Offense line showing growth, improvement during Steelers' winning streak

By most statistical measures, the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line has shown improvement in recent weeks.

The Steelers have run the ball more consistently and successfully. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been hit and sacked less frequently. And, more tangibly, the Steelers have pieced together a three-game winning streak that has gotten them over .500 heading into their game Monday night against the Chicago Bears.

“Their play is one thing, and it’s getting increasingly more steady and more consistent and good over the course of play,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “That’s a reasonable expectation of talented young people. I’m equally as impressed with their demeanor.”

The winning streak has bred confidence on a line that was the unknown entity of the Steelers offense entering the season. The Steelers opened with rookies starting at center and left tackle, a first-year starter at left guard, a right tackle who spent training camp playing on the left side and a veteran right guard who didn’t join the roster until after minicamp.

After a sluggish start in which the Steelers couldn’t gain traction running the ball and Roethlisberger was getting hit with alarming regularity, the play of the line has reversed course and helped stabilize the offense.

Consider that in the three-game losing streak that resulted in a 1-3 record, the Steelers rushed for a combined 146 yards. In the wins against Denver, Seattle and Cleveland, the Steelers rushed for 381, averaging 127 yards per game.

Once ranked last in the NFL in rushing, the Steelers have inched their way to No. 28. The improved running game also has helped keep pass rushers from teeing off on Roethlisberger. After being hit 21 times and sacked eight times combined against Las Vegas, Cincinnati and Green Bay, Roethlisberger has been hit eight times and sacked on four occasions during the winning streak.

Center Kendrick Green said the line doesn’t need to research the stats to know it is being more effective.

“I would say a little bit, yeah, but we’re not content,” he said. “It’s not like we are easing off the gas pedal at all. We want to keep making jumps each and every week. We want to be a team that runs the ball as well as throw the ball. I would definitely say I see the progress coming to life, but we’re going to keep pushing.”

Tomlin liked the way his young linemen rose to the occasion playing at Cleveland, which ended the Steelers’ season last year and began this year as the favorite to win the division. The Steelers outgained the Browns’ vaunted running game 115 yards to 96, and left tackle Dan Moore limited NFL sacks leader Myles Garrett to one sack and two hits on Roethlisberger.

“You get in hot AFC North road venues and things of that nature, playing against the type of people that they played against, and it was cool to have conversations with them, and to see them engaged and to see that the moments weren’t too big for them,” Tomlin said. “They could communicate, not only what was happening on the field, but just communicate in general. They’re built for it.”

Like many people, Roethlisberger wondered how long it would take the offensive line to find its footing, particularly with projected starting right tackle Zach Banner beginning the season on injured reserve.

“They’ve done it in a short time against some really good defenders,” he said. “I don’t want to say there’s not a leader out there, but it’s not like your (Maurkice) Pouncey, your Ramon (Foster), your (David) DeCastro or an Al (Villanueva), the guys who had been there, that staple.

“You look at it and it’s rookies, new guys that have come in. Chuks (Okorafor) and Banner are the only guys that have been here. To see that kind of cohesion, to see the way they work together without that one ‘follow-me’ type of guy, I just think they are having fun and learning about each other at a really fast rate, and it’s showing itself and manifesting on the field.”

Green, for one, isn’t ready to bask in the success of recent weeks. The season isn’t at the midpoint yet. And for all of the recent success, the Steelers remain in third place in the AFC North race.

“I do appreciate how far we’ve come,” he said, “but we’ve got a long way to go.”