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To begin the offseason, I’m going to check out every week of the Steelers season, and give attention to a participant that made an impression in that week, and what their movie teaches us concerning the Steelers in 2020. It gained’t simply be about that participant, however extra an analysis of what the Steelers did proper, what they did incorrect, and what they should give attention to heading into the 2021 season.
For Week 1, Benny Snell is a straightforward alternative. He got here in to the sport within the second quarter and took over the sport, operating for 113 yards, the one 100 yard speeding recreation of his brief profession. It’s additionally a pleasant begin to revisiting this season the place the run recreation fell aside so spectacularly by what went so proper for Benny Snell in Week 1.
Week 1, 2nd quarter, 11:08. Benny Snell is the operating again, Vance McDonald is the tight finish (second from left)
Benny Snell confirmed improved quickness immediately on this exterior run, and delivers a shot to the cornerback on the finish of the run. A key block on this run is the double staff from Eric Ebron and Vance McDonald on the defensive finish and Vance McDonald getting off the double staff to the second degree to decelerate center linebacker Blake Martinez, taking him out of the play.
Week 1, 2nd quarter 12:35. Benny Snell is the operating again, Stefan Wisniewski is the guard to the left facet of the display.
On the alternative facet of the coin, on this play Stefan Wisniewski will get caught on the double staff with Maurkice Pouncey and Blake Martinez is free to make the play on Benny Snell.
Week 1, third quarter, 14:18. Benny Snell is the operating again, Zach Banner is the deal with to the left of the display.
Zach Banner will get to the second degree, blocks Martinez and Benny Snell is operating unfastened within the secondary. You’ll be able to see the pattern, Benny Snell ran properly when the Steelers blockers bought off the double groups to the second degree, bought virtually nothing after they didn’t.
Week 1, third quarter, 13:41. Benny Snell is the operating again, Eric Ebron is the tight finish to the left facet of the display.
I like this play design, and the work each Eric Ebron and Matt Feiler do on this play. Ebron begins exterior, drawing the defensive finish’s consideration, then heads upfield like he’s operating a route, solely to dam the center linebacker. Ebron causes the defensive finish to pause, and that units up the block from Feiler and Snell cuts upfield for a strong acquire.
Week 1, third quarter, 12:59. Benny Snell is the operating again, Maurkice Pouncey is the middle.
This play doesn’t go properly, and it reveals one in every of my constant criticisms of the Steeler operating backs. Benny Snell cuts a full 2 yards when he modifies path, and is tackled with loads of room between himself and Maurkice Pouncey. Operating tighter to the offensive line makes it tougher for the protection to deal with you, and would have added strong yards onto this run.
Additionally, Snell wastes incredible work from Pouncey to get out of the lane in two steps. Watch it in gradual movement.
Have a look at Pouncey go from driving the deal with out of the way in which to getting skinny and leaving Snell with loads of room to run. Have a look at when Snell will get parallel to Pouncey, he may have simply run straight upfield and the house would have been there. It simply requires belief and somewhat extra persistence. I’ll go even farther than that, as a result of if Snell is correct behind Pouncey, he both will get this lane, or he will get a lane exterior, #94 can’t cowl each lanes whereas being double teamed, and Pouncey is attempting to get off that block, nevertheless it’s already too late.
So whereas the lineman must do a greater job attending to the second degree, there are additionally instances the place the backs don’t have the persistence or belief to make use of the lanes which can be there.
Week 1, third quarter, 2:46. Benny Snell is the operating again, Zach Banner is the deal with to the left facet of the display.
Love the job Banner does on this play, supplies assist to DeCastro and will get upfield the place he’s an enormous man to attempt to get round, he doesn’t even nail the block, he doesn’t need to, he’s sufficiently big to get in individuals’s means and take them out of the play.
Additionally take a second and watch the defensive again to the suitable facet of the display because the clip begins. That DB began to comply with JuJu Smith-Schuster’s movement, then goes again. Smith-Schuster blocks the surface nook and Snell simply has to out run the linebackers that the road has slowed down. When you have a look at a lot of the runs on this movie room you will notice movement (or at the very least the tip of it), a number of others had movement, however the Steelers waited two seconds to snap the ball so I lower it out of the clips.
Movement was a constant a part of the offense early on, and on the threat of beating the proverbial lifeless horse, it’s a key to the offense in 2021. The Steelers have been a prime ten speeding staff for the primary third of the season after they have been utilizing movement closely. They should put money into it, and never hand over on it in 2021.
Week 1, 4th quarter, 9:00. Benny Snell is the operating again.
Gotta love this run. Benny Snell sees Zach Banner driving a defender again and dives beneath Banner’s arms for a 5-yard acquire. Simply discover any gap you possibly can and get yards. A 5 yard run is a win for the offense.
Week 1, 4th quarter, 6:56. Benny Snell is the operating again, Alejandro Villanueva is the deal with to the left facet of the display.
Needed to indicate somewhat love for the opposite facet of the road, Alejandro Villanueva isn’t an awesome run blocker, however he does a superb job on this play. Villanueva has accomplished a incredible job defending Ben Roethlisberger through the years, and has held his personal with many nice move rushers, if he doesn’t return, the Steelers may have a tough time changing him.
Benny Snell’s nice week 1 recreation had much more to do with the Steelers scheme and execution than it did Benny Snell’s skills. However it’s value noting that Snell has the power to provide a staff good play if the offense is properly designed and executed.
Re-watching this recreation is an efficient reminder that Zach Banner could possibly be the reply at proper deal with for the Steelers. If he can bounce again from harm, he brings power, energy and dimension to the suitable deal with place that Steeler followers crave. He constantly confirmed the power to maneuver a defender and get off double staff blocks to succeed in the second degree, one thing Chuks Okorafor and Matt Feiler don’t do as properly.
The takeaway from this movie room is the Steelers, with higher scheme and execution, can have success operating the ball, even with Benny Snell. They should put money into utilizing movement and preserve it going all 12 months, and so they must be extra constant at getting blockers to the second degree on their zone runs. That may be achieved with a brand new offensive coordinator and a brand new offensive line coach, or it would require including expertise through free company or the draft, however nevertheless they do it, it must occur. as a result of the distinction between the Steelers offense that was operating the ball properly and the offense that wasn’t was enormous and it wrecked the season.
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