Le'Veon Bell wants Steelers to refocus on rushing attack
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3:36 PM ET
Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH -- Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell wanted to see a bigger rushing workload in Sunday's 30-9 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who picked off Ben Roethlisberger five times on 55 passing attempts.
Le'Veon Bell, Steelers' run game even more crucial with Big Ben's woes
Until Ben Roethlisberger regains his form, the Steelers should lean on Le'Veon Bell -- much like how they did during last year's seven-game win streak.
Bell got 15 carries for 47 yards. Ten of his rushes went for 2 yards or less, including three for a loss, but he said he believes more plays were available and the stats don't tell the whole story.
"I don't think we got enough attempts," Bell said Monday when asked about the Week 5 production vs. the previous week at Baltimore, which featured Bell rushing 35 times for 144 yards.
Bell said the Steelers did not plan to run the ball extensively Sunday. He didn't get an explanation, didn't ask why and hasn't lobbied for carries, he said.
Asked about any displeasure with that scenario, Bell said his frustration comes from the loss and not the workload.
But he did make clear what he feels is the best option for the Steelers: running the ball.
"I feel we're a good enough team to wear guys out whether they know we're running the ball or not," said Bell, who has 371 rushing yards on 102 attempts and 144 receiving yards on 27 catches this season.
The Steelers held a 9-6 lead after a 20-yard field goal with 8:57 left in the third quarter. At that point, Bell had 12 rushes for 45 yards. But the Steelers had played out of the shotgun for the entire 14-play scoring drive, including three straight passes out of first-and-goal at the 5-yard line.
Roethlisberger followed that drive with back-to-back interceptions returned for touchdowns.
The Jaguars pounded the run with Leonard Fournette, who finished with 181 yards on 28 carries, including a game-breaking 90-yard score with two minutes left.
Bell said the entire offense didn't play well and didn't properly support Roethlisberger, who hasn't lost a step.
He also called a run-heavy offense "the formula for winning."
"The Jaguars, they ran the ball a lot of times -- you can see over the course of the game just wearing down the defense," Bell said. "Running the ball shortens the game, kind of opens up the offense, makes passing the ball easier, gets you in manageable downs. I think just over the course of the season you'll see the teams that run the ball heavy win games."
On the subject of why he doesn't lobby for more touches, Bell said, "It doesn't really matter what I think. I just go out there and play. ... When my number's called, I'll be ready."
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...e-rushing-following-loss-jacksonville-jaguars
If the bolded was the case then this was a coaching fail. I dont understand why we wouldnt attack them on the ground. I am on record for saying we need to become a run focused team. We have the tools to do it. The only reason i can see why they havent is because they dont want to piss Ben off. Why would you not continue the blueprint from the end of last season. Im going to go Coach and make up something i couldnt possibly know. Was Ben retirement threat because he didnt like the run emphasis at the end of last year?? Hey guys if we dont get back to passing the ball im going to quit. Ok done playing conspiracy theory guy. But i dont understand why we have gotten away from what worked so well at the end of last year. And not going into the Jags game with the intent to run was dumb.