Carter's Classroom: Being the bullies

The Steelers outmatched the Colts in every facet in their 28-7 victory on Thanksgiving at Lucas Oil Stadium. While they knew that facing an already struggling team that was missing Andrew Luck put them at an advantage, the Steelers still brought the sledgehammer.

Winning by three touchdowns on the road in a season when winning away from Heinz Field has been a major problem is a good statement to make. But what might have even better was how the Steelers dominated both sides of the ball, imposing their will and showing that we still have not seen their peak through 11 weeks.



GROUND GAME GOING

For only the second time in Le'Veon Bell's career, he has posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances. That has been due in large part to the offensive line being able to open huge holes. Bell's patience has been one of his best qualities, but combining that with good blocking makes that patience deadly to opponents.

Mike Munchak's implementation of zone blocking schemes meshes well with Bell's running style. Watch below how their approach allows for Bell to pick his hole to attack:

https://vimeo.com/193005523

Ramon Foster chips from the defensive tackle to the second level to block the middle linebacker. Alejandro Villanueva does a good job letting the outside linebacker run himself out of the play and keeping him away from Bell. Combine that with Eli Rogers' solid blocking in space, and you have a lot of room to work with for Bell.

The Steelers' ground game had the benefit of facing two lower-tier defenses in the past two weeks, but executing the way they have is a good sign that they do have the potential to open up the running game. Building off the momentum of these two weeks will be crucial when they face the Giants next week, whom is ranked at eighth against the run.

WHAT BROWN DOES FOR YOU

When you have multiple threats in the caliber of Bell and Antonio Brown, opposing defenses have to honor what each can do.

Watch below on the first touchdown scored by Brown how Ben Roethlisberger recognized and capitalized on the alignment of the defense. You can see the safety creeping toward the line and giving Brown space to work against Vontae Davis:

https://vimeo.com/193005513

Mark Kaboly pointed out during the game that Roethlisberger flexed Bell to the opposite side of the field to keep the safeties from rotating to help Davis against Brown. Those are the kind of pre-snap reads that make this offense dangerous.

Our last session in the film room made sure to discuss the impact play action can have, and the Steelers made sure to capitalize with their second touchdown pass:

https://vimeo.com/193007157

Again you see Brown victimize Davis over the top when he has no safety help. Dustin Dopirak noted how Sammie Coates presence on the field was good enough as a decoy for the safeties on the play.

Spreading their resources across the field is the best way to force defenses to pick their own poison. Either they will provide over the top coverage to Brown's side, to Coates' side, or both. But with each decision they leave vulnerabilities to be exploited by the Steelers' playmakers. Brown is the team's best receiver, but Coates' speed makes him a threat deep each time.

And if a defense puts both of its safeties deep to cover both receivers, that opens up the underneath routes for Rogers, Cobi Hamilton and, most significantly, Bell.

When defenses go to zone coverages, that's when Roethlisberger can go to work in picking apart the weak points. Watch here how he recognizes the defense, and Brown's wheel route goes behind the corner and the ball is too quickly delivered for the safety to get there:

https://vimeo.com/193012360

The offense knew it had several pressure points to press against the Colts, and it did just that. Each score showed the Steelers' ability to be successful when they were aggressive and exploit opposing defenses.

Not getting conservative late in the game is a key factor that can help the defense keep leads late. The Steelers need to attack more as the game goes on regardless of the score. That's when the offense can be bullies.

RENEGADES

The defense being bullies involves their aggressiveness and hard-hitting plays. Dejan Kovacevic's column hits on the team's hard-hitting nature being a major staple to the franchise.

The defense's first of two goal-line stands came from each player being accountable for their roles and forcing the Colts' offense to be perfect if they wanted to score.

Lawrence Timmons played the slant route just well enough to create the smallest window possible for Scott Tolzien to fit the ball through. Even when the pass does make it past Timmons, Mike Mitchell is right in his spot to place a huge hit and force the incomplete pass:

https://vimeo.com/193012316

Meanwhile, the defense backed up their eight-sack performance against the Browns with three more against the Colts. One of those showed why the Steelers' replaced Jarvis Jones with James Harrison in the starting lineup:

https://vimeo.com/193007769

Above, you can see Harrison cross the face of the Colts' tight end, Dwayne Allen, and attack the C-Gap of the offense with an an aggressiveness that fits his legendary reputation as a destructive force in the NFL.

The second turnover on downs forced by the defense was a result of Timmons again being in the right place to force the Colts to be perfect:

https://vimeo.com/193012307

Watch how each receiving option for Tolzien has a Steelers player right on him as soon as they run their route and how Tolzien's best option was still not a wide open receiver. That's each player knowing their role and executing it; not because the coaching staff really did anything different, but because they are growing into their roles as the season goes along.

Be sure to check back with the film room Monday as we take a more in-depth look at what has the defense rolling in Carter's Classroom.

Carter’s Classroom appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday on DKPittsburghSports.com. Listen to his appearance on the Weekend Wild Card podcast with Matt Gajtka here.