ended with linebacker Christian Elliss coming utterly unblocked earlier than combining with Robert Spillane to hit Rodgers and power a fumble.
The ball traveled backward 36 yards earlier than Pittsburgh recovered, leaving the Steelers going through fourth-and-43.
Rodgers was sacked 4 instances and misplaced one other fumble when defensive deal with Christian Barmore beat Spencer Anderson. Elijah Ponder recovered that turnover and returned it for a New England landing.
The safety issues have Steelers coach Mike McCarthy on the lookout for solutions.
“Our protections weren’t clear,” d after the loss, acknowledging communication breakdowns and a scarcity of consistency within the trenches. McCarthy additionally positioned duty on himself and the teaching workers for failing to have the unit sufficiently ready.
Steelers’ experiment backfires
Pittsburgh’s preseason strategy could possibly be contributing to the issue.
McCarthy experimented with a number of offensive-line combos all through coaching camp moderately than permitting one beginning 5 to persistently work collectively. Rodgers additionally didn’t play through the preseason, limiting alternatives for the quarterback and offensive line to develop game-speed chemistry.
By way of two video games, the outcomes have been regarding.
In line with ESPN Analytics and NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, Pittsburgh ranks thirteenth with a 52.5% cross block win charge. The working recreation has struggled much more, with the Steelers rating close to the underside of the NFL in run-block win charge and dashing manufacturing.
Pittsburgh is averaging solely 74.5 dashing yards per recreation.
Now one other problem awaits.
The Steelers host the s on Sunday, and Cincinnati enters the matchup tied for the NFL lead with eight sacks.
With Rodgers now 42, Pittsburgh can’t afford repeated free rushers and safety breakdowns. Establishing continuity and enhancing communication up entrance might decide whether or not the Steelers’ offense can lastly discover its rhythm.
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