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Week 10: Steelers vs Browns—Offensive Line
By Dagger | November 13, 2007
The Steelers Offensive Line gets such little push off the line of scrimmage that it makes me wonder if they have any leg strength.
*Doing these breakdowns, I see lineman get to the proper spots, I see them getting their hands into the pads of the defenders, but they can’t generate any push. It’s as if our OL is taught to “get their hands on a man and occupy him” as opposed to “get your hands on a man and DRIVE him.” Over the past two games, I have watched our offensive line and RBs seemingly run into a cement wall at the line of scrimmage right after the ball is snapped. Why can’t they push the DL back a few yards? Why don’t we see DL and LBs getting punished and put to the ground? Notice how many times we come up empty on short-yardage plays? Notice how many times we have to throw near the endzone? I would like to see our line get a little more nasty, drive people into the ground, and create running lanes rather than occupy space. There are often times on running plays where (looking at our OL engage defenders at the line) you would think that we were in pass protection.
*Remember when we were playing the Colts in 2005 and people like Joey Porter were saying you can’t be a TOUGH team or offense if you are a passing team? Well, maybe our offense is becoming a “passing offense” and Steeler fans shouldn’t view our OL as a smashmouth, nasty line. Play a little game with me….pretend it’s 4th and 1 at the goalline for the AFC Championship game vs New England RIGHT NOW….what play do you want called? Najeh up the middle? Parker up the middle? A bootleg or a a pass to the TE? Exactly. No Steeler fan has any confidence in this offensive line right now and they shouldn’t. Whether it’s Simmons missing a block, Mahan getting shoved back into the backfield, etc…this OL is just not getting the job done in short-yardage, goalline, or frankly…most running plays. They are serviceable and they “have their moments,” but for the most part, they are the weak link on what could otherwise be a really great offense/team.
*I will talk about this more in depth later on, but we are not getting tricky, gimmicky, and exotic at the goalline just because we have 3TEs. Part of the reason we don’t line up and knock your teeth out in the redzone is because we can’t. Without Spaeth, Miller, Tuman, Davis, and others lining up and sneaking into the endzone for receiving touchdowns, we would be in a world of trouble as we repeatedly watch Parker smash himself into the butts of our offensive lineman at the line of scrimmage.
*We are running the ball out of the Singleback formation a great deal. This creates more space near the line most games, but it also puts pressure on your line to drive and dispose of their blocks. Out of the singleback formation, if you don’t move the DL in front of you, then your running back is going to be bouncing most of his runs to the sideline. Hmmmm….that sure sounds like what’s going on in Pittsburgh right now.
*Did you notice that backup guard Chris Kemoeatu actually played FullBack on the most crucial drive of the entire game? Yep. Kemo actually lined up at FB for 2 goalline plays in the 4th QTR. Play 1 was a 0 yard gain up the middle. Play 2 was a TD pass to Miller where Kemo actually went out for a pass and looked to engage in an “illegal block downfield” as he blocked a LB in the endzone about 6 yards downfield before Ben tossed the ball to Miller. I’ll Frame by Frame this one just for fun tomorrow.
Offensive Line Play-by-Play Breakdown:
A comment on scoring: Players who missed a block or gave up a sack get a (-1). Players who had a great block, sprung open a big hole for a big gain or make something positive happen on the field get a (+1). Most plays result in a (+0)…meaning the lineman didn’t do anything exceptional or anything detrimental during the play. See the play-by-play breakdown after my conclusions for specifics. Keep in mind that a “bad grade” for an offensive lineman is approximately -3 or worse. An average score is about a 0 to +2. A real good day is a +5 or more.
Marvel Smith
Bad day for the offensive line. The Browns stacked the line of scrimmage “MAYBE” five times all game. Give the Browns front 7 some credit as the routinely shed blocks, stuffed us at the line of scrimmage and refused to be pushed off the line of scrimmage for most of the game. Marvel sprung a few big running plays to the left side of the field and was pretty solid in pass protection.
+2, -2
FINAL GRADE: +0
Alan Faneca
Faneca was rather quiet today. The Steelers didn’t run the ball all that much, and when they did, he was as guilty as the rest of the OL when it came to getting almost no push off the line. I re-watched this game and studied the line in slow-motion on many occasions and the line of scrimmage seemingly never moved. It was as if the second the ball was snapped, a large cement wall was erected from the LT to the RT at the LOS and nobody was moving it one way or the other. In fact, when Parker broke off his big runs (5 or 6 yarders), they came after he bounced the carry to the sidelines….so again….it was as if the wall was still there and he was forced to run around it. Pretty fun exercise guys, to go back to the TiVo and watch the game and pretend that there is a large immovable object at the line of scrimmage. Faneca whiffed on one play (read play-by-play analysis below), but beyond that, he didn’t have any disasters. On another play late in the game, he was able to block two defenders on the same play and spring Parker for a decent gain.
+2, -2
Final Grade: +0
Sean Mahan
Mahan’s inability to generate any movement at the goalline was once again difficult to watch. This team is going to need a big 4th and 1 conversion or a big 3rd and goal from the 1 yard line in the playoffs or somewhere along the line, and we won’t be able to convert because of this guy. I dedicated an entire “Frame by Frame” segment to Mahan’s lack of push a month ago. If you think I’m too kind on Sean, then take a look at that and then come talk to me. It’s great that we are using our TEs around the goalline and we are trying all these “unusual” redzone formations, but don’t let that fool you into thinking we are doing these things out of extreme creativity. Necessity is the mother of all invention my friends, and Mahan’s lack of push at the point of attack KILLS any running game we have at the goalline. It may be fun to see Chris Kemoeatu lined up at FB in the 4th Quarter on Sunday and to have 3TE sets with Max Starks, only to throw the ball to Miller…..but just don’t forget why we are running plays like that down there. This week, I took big points off of Mahan for getting shoved into the backfield on a few occasions, giving up a sack (shared) and not sustaining his blocks.
+1, -7
Final Grade: -6
Kendall Simmons
I could cut/paste my grades for this guy dating back 3 weeks but I won’t. I’ll somehow rip this guy’s play and make it sound original. Um, he gave up a sack…he looked over-matched by DLs and LBs alike, he gets his hands on a defender and removes them about 1.0 seconds later as if his man is a piping hot stove, he falls down all over the field, and he frequently WHIFFS on blocks. Did I miss anything? You know it’s bad when over the course of an entire game, I can’t find one play where I felt like this guy did something real positive to help this team move the football. Last week, Kemo got time at RG. This week, Kemo gets time at FB on a 4th QTR drive. Hmmmm…….(joking. Simmons is your starter for the rest of the season, get used to it).
+0, -6
Final Grade: -6
Willie Colon
Colon has made some positive strides in recent weeks, but he took a bit of a step back this past Sunday vs the Browns. He gave up a sack, was beat off the edge a few times, and didn’t really help a whole lot in pass protection. Willie and Simmons on the right side of the line had a few chances to pick up key 3rd and 1 or 1st and goals, but they were unable to move the line and create space for Parker. Most of the yards that were gained on the ground towards the right side of the line came off of Willie Parker “bounces” and not from holes crated by the right side of the line. Heath Miller was lined up next to him a few times and I can tell you that Heath Miller was an ANIMAL in the receiving game, but his blocking this past Sunday was the worst blocking I’ve seen from Heath all season (pass and run).
+1, -6
Final Grade -5
DRIVE 1
1-10-PIT 28 (14:53) W.Parker left tackle to PIT 30 for 2 yards.
Mahan starts off with a quick (-1) here for not holding his block long enough (and getting no push) and allowing his man to stretch the LOS and make a tackle. Faneca and Smith were both pulling left/outside here and he needed to be strong, and wasn’t. Heath Miller didn’t do Parker any favors either on this play.
2-8-PIT 30 (14:15) W.Parker left end to PIT 36 for 6 yards.
Davis and Miller make this play happen. Great blocking from those two guys.
3-2-PIT 36 (13:31) (Shotgun) S.Holmes right end to PIT 34 for -2 yards
Just a bad play IMO, just get the first down here to start the game off. No need to do something risky and give the Browns the idea that they think they can hang with us.
DRIVE 2
1-10-PIT 38 (4:02) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to H.Ward ran ob at CLV 47 for 15 yards.
1-10-CLV 47 (3:35) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to W.Parker to CLV 44 for 3 yards
2-7-CLV 44 (2:55) W.Parker up the middle to CLV 13 for 31 yards
No push from any of the OL or TE. Parker makes something out of nothing to bounce the play back to the right side of the field where Spaeth and Colon hold up their end of the bargain. Colon pulls a Max Starks pancake and drives his man into the ground. (+1)
1-10-CLV 13 (2:24) W.Parker right tackle to CLV 10 for 3 yards
2-7-CLV 10 (1:43) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short left to C.Davis.
3-7-CLV 10 (1:38) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short right to H.Ward .
Ben missed a wide open Santonio Holmes for a TD here at the goalline right in front of Ward.
4-7-CLV 10 (1:33) J.Reed 28 yard field goal is GOOD
DRIVE 3
1-10-PIT 29 (14:49) W.Parker up the middle to PIT 31 for 2 yards.
2-8-PIT 31 (14:06) B.Roethlisberger pass short left to N.Washington to PIT 42 for 11 yards.
1-10-PIT 42 (13:26) W.Parker left guard to PIT 44 for 2 yards.
Good blocking here….Browns had 8 guys in the box and the one man left unblocked made the tackle. Not much you can do here.
2-8-PIT 44 (12:45) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep middle to H.Ward.
3-8-PIT 44 (12:40) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger scrambles up the middle to CLV 47 for 9 yards.
1-10-CLV 47 (11:56) B.Roethlisberger pass deep left to H.Miller to CLV 25 for 22 yards.
1-10-CLV 25 (11:16) W.Parker right end to CLV 22 for 3 yards.
This play was designed to go up the middle but Kendall Simmons COMPLETELY whiffed on his man and allowed him to get into the backfield. It takes a minor miracle for Parker to spring right and get three yards.
2-7-CLV 22 (10:32) W.Parker right tackle to CLV 17 for 5 yards.
3-2-CLV 17 (9:52) N.Davenport right tackle to CLV 17 for no gain.
Third and short and you run the ball right? I guess Cleveland could have expected us to run left….nobody on the right side OL or TEs get any push.
4-2-CLV 17 (9:07) J.Reed 35 yard field goal is GOOD
DRIVE 4
Pittsburgh Steelers at 6:321-10-PIT 13 (6:32) B.Roethlisberger pass short right intended for S.Holmes INTERCEPTED by B.Pool at PIT 21.
:(
DRIVE 5
1-10-PIT 31 (5:20) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short left to H.Ward to PIT 31 for no gain (L.Bodden).
PENALTY on PIT-H.Miller, Illegal Block Above the Waist, 10 yards, enforced at PIT 31.
1-20-PIT 21 (4:51) W.Parker left end pushed ob at PIT 31 for 10 yards (S.Jones).
PENALTY on PIT-H.Ward, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at PIT 31.
1-20-PIT 21 (4:20) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to S.Holmes to PIT 28 for 7 yards (L.Bodden).
2-13-PIT 28 (3:41) (Shotgun) W.Parker right tackle to PIT 31 for 3 yards (E.Wright).
Not a great play but the right side of the line (+1 for Colon +1 for Simmons) was out-numbered and they do a nice job with all their blocks and Faneca (+1) has a nice pull here.
3-10-PIT 31 (2:57) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short left to H.Ward to PIT 43 for 12 yards (D.Holly; L.Bodden). P6
1-10-PIT 43 (2:17) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short left to N.Washington. Coverage by #26 Jones
2-10-PIT 43 (2:14) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short right to S.Holmes.
3-10-PIT 43 (2:10) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to N.Washington pushed ob at CLV 40 for 17 yards (L.Bodden). P7
Two-Minute Warning
1-10-CLV 40 (2:00) W.Parker left end to CLV 33 for 7 yards (K.Wimbley, A.Davis).
Nice pull and 2nd level block by Mahan (+1)
2-3-CLV 33 (1:24) N.Davenport right end to CLV 26 for 7 yards (E.Wright). R8
1-10-CLV 26 (1:17) B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to H.Miller to CLV 9 for 17 yards (B.Pool, L.Williams). P9
Timeout #1 by PIT at 01:04.
1-9-CLV 9 (1:04) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to H.Ward to CLV 5 for 4 yards (W.McGinest).
Timeout #2 by PIT at 00:57.
2-5-CLV 5 (:57) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short right to H.Ward.
Simmons (-1) here for not holding his block. His man sheds Kendall and makes the play on the shovel pass to Ward.
3-5-CLV 5 (:53) B.Roethlisberger sacked at CLV 12 for -7 yards (A.Peek).
Colon (-2) gives up a sack here. Ben held the ball a bit long but he double-clutched due to Atwan Peek getting early pressure. So I guess you could say Colon allowed his man to force a double clutch, then a scramble, then a sack.
4-12-CLV 12 (:08) J.Reed 30 yard field goal is GOOD
DRIVE 6
1-10-PIT 36 (13:53) W.Parker left guard to PIT 39 for 3 yards (E.Kelley, S.Smith).
2-7-PIT 39 (13:19) W.Parker right tackle to PIT 39 for no gain (E.Kelley; K.Wimbley).
Mahan (-1), Simmons (-1), and Colon (-1) all miss blocks here.
3-7-PIT 39 (12:36) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep left to S.Holmes (B.McDonald).
4-7-PIT 39 (12:29) (Punt formation) D.Sepulveda punts 42 yards to CLV 19, Center-G.Warren. J.Cribbs to CLV 25 for 6 yards (N.Davenport).
DRIVE 7
1-10-PIT 28 (10:42) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to S.Holmes pushed ob at PIT 41 for 13 yards
1-10-PIT 41 (10:16) B.Roethlisberger sacked at PIT 28 for -13 yards (S.Smith). FUMBLES (S.Smith), recovered by PIT-H.Miller at PIT 28.
Difficult call here. This is a designed bootleg with Ben rolling one way, stepping up into the pocket a few seconds later, and finding nobody open downfield. Still, all of the lineman do their jobs reasonable well but Simmons allowed his man to get free eventually and he sacks Ben and forces a fumble. (-2)
2-23-PIT 28 (9:26) N.Davenport right guard to PIT 28 for no gain
Colon (-1) and Mahan (-1) block nobody on a delayed handoff here.
3-23-PIT 28 (8:43) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short right to H.Miller.
Penalty on PIT-K.Simmons, Ineligible Downfield Pass, declined.
4-23-PIT 28 (8:34) (Punt formation) D.Sepulveda punts 38 yards to CLV 34, Center-G.Warren, fair catch by J.Cribbs.
DRIVE 8
1-10-CLV 38 (8:18) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to H.Ward to CLV 19 for 19 yards
1-10-CLV 19 (7:44) W.Parker up the middle to CLV 17 for 2 yards
Guess Who gets manhandled at the line by a DL, who then goes on to make a tackle at the line of scrimmage. Yup. Simmons (-1).
2-8-CLV 17 (7:03) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to W.Parker to CLV 12 for 5 yards
3-3-CLV 12 (6:20) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short left to H.Ward for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
DRIVE 9
1-10-PIT 15 (4:39) W.Parker left tackle to PIT 16 for 1 yard
Faneca gets blown up here and pushed in the backfield, screwing up the whole play (-1)
2-9-PIT 16 (3:58) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to N.Washington to PIT 28 for 12 yards
1-10-PIT 28 (3:24) W.Parker left tackle to PIT 29 for 1 yard
2-9-PIT 29 (2:41) B.Roethlisberger sacked at PIT 24 for -5 yards
Colon (-1) and Mahan (-1) will share this sack as they both look a bit confused at the snap of the ball and individually they both get beat by the man lined up across from them. Heath Miller gets straight up abused on this play and his man eventually gets his hands on the QB as well.
3-14-PIT 24 (2:01) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to N.Davenport to PIT 34 for 10 yards
4-4-PIT 34 (1:29) (Punt formation) D.Sepulveda punts 41 yards to CLV 25, Center-G.Warren. J.Cribbs to CLV 32 for 7 yards
DRIVE 10
1-10-PIT 34 (14:47) W.Parker up the middle to PIT 40 for 6 yards (L.Bodden).
Faneca (+1) and Smith (+1) with good blocks here. They don’t get to the 2nd level but with good blocks from Heath and Ward, they don’t need to.
2-4-PIT 40 (14:16) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short left to H.Ward to CLV 42 for 18 yards
1-10-CLV 42 (13:32) W.Parker left guard to CLV 41 for 1 yard
Heath Miller fans on his block here.
2-9-CLV 41 (12:58) PENALTY on PIT-A.Faneca, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at CLV 41 – No Play.2-14-CLV 46 (12:38) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to N.Washington to CLV 30 for 16 yards
1-10-CLV 30 (11:55) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short middle to S.Holmes
2-10-CLV 30 (11:47) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short middle to M.Spaeth.
3-10-CLV 30 (11:43) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger scrambles up the middle for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. B.Roethlisberger pass to H.Ward is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
DRIVE 11
1-10-PIT 22 (11:10) W.Parker up the middle to PIT 24 for 2 yards2-8-PIT 24 (10:39) W.Parker up the middle to PIT 26 for 2 yards
3-6-PIT 26 (9:57) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass deep left to S.Holmes to PIT 44 for 18 yards
1-10-PIT 44 (9:18) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short left to S.Holmes to CLV 41 for 15 yards
1-10-CLV 41 (8:45) W.Parker left guard to CLV 35 for 6 yards
Smith (+1) and Faneca (+1) with good blocks here. Alan actually gets his hands on 2 guys.
2-4-CLV 35 (8:11) B.Roethlisberger pass short left to H.Miller to CLV 25 for 10 yards
1-10-CLV 25 (7:37) W.Parker up the middle to CLV 22 for 3 yards
2-7-CLV 22 (6:58) B.Roethlisberger sacked at CLV 33 for -11 yards
CB blitz here….1 on 1 with Ben….nice play, can’t “blame” anyone here.
3-18-CLV 33 (6:21) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short right to H.Miller to CLV 13 for 20 yards
1-10-CLV 13 (5:33) #78 Starks reports as eligible receiver W.Parker right tackle to CLV 12 for 1 yard
2-9-CLV 12 (4:52) W.Parker pass incomplete short right to H.Miller. Halfback pass on toss
3-9-CLV 12 (4:47) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger scrambles right end to CLV 2 for 10 yards (E.Wright, A.Davis).
1-2-CLV 2 (3:58) #78 Starks, and #68 Kemoeatu reports as eligible receivers N.Davenport up the middle to CLV 2 for no gain
The entire line gets (-1) here for getting pushed BACKWARDS on a huge play near the goalline. You just can have that. Colon, Simmons, Smith, Faneca, Mahan, Kemo, Starks, all (-1).
2-2-CLV 2 (3:21) B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to H.Miller for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Anybody notice that Kemo actually lines up as a FB on these last two plays?
DRIVE 12
1-10-PIT 11 (2:42) W.Parker up the middle to PIT 12 for 1 yard
Mahan (-1) gets shoved into the backfield
Timeout #3 by CLV at 02:38.
2-9-PIT 12 (2:38) #78 Starks reports as eligible receiver W.Parker up the middle to PIT 14 for 2 yards
Two-Minute Warning
3-7-PIT 14 (2:00) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger up the middle to PIT 14 for no gain
Mahan (-1) can’t hold his block and his man pulls down Ben as he begins to take off for the first down.
4-7-PIT 14 (2:00) (Punt formation) D.Sepulveda punts 43 yards to CLV 43, Center-G.Warren. J.Cribbs to CLV 43 for no gain
Terrible kick by Sepulveda. This holding penalty was the biggest call in the game. If not for this penalty we either lose the game in regulation or we go to overtime. Ends up being a 30 yard penalty. Wow.
PENALTY on CLV-D.Dinkins, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at CLV 43.
Topics: NFL, Sports, Steelers | 8 Comments »
November 13th, 2007 at 9:58 am
The Steelers should use their 1st, 2nd and 3rd round picks on offensive linemen this year. They should go tackle, guard and then guard again. The line was bad last year and it is now below average/mediocre this year. I don’t think coaching will fix this we need new talent.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Nice job Dagger.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Nice job. Really appreciate all the time you put into your analysis. Very interesting and informative.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:42 am
I love this. I think the key is Krieder. When he is in there, getting the big push from the line isn’t as important, because he routinely blows a hole in the line for Willie to run through. They aren’t going to resign him, but the offense is so much better when he’s in there as opposed to Davis.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Great job Dagger. I too wondered why we never ran the ball around the goal-line. Yet I feel a lot more comfortable with the pressure on Ben to create a play than our line. I can’t understand why we stayed so dedicated to the run against the Browns when going into the game we knew we could pass on their ineffective (last-ranked) pass D.
November 13th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
“he gets his hands on a defender and removes them about 1.0 seconds later as if his man is a piping hot stove”
:-D
November 15th, 2007 at 9:33 am
Yo, watch for the waist benders(KenDoll #1 stunner). The guys that bend at their waste and try to drive with their back constantly get tooled. Mahan would be a decent Guard, I THINK. but its going to messy next season if something big doesn’t happen.
November 18th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
I can’t wait for your analysis of the Steeler offensive line against the Jets. They suck.