The last two losses for the Steelers have been mired with poor performance from their offense, but don't excuse the defense for getting away from their calling card over that same stretch.
Hoping it doesn't become a trend by the time Saturday's kickoff against the Colts happens, the Steelers have back-to-back cases of lackluster performances with with limiting opposing running backs that need to be shored up.
It was James Conner's 105 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries 10 days ago that gave the Cardinals a massive boost in situations, and it was Ezekiel Elliott's 140 all-purpose yards -- 68 rushing and 72 receiving -- that made matters worse for a Steelers defense facing a depleted and untrustworthy offense on Thursday.
Not having Cole Holcomb or Kwon Alexander and having a less-than-100-percent Elandon Roberts is showing its ugly head. Teryl Austin can only do so much to adjust, but the last two offenses have found ways to pick apart a newfound weaknesses within his defense.
"I thought Zeke -- I'm not saying he had a great running game, I thought he was more effective in the pass game and doing some things like that," Austin said before Wednesday's practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "I just think, like anything, we've go to play better, we've got to fit better, we've got to do a lot of things and just continue to improve. There's always areas to get better, but I'm not fretting and thinking there's a wholesale change (needed) and that we're terrible. We've just got to do some things a little bit better, a little bit more sound, a little bit more detailed, and I think we'll be fine."
The Colts have struggled with running the ball over the last couple of weeks. With Jonathan Taylor missing time with a thumb injury, the Colts have averaged just 2.5 yards per carry over Weeks 13 and 14, which is 30th in the NFL in that stretch. Zack Moss is 15th in the NFL in rushing with 751 yards, but he has been held to 79 yards on 32 carries over the last two weeks in Taylor's absence.
The Steelers won't take that threat -- or a recent lack thereof -- lightly.
"Right now we've just got to move on and right now all of our focus is focused on Indy this week," Roberts told me. "If we keep living in the past -- we've got to move on. ... I could say a lot about Taylor. It's no secret he's one of the best backs in the league. Zack Moss has done a great job since he got to Indy and whatnot. Them two running backs are doing some good thing over there. It's the engine to the offense."
The Steelers, though, just allowed Elliott to dominate despite the Patriots having Rhamondre Stevenson inactive and with only four wide receivers, including special teamer Matthew Slater, active.
Elliott accounted for 46.2 percent of the Patriots' offense Thursday, while Conner accounted for 37.2 percent of the Cardinals' offense last Sunday. The Steelers have done a fine job in limiting opponents to points throughout the season, but giving up 24 to the Cardinals and 21 to the Patriots are damning considering the state of the Steelers' offense and its inability to -- without making this sound complicated -- out-gain and out-score the opponent.
Having two starting inside linebackers out for the season is a troublesome occurrence to any team, and especially so within the lines of who is calling the plays.
"I think it's just communication, being in the right spot, working as a whole group," Blake Martinez said. "You're one of 11 and each guy needs to be in the right position, seeing the play, and fitting it right."
This is nothing new to these Steelers this season, though. Communication lines on all levels have been disrupted at multiple junctures and the inside linebacker room is the one that has had the most choke points with respect to that.
Martinez is one of the linebackers who are, so to speak, jumping onto the moving train. Mykal Walker and Martinez have started in recent weeks, while Myles Jack was brought in from retirement as an insurance option on the practice squad, alongside Tariq Carpenter. That corps has been exposed over recent weeks.
That goes for the running game and the passing game, though the passing game is a whole different topic when it comes to the Cardinals and Patriots utilizing their tight ends for production.
"At the end of the day you learn on the fly," Martinez said. "I think every single person regardless of the occupation or career that you're doing, you learn things as you're doing it. Each day you're going to make mistakes and the next time you don't make the same mistake twice, so just taking that with stride every day."
This front seven has been banged-up to certain degrees all season. Now, Roberts is still at less-than-100-percent and the Steelers are awaiting the concussion protocol process for T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith as a result of their injuries sustained Thursday. Both practiced in limited capacities on Tuesday, but neither have cleared the protocol as of this posting Wednesday and won't be allowed to play Saturday until they pass all five checks.
"We'll see. Right now they're able to do some things in practice, and so we'll see leading up to Saturday," Austin said of Watt and Highsmith's availabilities. "I'm hopeful in that."
Markus Golden and DeMarvin Leal were made inactive Thursday, but that could change on Saturday. Nick Herbig -- who will remain at outside linebacker, as adamantly determined by Austin -- will likely see an uptick in snaps, as well. Having Watt and/or Highsmith unavailable Saturday would be a significant blow, but this defense has already experienced the notion of regrouping with the significant losses of Holcomb and Alexander, along with losses of Roberts, Minkah Fitpatrick, and Cam Heyward at varying points this season.
"I mean Cole and Kwon are great teammates before anything. They're great human beings," Herbig said. "You feel for those guys, everything they've been through in their career. To go out like that, that's tough, to lose your brother like that. But the ball's still going to be out there on Sunday and we've got to find a way to get around that. I know we have the guys in the room capable."
