Tim Benz: What's behind the rise in production from the Steelers ground game?

The biggest reason for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ success over the past two weeks has been an uptick in the run game.

Through the first seven games of the season, the Steelers averaged 79.7 rushing yards per game and averaged 3.4 yards per carry. In their most recent outings — victories over the Tennessee Titans and Green Bay Packers — those numbers have increased to 185.5 yards per game and 5.6 yards per carry.

The Steelers ran for a season-high 205 yards against Green Bay after posting what had been a previous season high of 166 the week before against the Titans.

There’s no doubt the push of the offensive line has improved and the holes for running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren have gotten bigger. Via data mined by Steelers Nation Radio host Matt Williamson, through the first seven weeks of the season, the Steelers were 30th in yards before contact per rushing attempt. Since then, they have been the second-best team in the NFL.

Part of the spike in rushing yards appears to be related to the Steelers’ use of the ground game in shotgun and out of 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers).

Again, via Williamson’s numbers, the Steelers are up to 78% of their snaps this season in 11 personnel, the fifth-highest percentage any offense has utilized any personnel grouping. Over the last two games, the Steelers have run 42 times for 108 yards out of the shotgun.

To a certain degree, necessity has been the mother of invention. Pat Freiermuth hasn’t played since Week 4 in Houston. As a tight end, he is much more of a receiving-oriented player. Meanwhile, at 6-foot-7 and 264 pounds, rookie tight end Darnell Washington was drafted to primarily be a blocker.

Maybe some eyes were opened in the Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens prior to the bye. Washington played a season-high 46 snaps that day. Prior to that contest, he hadn’t played more than 30. Since that day, he has dipped below 30 just once.

Also, Freiermuth’s absence, combined with receiver Diontae Johnson spending a lot of time on injured reserve, has led to a lot more snaps for Allen Robinson. While Robinson has proven to be a minimal threat in the passing game, his blocking has been good. The past two weeks he’s been able to function as almost a second tight end. Despite Johnson’s recent return, Robinson still got 97 snaps over the last two weeks. That’s roughly a 75% participation rate.

“As a receiver, you want to catch balls and make plays. But at the end of the day, there are certain things that don’t show up in the box score. If that is what is helping win games, then that’s what’s helping win games,” Robinson said. “For me, it’s about doing what is asked of me to the best of my ability.”

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Certainly, other factors are contributing to the Steelers’ improvement on the ground.

Rookie Broderick Jones appears to be an upgrade over Chuks Okorafor in that department at right tackle. In part because of his presence, the guards and tackles are pulling more. The team has scored early and played with a lead more often the last two weeks. Then there is the factor of the running backs hitting the holes at the right time.

“The last couple weeks, our backs have been fantastic,” center Mason Cole said this week. “When you get in a rhythm, and you are moving the ball down the field, and you are more balanced, it opens everything up.”

The default answer when it comes to analyzing the Steelers’ improved rush yardage is, “They don’t ask you how. They ask you how many.”

So if the Steelers can figure out a way to keep the mojo going on the ground while loading up with two or three tight ends, Kenny Pickett under center and Connor Heyward acting as a de facto fullback, that’d be great too.

But the “how” is germane to the conversation, based on what the opposing defense does. If the opposing defense doesn’t get into lighter, sub-package personnel when the Steelers deploy three wide receivers and a shotgun look, then the rushing yards aren’t going to come as easily.

“As always, it’s somewhat game-plan oriented, what teams do to personnel groups, and you go that way,” offensive coordinator Matt Canada said Thursday. “We’ve executed at a higher level. We’ve run the ball well. Our backs have hit holes. Our offensive line and tight ends have created some places to go. I know statistically and analytically, you see that, but I think it’s been a combination of a lot of things.”

Also, as in the case of facing the Browns this weekend, Cleveland has the seventh-best rushing defense in football at 87.2 yards per game. The Packers are 27th (133.0), and the Titans are 16th (110.6). Sometimes, it isn’t so much a scheme issue as it is the other team is just good at stopping the run regardless of who is on the field.

If Cleveland proves to be adept in that department, the Steelers are just going to have to throw to win.

That’s a whole different conversation for Canada, Pickett and the rest of the Steelers offense right now.

Listen: Tim Benz and Andy Baskin of 92.3 the Fan in Cleveland preview the upcoming Steelers-Browns game.