Hopefully the whole “a win is a win no matter how ugly” mantra doesn’t stick with this team throughout the season. I don’t know if I could live with the suspense. If you didn’t get a chance to read my article a few days ago, it talked about how this Cleveland Browns team could surprise us this season, and I tip my hat to them for staying in it until the very end. Let’s take a look at what the Steelers were able to do well offensively, albeit not a lot, and what went wrong.

Screen, Screen, and Screen Again

1. Swing pass to Eli Rogers. Holding.
2. Three-yard hitch to Antonio Brown.
3. Screen pass to Martavis Bryant. Holding.
4. Screen pass dropped by Bryant.
5. Drag route by Brown that gains nine yards.
6. Punt

Not the most ideal first possession for what is supposed to be one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL now that all of their stars are available. However, what some people fail to realize is that this gameplan early on is smart vs. a Gregg Williams defense. You’re probably shaking your head and thinking, “This guy doesn’t know anything about football”, but give me a chance to explain myself.

The play above was the very first play the Steelers offense ran – a swing pass to Eli Rogers. You’ll notice that the two safeties are playing 20+ yards off the ball, and the cornerback covering down below is also giving a pretty big cushion. This play actually goes for seven yards, but a holding penalty on JuJu Smith-Schuster turns what would’ve been a 2nd & 3 to a 1st & 18. That drastically changes your playcalling.

This screen pass to Martavis Bryant happens two plays later, but just like the play mentioned above, the safety is lined up deep with the cornerback giving a decent cushion.

If Vance McDonald is able to get in position at the right time and not end up holding on the play, Bryant only has one man to beat and a lot of green grass ahead of him with the safety being nearly 30 yards away from the play. I now that Todd Haley can call head scratching plays, but the screaming of “FIRE HALEY” won’t change anything. The horizontal screen game is a staple of this offense and an extension of the run allowing Ben to give the ball quickly to our playmakers on the outside. However, as you see, when there’s poor execution i.e. holding penalties, it backs the offense up, severely limits the playbook, and makes them predictable.

The Outlaw Scores Again

After starting the second half with a 3 & out, the Steelers marched down the field on their second possession and dialed up another play to #81 in the redzone.

This play was beautifully designed. Le’Veon Bell motions out of the backfield and splits out wide. At the snap, Bell fakes the slant inside and goes up like a sluggo (slant and go) route, and Ben Roethlisberger sells it with a pump fake. This action forces the defense to flow to the left opening up a huge alley for a tight end screen for Jesse James. With Alejandro Villanueva, Ramon Foster, and David DeCastro in front, it was an easy score. Here’s another angle of the play:

Browns Gain Back Momentum

It was 3rd & 9 with the Steelers up 21-10 near the beginning of the fourth quarter and looking to close out the game for good. Boy, can momentum swing quickly in the NFL.

The offense was lined up with three receivers – Antonio Brown split out left, Bryant in the slot, and JuJu Smith-Schuster at the top with Jesse James lined up as a wing and Ben is lined up in shotgun formation. The Browns counter with a deep Cover-2. When I say deep, I mean 20-yards downfield as they’ve been playing most of the game. The throw was intended for Martavis Bryant running a post down the middle, but this ball really had no chance with how tight of a window it was between the two safeties and slot cornerback playing underneath. Briean Boddy-Calhoun was running stride for stride with Bryant and tipped the ball right into the waiting arms of safety Derrick Kindred, his first career interception. Kudos to the Browns because they had excellent coverage on all of the receivers, so Ben really had nowhere to go with this ball except for maybe Bell who released out on a route at the last second after ensuring that there were no free defenders coming in.

AB > Triple Coverage

With 2:47 left in the game, and the Steelers backed up on a 2nd & 12, who else would you rather rely on to make a play than Antonio Brown?

The Steelers have their 11 personnel (1 back, 1 tight end, 3 receivers) on the field with Ben lined up in shotgun formation. Jesse James stays in to pass protect giving the Steelers a six man protection against the Browns four defenders who end up rushing. As you see in the picture below, the outside receivers, Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant, both run post routes, Eli Rogers runs a drag route across the middle, and Bell runs a little hitch route on the 20-yard line.

Initially, Ben had Bryant open, but by the time he looks his way, the safety already jumped the route. James and Villanueva to a fantastic job sealing the end which allows Big Ben to roll out to his left and lob the ball up. From there, it’s all Antonio Brown. This play was the icing on the cake to what was already a great performance from Brown (10 receptions, 144 yards prior to this catch). We aren’t still arguing about who the best receiver in the game is, right?

The Closer

Even after Antonio Brown’s incredible 38-yard reception, there was still 2:28 left on the clock. As the Wild Card game between the Steelers vs. Bengals taught us, anything can happen until the clock hits zero.

The 22 personnel (2 backs, 2 tight ends, 1 receiver) is on the field in an I-formation. Up to this point, Bell had eight of his nine runs go to the right side behind guard David DeCastro and tackle Marcus Gilbert. Why stop now?

To break down this play and the intricacies of a standard zone run, we have SCU’s very own Zach Metkler, a former college offensive lineman, to help walk us through.

As a zone run, Bell has the opportunity to hit the run or cut back based off of what opens in front of him. Along the offensive line, each lineman is responsible for working towards a certain area or gap and to pick up whatever player comes their way (which is the difference between a zone and man blocking scheme). Since this play is going right, Gilbert will work towards the C-gap (between the tight end and tackle), DeCastro will work towards the B-gap (between the tackle and guard), and Maurkice Pouncey will work towards the A-gap (between the guard and center). Before the play begins, Jesse James has a wide 9-technique, Gilbert has a 4-technique defensive end (head up on the tackle) and DeCastro has a very tight 3-technique (outside shoulder of the guard). Pouncey is uncovered.

Off of the snap, Emmanuel Ogbah works to the B-gap and Trevon Coley works to the A-gap. Because the C-gap is uncovered, Gilbert is free to still work towards the C-gap while also helping in the B-gap where DeCastro is picking up Ogbah. Gilbert and DeCastro perfectly execute the double team for a textbook zone block. Gilbert works to the C-gap and punches back to the outside shoulder of Ogbah until he feels DeCastro latch on. At that point, a trade off occurs, DeCastro takes over the block, and Gilbert promptly begins working up to the second level while maintaining his zone responsibilities. As Jamie Collins flows with the play, Gilbert is there to meet him to perform a solid cut block to get Collins onto the ground. While this is going on, DeCastro is able to flip his hips on the block, get his back towards the running lane, and seal off the hole.

Alone on an island, James is able to use quick footwork to effectively work out to Jamar Taylor and wash him out of the play by utilizing great inside leverage. With a lane developed from great blocking by Gilbert, DeCastro, and James, Roosevelt Nix comes up through the hole and does what he does best: put his body on the line while simultaneously taking two would-be tacklers out of the play. When this all works together in harmony, the Steelers are able to pull off large chunks of yardage and leave Bell in space to make moves one-on-one against defensive backs, which is a matchup the Steelers will take every play.

Thank you for taking the time to read through our offensive film breakdown. Please be sure to check out our film room for the Steelers defense and our upcoming rival film session as well!