Recording, preventing sacks among items on Steelers' agenda when they return from bye

Mike Tomlin likes to spend the bye week taking an introspective look at the Pittsburgh Steelers, using his time to analyze trends, identify weaknesses and eliminate what he refers to as “known issues.”

Despite the Steelers winning back-to-back games to take a 3-3 record into the bye, Tomlin had his work cut out for him this past week. The offense remains a work in progress, and the defense has been hampered by sloppy play in the second half of games.

Only when the Steelers return to the field next weekend in Cleveland will they know whether the time spent during the bye week was fruitful.

Tomlin doesn’t need our help in finding ways to improve his team, but we are more than happy to oblige anyhow.

Here are five things, some beyond Tomlin’s control, that bear watching once the Steelers resume play:

1. Where’s the rush?

It was bound to happen. After leading the NFL in sacks for a record four consecutive seasons, the Steelers were inevitably going to experience a slowdown in rushing the quarterback.

Still, the Steelers aren’t quite adhering to the standards they set from 2017-20 when they recorded at least 50 sacks a season. With the season a tad more than one-third complete, the Steelers rank tied for eighth in the NFL with 15 sacks, putting them on a pace for 43.

That’s a serviceable clip but would be 13 fewer than they totaled in 2020. Of course, losing Bud Dupree and, to date, Stephon Tuitt from the defense is part of the reason. Tyson Alualu’s injury also must be taken into account.

Aside from T.J. Watt, whose seven sacks are second in the league, nobody else is getting to the quarterback with any consistency. Cam Heyward, facing constant double teams, and Devin Bush have two apiece, and Alex Highsmith has 1 1/2.

2. Keep Ben clean

Even with an aging line protecting him last year, Ben Roethlisberger was sacked just 13 times, his career low for a full season. This was attributed to Roethlisberger’s itchy trigger finger: He got rid of the football in an average of 2.3 seconds, the fastest release time in the NFL.

Roethlisberger’s release time has ticked up to 2.36 seconds this year, which continues to lead the league. Yet, Roethlisberger also has been sacked 12 times in six games, putting him on pace to be dropped 34 times if he plays all 17 games.

That would represent the most sacks his body has taken since 2013, when Roethlisberger was dropped 42 times.

Roethlisberger, of course, was in his early 30s then and not in the twilight of his career.

The offensive line that includes two rookies and another first-year starter needs to do a better job of keeping Roethlisberger upright after the bye.

3. Splash down

When an offense is built around a short passing game, it’s understandable that a lack of big plays would follow suit.

This year, the Steelers have been able to provide the occasional sizzle, tying for fifth in the NFL with five pass receptions exceeding 40-plus yards. The issue is the Steelers aren’t consistently getting the plays that extend longer than 20 yards.

In that category, the Steelers rank No. 26, generating just 16 completions that have amassed 20-plus yards. Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool share the team lead with five apiece.

By comparison, the Raiders, who used a 61-yard touchdown pass to fend off the Steelers in Week 2, lead the NFL with 32 pass completions of at least 20 yards. Ranked second are the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 31.

Longer completions can keep defenses from stacking the box to stop running back Najee Harris. The challenge is magnified for the Steelers with JuJu Smith-Schuster, who has a pair of 97-yard touchdown catches on his resume, out for the season.

4. Take it away

Not only have the sacks declined for the Steelers defense, they no longer are proficient at forcing turnovers.

The Steelers were among the best in the NFL at creating takeaways the past two seasons, leading the league with 38 in 2019 and ranking second with 27 last year.

Through six games, though, the Steelers have created just five turnovers. A defense that tied for the league lead with 18 interceptions last season had just two heading into the bye.

With the offense struggling to find its identity, the defense could help out by providing a short field on occasion.

That won’t happen if the Steelers don’t start getting more interceptions and fumble recoveries.

5. Unfriendly competition

Much has been made of the Steelers’ strength of schedule and the degree of difficulty in the second half when they play five of their final eight games on the road.

That makes the home games against Chicago and Detroit next month must-win contests if the Steelers expect to contend for a playoff berth.

The Lions, at 0-6 heading into Sunday, are the only team remaining on the schedule that currently has a losing record. The Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs are each .500, with the Steelers playing the latter two on the road.

The Steelers also have four games remaining against division leaders: two with Baltimore and one each against the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans.