Halicke: Inside Steelers' (stunningly) spotless red zone execution

The Steelers had a myriad of issues on offense coming out of the bye week, perhaps none greater than a terrible, terrible red zone percentage. However, in their 24-17 victory over the Rams, the Steelers found a way to score touchdowns on each of their three trips inside the 20-yard line.

What's more, all three of the Steelers' touchdowns came on the ground after having zero rushing scores over the first five games of the season.

So, how exactly did the Steelers do this? I mean, not only were they dead last in the league with seven red zone trips prior to Sunday, they only scored twice in those trips. Were there some new wrinkles thrown in by Matt Canada? Was it just good execution by the players? What gives?

The first red zone trip was gifted by T.J. Watt's interception of Matthew Stafford, putting the ball at the 7-yard line while trailing, 9-3. Three chances to get the ball in the end zone. As Mason Cole would tell our Dejan Kovacevic after the game, they needed to find a way to score.

First came a toss to the outside that wasn't blocked all that well, and Najee Harris gained only two yards. But, on second-and-goal, Canada drew up a nice little change of pace:

First, notice Harris lined up off tackle next to Connor Heyward. That's not a typical spot for Harris, especially in 12 personnel. Then, add in the fact that coming into the game, the Steelers ran the ball more often when Harris is on the field. Because of that, the defense doesn't put as much attention on him, especially since Kenny Pickett's first look is actually to Heyward.

Pickett surveys the defense, watches the safety stick on Heyward and sees Harris get open in the flat after chipping the rushing edge defender. This gives Harris a one-on-one with a cornerback in space. If you read by "Najee vs. Jaylen" Chalk Talk, that was an area where Harris needed to improve. After nearly dropping the ball, he gathers it, beats Ahkello Witherspoon and nearly beats the safety as well, getting the ball inside the 1-yard line.

As we know, on third-and-goal, Canada rightfully called for a quarterback sneak and Pickett punched it in for the touchdown.

The second trip to the red zone produced some of the best run blocking we've seen all season long. That's why there was only two plays needed to find pay dirt.

First, Warren picked up five yards doing what he does best: See the hole, hit the hole. And, there was enough push to gain five yards. Then, the Steelers ran an outside zone toss, and the seas parted as the line blocked it to perfection:

I mean, applause all around here. First off, Isaac Seumalo drills the end and sends him flying, which made Dan Moore Jr.'s job that much easier. But then, he gets to the second level with such ease and executes a great block on the linebacker. Mason Cole does a great job of getting leverage on the right shoulder of the 1-technique, especially since he had to shift over enough to get on the other side of him. James Daniels and Chukwuma Okorafor both get a great first step that neutralizes the end and lets Daniels get up to the second level.

All zone running concepts have a primary attack point, but should provide other options if blocked properly. With outside zone, the main attack point is off tackle, with a cutback lane up the middle or a cutback all the way across the play if the defense over pursues. In this play, you can see Warren's head look first to his primary attack point off tackle. By the time he takes his second step after receiving the toss, he already sees that it's closed off by the Rams.

This is what makes Cole's block so crucial here. With him getting leverage inside the right shoulder of the 1-technique, that opens the cutback lane up the middle. Warren then uses his excellent burst to run through two solid blocks by Seumalo and Daniels on the second level.

If you need a great example of why the Steelers like to run outside zone, this play should be it. When blocked properly, it can produce large chunks of yards.

Two things really stood out to me during the Steelers' final trip to the red zone. First, not only a play-action pass, but a really, really well-designed play:

Not only the pulling guard, but Heyward first moving over as if he's pulling for a block really helps sell the run here. The Rams just collapse and sell out to defend the hand off. Heyward then changes direction well and bounces it to the flat to give Pickett an easy target. George Pickens is also open on a corner route as a deep option, but the defense selling out for the run allows Heyward to catch and run with a lot of room.

Plays that intentionally try to manipulate the defense is something that has truly lacked from this offense. This play design does a great job of selling the run with giving the quarterback multiple options coming out of the fake, just in case the defense doesn't bite on play-action. This might have been my favorite play call of the day.

Then, on the ensuing touchdown run by Harris, look at the personnel grouping:

That's 23 personnel with Harris and Warren on the field together. I've urged the Steelers to do this more often, and they did it on first-and-goal with an opportunity to score a go-ahead touchdown. I freaking love it.

No, it wasn't perfectly executed. Pickett made a last-second check and Heyward didn't have enough time to motion across before the snap. But, the offensive line got a great push and Harris did the rest.

Imagination. Creativity. Unpredictability. Execution. These plays came together in the red zone. A pass to Harris broke the norm of "when Harris is on the field, the Steelers run the ball." A perfectly blocked outside zone run, and Warren running it beautifully, is a sight for sore eyes. This offense needs to run the ball better. In the weighty moments of this game, that's what they did. And, extra props to Warren to that run. He's typically a better gap runner than zone. He looked like a vet running that time. Finally, a play-action pass with an added wrinkle and multiple options without having to do much of anything.

All of this -- seriously, all of it -- looked nothing like the Steelers we watched for the first five games of the season. There's a reason why they were so bad in the red zone prior to Sunday's game. They were predictable. They weren't creative or imaginative. They didn't execute plays that were called.

Defenses will adjust to the Steelers doing some different things. But, the Steelers breaking some precedents in the red zone certainly helped them be successful, and it's one of the reasons why they won the game.

Now, believe it or not, Canada's got my curiosity to see what's next. This man had every right to celebrate on Sunday.

Good for him. Good for this offense. Good for the Steelers. Now, it's about staying ahead of the curve and doing it again next week. And, hopefully, they don't wait until the final quarter and a half of the game to get things going.