The red zone used to be the dead zone for the Steelers.
That was really the case in 2017, when the Steelers scored touchdowns on just 32 of 63 trips inside the opposing 20, a rate that ranked 22nd in the NFL.
But that's old news. After scoring on all four of their red zone trips in Thursday night's 52-21 rout of the Panthers, the Steelers are now 20 of 28 scoring touchdowns inside the opposing 20.
And overall ...
There are a number of reasons being pointed to for all that success. But the most simple answer is that new offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner made it a priority in the offseason after taking over for Todd Haley.
Fichtner knew a missed assignment here or there could ruin even the most perfectly schemed play and has drummed that point home with his unit. It's led to a team that is averaging 31 points per game en route to a 6-2-1 record.
"We’ve dedicated time to it," Fichtner said. "I like to think that maybe some offseason study things that we’ve done, some thoughtfulness things that we knew we had to improve that had been somewhat of an eye-sore at times. It just boils down to execution and the guys have been executing. (Antonio Brown) makes a play, (James Conner) makes a play, Ben (Roethlisberger) makes a play. It boils down to play-making, but I think they’re comfortable in the things we’re asking them to do."
Those guys have made plays. One thing is certain, Fichtner is more willing to stick with run near the goal line than Haley ever was -- unless he had DeAngelo Williams. The Steelers ran Le'Veon Bell just six times inside the 5-yard line last season. He scored on all six carries. In similar circumstances this season, Conner has already gotten 11 carries inside the 5. He's gained 10 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
Moving a bit farther away from the goal line, Bell got 27 carries inside the 10 last season, gaining 72 yards and scoring eight times. Conner this season has 19 carries for 36 yards and seven touchdowns inside the 10.
Finally, on straight carries inside the 20, Bell had 61 rushing attempts for 178 yards and nine scores last season. Conner has 28 rushing attempts for 80 yards and eight scores inside the 20 this season.
So, it appears the Steelers are throwing their way into the red zone, but running it more than last season once they get in close.
That doesn't mean Conner is a better short-yardage back -- though that point could be argued -- as much as Fichtner has been adamant about running the ball once the Steelers get down close.
In his career, Bell has scored 20 touchdowns on 37 carries inside the 5. But in the previous two seasons, he had scored on nine of 11 carries inside the 5. It seems after he struggled scoring in close as a rookie in 2013 -- six touchdowns on 16 carries -- Haley decided not to run him as much in close. That is the only time in his career he has reached double digits in carries inside the 5.
Since that rookie season, he has scored on 14 of 21 runs inside the 5. That's actually quite comparable to Conner's 7-for-11 success rate this season.
But it seems Haley had no faith in Bell down close after that rookie season. In fact, when Williams subbed for an injured Bell in 2015, he got 16 rushing attempts inside the 5, gaining 19 yards and scoring 10 times.
"There’s been more of a commitment to running the ball in general if and when we can," Fichtner admitted. "It hasn’t been that we’ve said we weren’t going to, but I think that is part of it, no doubt. To me, it’s always going to be about, hopefully, we’re able to run it when we choose to run it and be successful and efficient. Sometimes we don’t establish the efficiency in those runs, and it might lead to decline in the number of runs. I think we’ve probably been a little patient and it’s paid off."
Another key to the red zone efficiency has been better play from Roethlisberger.
Perhaps because the Steelers have been more balanced when they get in close. Roethlisberger attempted 42 passes inside the 10-yard line last season, completing 22. This season, he's attempted just 19 passes inside the 10, completing 12.
Less has been more, as the Steelers have leaned more heavily on their running game in close.
"I think we’ve worked well together," Roethlisberger said of his relationship with Fichtner. "There will be times when he will yell 'You got it' which means I’m calling one or he will call them. There is really good chemistry there we’ve obviously know each other and worked with one another a long time."
The play of the offensive line also helps. Just about every outlet that does rankings on offensive lines has the Steelers' unit at No. 1 or in its top three.
Roethlisberger has been the least pressured quarterback in the league and has been sacked just 12 times on 369 pass attempts, meaning he's been sacked once every 30.75 pass attempts.
"It always starts up front," Roethlisberger said. "You can say what you want about the skill guys, but we’re nothing without them up front."
