Le'Veon Bell needs to be more of a contributor against the Dolphins this time around. — MATT SUNDAY / DKPS

Steelers

Carter's Classroom: More touches for Bell

Jan 5, 2017 • 9:10 am

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Some of the biggest points of discussion after the Steelers' loss to the Dolphins in October was the lack of touches for Le'Veon Bell. Though Bell only gained 53 yards, he did so on 10 carries, giving him a high average.

So what problems were in their most recent meeting that discouraged the Steelers from feeding their best player? Part of that came from falling behind as the game continued, but it also came from the inconsistencies from the Steelers offensive line.

The line failed to finish blocks and committed penalties at inopportune times. Those mistakes prevented Bell from getting more yardage.

Let's take a look back at that game:

MATCHUPS

The Dolphins will most likely give several looks like the play below with eight men in the box to confront the Steelers' ground attack. Ben Roethlisberger seemed comfortable with the matchup of eight Dolphins against eight blockers for Bell.

Darrius Heyward-Bey is motioned in between Jesse James and Chris Hubbard to act as a lead blocker at the point of attack with Roosevelt Nix. Unfortunately for the Steelers, both Heyward-Bey and Nix get blown up, and the designed hole for Bell is taken away:

Both Nix and Heyward-Bey could have attacked their blocks better individually; Nix fails to square up with his target and as he attacks only one shoulder it takes him too long to control his opponent, and Heyward-Bey hesitates in the hole and is pushed back by his opponent.

The above play is an example of the Steelers trying to overpower the Dolphins with a bold man-to-man style of blocking. They announce where the run is going with Heyward-Bey, essentially challenging the Dolphins at the point of attack. They lose this battle, and their run game is kept in check.

Also notice how the Steelers' linemen both double-team the Dolphins' two most inside defensive linemen. That was a common theme to try to gain control of the line of scrimmage, as evidenced again with the play below:

Watch how both Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro take on Ndamukong Suh in the hole, their double-team helps force Suh away from the play. The other double-team is more of a chip from Ramon Foster while Alejandro Villanueva handles the interior lineman.

The play breaks down because Foster fails to get his hands to the inside of the linebacker and he gets free to make the tackle. This was a common theme the last time against the Dolphins, as the Steelers seemed to be in the right places but failed to finish blocks.

Even so, this play results in four yards for the Steelers on first down. But the Steelers can take bigger chunks out of the Dolphins' defense when they execute better.

WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE

Again you'll see two double-teams on the interior linemen of the Dolphins; this time with DeCastro and Hubbard teaming up and Pouncey with Foster. However both chip properly to the second level to account for both the Dolphins' middle linebackers:

Doing so vacates the middle of the field and allows for Bell to accelerate into the secondary. Notice how also Eli Rogers and James hold their blocks at the line so that Bell cannot be interrupted in his space.

Much like how the Steelers have operated throughout this season, they probably won't change the plan of attack as it is a sound plan. If the Steelers' execute properly the holes will be there and the Bell will get his chances to make big plays.

All things considered, Bell getting more carries should be a certainty at this point. But what he does with the ball and the lanes he's given to attack could be a major trump card in the Steelers' favor in their first playoff game.

Friday: we revisit the classroom one last time before the game to talk about what Roethlisberger has to do different in order to lead the Steelers to victory this time around.