Steelers on Cloud Nine but Run Game still at Ground Zero

It’s blisteringly cold in the Burgh, as the temps have suddenly dropped into the high 30’s after nearly touching 75 just last week. 

But I’m guessing you woke up with a little extra pep in your step today. Monday’s just don’t hold that typical heavy-eyed, sluggish feeling when your team is 9-0. 

I’d venture to say that most of Steelers nation would trade a win for some snow every weekend - heck maybe even in September. 

Whether you’re fatigued or bright eyed and bushy tailed we hope that you certainly feel better than Bengals QB Joe Burrow does this morning.

Burrow got his official indoctrination to AFC North football in November at Heinz Field yesterday. 

He was sacked four times by the ferocious Steelers pass-rush in a 36-10 ass kicking where the rookie looked just that - a rookie.

It wasn’t all his fault.

Coming into the contest Pittsburgh led the NFL in total sacks and the Bengals had allowed the second most in the league. The turnover on their offensive line has been similar to the cast in a Home Alone sequel. 

I don’t doubt that Burrow will still be very good, but for now it’s Ben Roethlisberger’s time to leave the kids (Baker, Joe & Lamar) at home and travel to the top of the AFC North. Again.

Maybe he will at least leave them some money for pizza.

I’ve been the captain of the “Roethlisberger should be in the MVP conversation” ship for weeks (check the receipts) and I’m glad that he is finally starting to garner that attention nationally.

As I’ve tweeted (@yinzercrazyshow), if I had a vote for the honor it would probably go to Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who is undeniably the best quarterback in the league. Sometimes however whether right or wrong, the award goes to the most significant player on the best team. 

Right now Ben checks both of those boxes. 

He was brilliant yet again yesterday, posting 333 yards with four touchdowns and no picks - his best statistical game of the season without even practicing this past week due to landing on the Covid-19 close contact list.  

Chase Claypool said that both of his touchdowns yesterday were improvisations by Roethlisberger.

“He tells me where to run and I do it,” said the Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. 

Wizardry from the 17-year veteran and his young supporting cast on offensive. 

Claypool has also been a revelation for the NFL’s last unbeaten team. He has scored more touchdowns than any Steelers player in the team’s history through the first nine games of their career. 

Chase has nine touchdowns - seven through the air and two rushing. That’s just three less than Burrow has passing touchdowns with 12.

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has thrown for eight. 

I think it’s also time to start talking about Ray-Ray McCloud. I don’t think there are any Ryan Switzer stans still out there but if you are there can you please come out of your cave?

Every time McCloud touches the ball I think he’s going to house it. 

He’s second in the NFL in total punt return yards and he leads all punt-returners with at least 10 punts fielded in yards per return at almost 15.

Simply put, he’s been the best return man in all of football this year - something Steelers fans have been clamoring for post-Antonio Brown.

Here are some fan tweets about McCloud from yesterday;

@EliteJuJu

·15h

Ray Ray McCloud is an all pro punt returner

@jaewestcoast_

·17h

and with that punt return, Ray Ray McCloud has more yards than Ryan Switzer has had since pre-school

Poor Switzer. He was however, quite the dominant preschool receiver. 

Even in an absolutely loaded wide-receiver room, McCloud has earned more reps on offense due to his playmaking abilities. He had two catches and a jet-sweep carry yesterday that nearly netted him his first touchdown. 

It won’t be long until we see that. And we should see Ray-Ray, the man so nice they named him twice, in the black and gold for a while as he’s earned a spot in this receiver room. 

Unfortunately, I’m not just here to accentuate the positives.

I’m also here to point out that it’s not all rainbows and butterflies. But how can that be when the Steelers are 9-0?

Here are the results from a poll I ran yesterday during the game on Twitter. 

I appreciate only a handful of you telling me to shut-up, a number I would have predicted be much higher.

With about 50 total votes, I’ve made the determination that our fan's thoughts probably closely align with mine.

I’m legitimately concerned about the run-game. 

James Conner had just 13 carries for 36 yards on Sunday - and the Bengals aren’t a team that has been particularly stout against opponents rushing attacks so far this year.

In the previous contests against the Ravens and Cowboys, Conner had just 22 carries for 69 yards. That’s just three yards per carry on the dot when taking yesterday into account. Very pedestrian numbers.

It’s time to work Benny Snell Football back into the offense, as we haven’t seen much of him since his week one emergence against the Giants. 

Although Roethlisberger looks like he has been drinking straight from the fountain of youth, having him throw almost 50 times a game is an extremely unhealthy recipe. Especially when he’s wincing and grabbing his elbow on the sideline a minimum of twice per half.

The number one priority for the Steelers heading into Jacksonville this weekend is to find a way to get that part of their offense clicking again. You’re likely going to see more Snell Bell early and often. Maybe even more Anthony McFaralnd sprinkled in if he's feeling better. If the run-game doesn’t click, Ben’s chances of staying healthy significantly decline. And at this point in the season - he’s our Kevin McCallister. If somehow he is lost, we won’t have a successful Super-Bowl sequel, or movie number three. 

This week on the Yinzer Crazy Podcast we have a former Steelers legend to help break-down this team's 9-0 start and preview the game against the Jaguars.

Hall of Fame Center Dermontti Dawson will join us on Thursday, so stay tuned for that.

Make sure you do me a favor and subscribe to the Yinzer Crazy Podcast on Apple, Spotify or any major podcast streaming platform for the large asking price of zero dollars.

Last weekend we had FS1's Joy Taylor, co-host of the Herd on the show to discuss our beef with Colin Cowherd. We also had two-time Super Bowl Champ and former Steelers corner Bryant McFadden to break down the black and gold.

Also if you get the chance after you're done listening to the podcast, watch Home Alone to help ring in the Holidays.

The Steelers are 9-0. Ya filthy animal.