The Steelers, a team that is 5-0 for the first time since this writer was into Mister Rogers (1978), are averaging 31.2 points per game in 2020.
This is the same Pittsburgh football club that averaged 18.1 points per game a year ago. What’s the difference? Is it the new quarterbacks’ coach? Is it the new receivers’ coach? How about the new offensive wrinkles? Maybe it’s rookie receiver Chase Claypool. It could be a new emphasis on scoring points, something that maybe the team didn’t emphasize in 2019.
Or maybe it’s the shoes. What shoes? That doesn’t make any sense. Sorry, I’m just riffing on that old Michael Jordan Nike commercial featuring famed director Spike Lee as Mars Blackmon, a fictional character who couldn’t seem to grasp why MJ was just so good at the game of basketball.
Anyway, it might seem like the obvious answer that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, he of the surgically repaired right elbow, is the reason for the 13.1 increase in points over the 2019 season. But if you really wanted to try, you could tie yourself in knots trying to figure out fancier and sexier reasons, such as the ones I listed in the second paragraph. Don’t get me wrong, there are subtle nuances to why the Steelers offense is so much better so far this season than it was in 2019 that simply can’t just be distilled down to Roethlisberger>Mason Rudolph/Devlin “Duck” Hodges.
Those wrinkles, for instance. There’s no doubt the likes of quarterbacks’ coach Matt Canada and receivers’ coach Ike Hilliard have influenced coordinator Randy Fichtner’s playbook and overall philosophy in 2020. And when you’re talking about Claypool, Mr. Six Touchdowns in Five Games (that’s not nearly as catchy as Mapletron), he’s clearly a dangerous weapon.
But the game of football is much simpler than most would like to believe. Yes, it’s about schemes, tendencies, game-plans, designs and philosophies. Sure, you need to keep your opponent off-balance while staying in a rhythm. Incredibly gifted receivers? Yes, please. However, it’s like what I’m sure some lounge singer once said about love in some cheesy song: “If you ain’t got that, you ain’t got nothing, baby.” Same holds true for that ultra-talented franchise quarterback.
Roethlisberger really does make everyone around him so much better. Did you see his performance against the Browns in that 38-7 trouncing at Heinz Field on Sunday? He barely did anything. He seemed almost bored as he completed 14 of 22 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. Yet, the offense looked so potent, so unstoppable. With No. 7 around, a defense can’t crowd the box like many successfully did a season ago with Rudolph and Hodges at the helm. Roethlisberger’s mere presence makes the offensive line’s job much easier. As for James Conner, he appears to be a bona fide starting NFL running back again.
I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. I’m just here to reinforce the sentiment.
Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe there are many other reasons why the Steelers offense is so darn good in 2020 besides the return of Ben Roethlisberger.
Maybe even his shoes.