The Pittsburgh Steelers' organization is known for its rich history, and the legendary players and coaches that created it. Many of these players have similar traits, which include being tough, physical, loyal, and dominant. The Steelers' history is built on having a strong run game and an elite defense. Every Super Bowl-winning team in the organization's history followed that same formula, including the teams during the 2000s.
Jerome Bettis was a strong part of the Steelers' rushing attack when they won their fifth Super Bowl during the 2005 NFL season. Pittsburgh refused to be denied on the ground, and they were one of the best in the league at running the rock while Bettis was wearing the black and gold. A big reason for that is the offensive line, which included Jeff Hartings at center. During a recent interview, Hartings was asked what it was like being able to run the ball so well, even when the defense knew what was coming.
"Yeah, well, we did shout out the play a little bit. We would have a call, 'Opey,' which meant it was going to go here, but now it is going to go there. It was very satisfying, we took a lot of pride in that. Coach [Bill] Cowher took a lot of pride in that."
Head Coach Bill Cowher always wanted his teams to have a strong identity of being able to run the ball on offense, and that is exactly what his teams did. Hartings played for Pittsburgh from 2001 through 2006. In his first season in 2001, Pittsburgh led the league in rushing yards with ease. They eclipsed 2,774 yards on the ground, while the next closest team was 530 yards below them.
Having a strong running game is beneficial in many ways. It tires out a defense, keeps the clock moving, and there is less overall risk involved than with the passing game. During Hartings time in Pittsburgh, the team led the league in rushing attempts in 2001, 2004, and 2005. They also finished third in 2002. This means when they got a lead, it was hard for opposing teams to close the gap because they ate up so much clock. Hartings spoke about the importance of being able to use the run to hold on to a lead.
"There is so many comebacks in the NFL, in the NFL now. From 21 points down, 24 points down. It was hard to comeback against us when we were up 10 points. Even if it was in the first quarter."
Running the ball effectively while having a lead is draining for a defense. The clock keeps moving and their will keeps breaking. Pittsburgh achieved the goal of every team, winning Super Bowl XL, due to their domination on the ground. In the game itself, Pittsburgh ran the ball 33 times for over 180 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 75-yard touchdown run from Willie Parker.
Steelers Have A Chance To Dominate On The Ground In 2024
Pittsburgh's offense has been less than spectacular as of late, but the run game has remained a bright spot. Both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren went for over 1,000 yards from scrimmage each during the 2023 season, and Pittsburgh has continued to improve the offensive line. Both of the franchise's top picks in the 2024 NFL Draft were spent on upgrading the offensive line.
The Steelers also have a new offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith, who is known for his run-heavy offense. He was a big reason for the success of Derrick Henry, as Smith was the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans in 2019 and 2020. Pittsburgh will have its best offensive line since the retirements of Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro, with both of their running backs having a real chance to break 1,000 rushing yards each.
