Steelers better change some protection schemes
Posted: December 10th, 2009 | Jason La Canfora | Tags: Ben Roethlisberger, Cleveland Browns, Jerome Harrison, Josh Cribbs, LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh Steelers, Thursday Night Football
CLEVELAND – Okay, that’s a sack to end each of Pittsburgh’s first three drives and we’re only one quarter in. Something has to give here.
On that last third-and-7 around midfield, the Steelers went with five wide — four receivers bunched to the right and one to the left. That’s not leaving anyone to block and Ben Roethlisberger was swarmed again. With the penetration the Browns are getting on passing downs, the Steelers may have to adjust some here from a scheme standpoint.
I’d expect them to start leaning heavily on the run game here shortly.
And Josh Cribbs (as Deion says, Pay The Man) is still dominating this game. He took one carry 18 yards in the Wildcat (great open field block by Jerome Harrison) and the Browns all of a sudden have great field position (LaMarr Woodley’s penalty sure helped, too). If I’m the Steelers, I don’t want to fall behind by two scores, too soon, even against the Browns. Cleveland may be worst in offense and defense, but this team has nothing to lose, seems to be loving the environment here and, as one sign read that I saw near the end zone — “This is R Super Bowl.”
Also, the stadium has filled out some. The lower two bowls are probably 80 percent full now.

