Eric Knopsnyder

Related Photos

Eric Knopsnyder File Photo/The Tribune-Democrat

Discussion

December 21, 2010

Eric Knopsnyder | Steelers must rebound quickly

Eric Knopsnyder eknopsnyder@tribdem.com The Tribune-Democrat Tue Dec 21, 2010, 12:22 AM EST

PITTSBURGH — It wasn’t easy to put a finger on exactly how the Steelers lost to the Jets on Sunday afternoon.

They outgained New York by 102 yards. They didn’t turn the ball over. And the offensive line played arguably its best game of the year.

So exactly why did the Steelers come out on the short end of a 22-17 game?

“We didn’t play well enough to win,” rookie wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders in a quiet Steelers locker room shortly after Ben Roethlisberger was unable to find him in the end zone twice in the final minute. “I don’t think anything was done wrong. I think it was two great teams going up against each other and we didn’t prevail. We’re going to bounce back. We’ve got a game on Thursday versus Carolina. We’ve got to win these next two games in order to clinch the AFC North, and with the guys around me, I have complete faith that we’re going to do that.”

In order to do that, the Steelers will need to shore up what has been a strength of their’s for the past two decades or so: The run defense.

New York didn’t exactly embarrass the Steelers – the Jets’ 106 rushing yards were less than what 22 of the NFL’s 32 teams give up on average – but the performance also wasn’t up to the standard set by Dick LeBeau’s defense.

The Steelers have the top-ranked run defense in the league, giving up only

63.4 yards per game, so seeing LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene do just enough to take the pressure off quarterback Mark Sanchez was hard for linebacker James Farrior.

“It was disappointing,” he said. “We pride ourselves on our run defense. They executed well, blocked us up and got the yards when they needed them. It seemed like they ran just enough to keep us off track.”

The Steelers will have to find a way to turn things around quickly this week. Carolina (2-12) doesn’t do many things well, but the one thing coach John Fox counts on is his running game. With an average of 116.8 yards per game, Carolina is 12th in the NFL in rushing. The Panthers’ 387 attempts are 11th-most in the NFL

Those numbers aren’t astounding by any means, but considering the fact that Carolina has been playing catch-up in many of its games, and its reliance on the ground attack becomes a bit more clear.

Jonathan Stewart has run for 668 yards while Mike Goodson has 435 yards on the ground. Both are averaging 4.5 yards per carry, which got the attention of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

“Stopping the ball carriers is going to be a big part of this week’s challenge for us,” Tomlin said. “They complement each other extremely well. Stewart is a patient runner with nice finishing power. … And Goodson is an awesome complement to him because he has great perimeter speed.”

The Steelers are unlikely to have safety Troy Polamalu, who missed Sunday’s game with an Achilles’ tendon injury, and defensive end Aaron Smith, who has been sidelined since Oct. 24 by a torn triceps.

Neither should be needed to beat Carolina, but that seemed to be the case last year, when the Steelers lost to Kansas City, Oakland and Cleveland with Polamalu and Smith in street clothes.

Eric Knopsnyder is the sports editor of The Tribune-Democrat.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Eric Knopsnyder

Eric Knopsnyder | WestPAC has diamond drama
The storm that has been brewing in the WestPAC has left the baseball title situation plenty muddied.
And the wicked weather that has wracked the area all spring is only partly to blame.

May 19, 2011
ERIC KNOPSNYDER|New Florence wrestler has low-key approach to Dapper Dan Classic
March 16, 2011 1 Photo
ERIC KNOPSNYDER: Steelers earned their win
January 24, 2011 1 Photo
ERIC KNOPSNYDER: Roethlisberger proves himself a winner once again
January 16, 2011 1 Photo
Eric Knopsnyder | Steelers must rebound quickly
It wasn’t easy to put a finger on exactly how the Steelers lost to the Jets on Sunday afternoon.
They outgained New York by 102 yards. They didn’t turn the ball over. And the offensive line played arguably its best game of the year.

December 21, 2010 1 Photo
Mark your wrestling calendar
As we approach the first weekend of December, it’s time to start counting down to the big day.
I’ve made a list and checked it twice, but this has nothing it do with Santa Claus or Christmas.

December 3, 2010 2 Photos
ERIC KNOPSNYDER | NFL has eye on Steelers
I’m no conspiracy theorist.
I don’t believe that our government faked the moon landing nor that it is hiding beings that landed in Roswell, N.M. And I believe that sports officials are almost always above reproach.

November 29, 2010 1 Photo
Polamalu’s play key to avoiding another late collapse for Steelers
The scenario was frighteningly familiar to Steelers fans: A dominant first half that resulted in too few points followed by a mediocre second half that gave an inferior opponent a chance at victory.
That’s exactly the way the Steelers visit to Buffalo was playing out on Sunday afternoon.

November 28, 2010
Eric Knopsnyder | Pouncey makes big first impression with Steelers
Maurkice Pouncey is only 21 years old.
That bears repeating: Maurkice Pouncey is ONLY 21 years old.

September 14, 2010 1 Photo
ERIC KNOPSNYDER | Quarterback must serve his time
Ben Roethlisberger has looked like a changed man at training camp.
He’s playing well on the field and behaving himself off it.

August 5, 2010 1 Photo
More Eric Knopsnyder Headlines

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Eric Knopsnyder | Steelers must rebound quickly

Should the speed limit on sections of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and related highways be raised to 70 mph from 65 mph.

Contact Us