The Pittsburgh Steelers are loaded with weapons. There is a franchise qb, one of the speediest players within the league at receiver, a flexible running back Hines Ward Jersey and a dependable tight end.
Why is it that the Steelers rank 19th in the league in scoring at 21.2 points per game? Looking at last weeks game the scoring problems can be put directly on their red-zone efficiency.
Pittsburgh does not score enough touchdowns when down within the opponents 20-yard line.
For the season, Pittsburgh has converted on 18-of-37 red-zone attempts. Under 50 percent for any team with this particular much talent is unacceptable.
This nearly cost them the overall game a week ago at Kansas City as Pittsburgh was only in a position to put 13 points on the board without success to score touchdowns on a couple of their three trips within the red zone.
Early in the overall game Pittsburgh had the ball within the Chiefs 10-yard line without success to score after Mike Wallace dropped what looked to be a simple touchdown. Mewedle Moore Hines Ward Jersey went on to fumble the ball which was recovered by Might for a touchback.
Improved efficiency at a negative balance zone against the Chiefs could have meant a blowout.
Against the New England Patriots this season the Steelers dominated but struggled to complete the game. Though they came away having a 25-17 victory, Pittsburgh converted on only 2-of-5 attempts in the red zone.
The next week the red zone cost the Steelers the game, and maybe the division championship, from the Baltimore Ravens.
The Steelers only went 1-of-4 at a negative balance zone and lost with a final score of 23-20 following a last second touchdown pass by Joe Flacco.
A major part of the red-zone struggles originates from the weakness about the offensive line and insufficient resolve for the ground game.
Pittsburgh will discover themselves looking to go for the score from 10 yards out rather than try to get chunks of yardage. Of course, they fight in picking up more than one or two yards on run plays this deep in their opponents territory.
If its not the lack of a running game then it is Ben Roethlisberger getting pressured and even sacked, particularly on third downs.
Pittsburgh must get around these two weaknesses and they want to use their players to their strengths and never always choose the end zone shot on first down.
Bruce Arians includes a plethora of talent to work with and Roethlisberger must recognize that a brief pass on first or second down can put them in better position to score. Quite simply, they do not have to score on a single play, though when they did is there any better receiver in the league at groing through the center ultimately zone than Hines Ward?
When not looking towards Ward, Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders are excellent following the catch, particularly the first couple of with rare acceleration that can beat most defenders Hines Ward Jersey.
Quick, short passes to the of those three could pick up chunks of yardage to place Pittsburgh in stronger position gain. Each one is capable of breaking a tackle or putting on a move to potentially even score from the 10 on a quick slant.
Speaking of putting on moves, the Steelers have three talented running backs whove the expertise to catch the ball from the backfield, yet they are rarely used in the passing game that near to the goal line.
Rashard Mendenhall is shifty and quick while Isaac Redman is surprisingly nimble and can tell you tackles. Moore has a knack for finding open space too.
Maybe most frustrating may be the lack of roll outs close to the end zone. Teams score touchdowns on passes to their tight ends on roll outs every week.
Pittsburgh has two very good receiving tight ends in Heath Miller and Weslye Saunders. Saunders finally picked up his first touchdown Hines Ward Jersey reception a week ago.
Worst of all, however, may be the empty backfield set. There is nothing like telling the defense that you are likely to throw the ball that near to the goal line. A well-designed draw can be deadly in this region from the field.
Regardless of what the email address details are, however, Pittsburgh needs to increase their red-zone production. Thats the only way that they can score more points and steer clear of the nail-biters that we all watched a week ago.
Pittsburgh needs to quit settling for three and start putting touchdowns about the scoreboard.
