Steelers continued inconsistency is greatest impediment to Super Bowl run

… road games w/Broncos and Raiders are worrisome 

When you are trying to establish yourself as a Super Bowl contender, your franchise QB should not drop from a perfect rating of 158 one week to 65 the next.

That is the inconsistency that has been bothersome for the Pittsburgh Steelers all year. After playing so well and looking like a Super Bowl contender against a good team, the Carolina Panthers, the Steelers looked like the Cleveland Browns again, as they did when they tied them in week one, when they traveled to Jacksonville last week.

The Steelers did not deserve to win that game, but pulled it out. They play down to their competition, particularly on the road, which is why road games against weaker teams like the Broncos today and the December matchup with the hapless Raiders are so concerning.

This should be the year when they could beat the Patriots in Pittsburgh. I realize that Roethlisberger has beaten Brady only once, in 2011, but the Pats this year are not the Pats of years past. In truth, I feel better about beating the Patriots than I do about defeating Denver, Oakland, and the Saints.

However, while the defense has definitely improved, the offense is as good as its QB. Roethlisberger’s QB rating has been over 100 in five games, but he has had a 60 against the Browns, a 72 against the Ravens, and the 65 against Jacksonville. He still has a shot at a 5,000-yard season, but this inconsistency is bothersome because it affects all of the offense.

James Conner’s problems even more of a concern

The problems with the QB seemed to metastasize to the running back who was doing so well until last week. James Conner’s mistakes almost proved costly as he dropped two passes right in his hands in the late stages, one of which could have cost them the game.

Conner had some low productivity before. Against Jacksonville, he had just 25 rushing yards and 24 receiving. Part of that was due to the fact that he carried the ball only nine times as the Steelers fell behind early. That was an average of just 2.78 yards per carry, and he dropped significantly in the NFL rushing race.

However, that was not his worst game. Against the Ravens, in a loss that left the Steelers with a 1-2-1 record, he had just 19 yards rushing, again on nine carries, and just 25 passing for a total of 44.

He still has a shot at a 1,000-yard rushing season with 796 yards on 173 carries. Add in his 411 yards in receptions, and he has over 1,200 yards from scrimmage, not shabby.

The more concerning problem for Conner was the drops. Will he lose his intensity now that the threat of Le’Veon Bell returning has ended?

Hopefully not.

JuJu and Vance McDonald major contributors

The biggest surprise this year has been the contribution of tight end Vance McDonald, who has 33 receptions — out of 43 targets — for 417 yards and three TDs. He has simply been a beast.

In addition, the leading receiver is not Antonio Brown but is JuJu Smith-Schuster, who had 64 receptions to Brown’s 62 and 866 yards to Brown’s 807. Brown does have a significant lead in TDs, 11 to 3.

However, the balance, when added to Conner’s production, means that Roethlisberger is spreading the ball around quite well.

Bostic biggest surprise defensively

To me, the major pleasing aspect of the defense’s improvement is the play of inside LB Jon Bostic, who is holding down Ryan Shazier’s position. He leads the team in tackles with 62, 37 of them solo, something that Shazier did not do until Lawrence Timmons left.

Truth be told, neither Bostic nor Vince Williams (59) is likely to hit Timmons’ production — 135 in 2010,126 in 2013, 139 in 2014 — over 100 six of his last seasons with the Steelers.

Still, Bostic has performed well. Add that to the improved play of OLBers Bud Dupree, who is playing for another contact, and second year T.J. Watt, and the linebackers are doing pretty well.

Rankings offensively and defensively

The Steelers are fifth in total offense with 410.2 yards per game, behind the Bucs, Rams, Chiefs, and Saints. They are fourth in passing (312.5/game), but they are just 26th in rushing (97.7 jpg).

Defensively, the team is sixth in yards per game allowed, 326.8, seventh in yards passing per game (234.5), and eighth against the run (99.6). All of them are much improved from the start of the season.