Fansided

3 big Steelers problems aside from JuJu Smith-Schuster’s dancing

By Steven Kubitza

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 22: JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on November 22, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 22: JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on November 22, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Pittsburgh Steelers, James Conner
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 01: Running back James Conner #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers rushes past linebacker Chris Board #49 and inside linebacker Patrick Queen #48 of the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 01, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

2. The running game has disappeared

JuJu may be dancing, but he is showing up more than the Steelers running game.

James Conner dealing with injuries has been a huge blow to the offense. But the running game as a whole has been a disaster as of late.

The Steelers have not had a 100-yard rusher since Conner went for 101 in Week 6. Weeks 8-10 started to expose the cracks. Conner was the leading rusher in all three games, which were wins, but his highest total in that span was 47 yards.

Then came the losing streak. The Week 13 loss to Washington saw the Steelers run the ball a total of 14 times for 21 yards. The following week featured 17 rushes for 47 yards against Buffalo. Monday’s debacle against Cincinnati did see Benny Snell rush for 84 yards, but the rest of the team combined for two more yards on the ground.

Roethlisberger is not the same player he once was and that means the running game needs to be better. This also goes back to the lack of leadership. Is the offensive gameplan just going to ignore Roethlisberger’s decline? If so, they will face a quick playoff exit.

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