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Steelers running back James Conner picks up yardage against the Bengals on Sunday.
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Mike Tomlin acknowledges Steelers rushing attack is 'not up to snuff'

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Mike Tomlin acknowledges Steelers rushing attack is 'not up to snuff'

But don't expect major changes at running back

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin plans to fix the ailing Steelers running game this week, but one thing he won’t change is the starting running back.

James Conner will continue to be the Steelers’ featured runner, but there are a host of issues the coaches and players have to fix after another lackluster performance on the ground in Sunday’s victory against the Bengals.

The Steelers rushed for just 44 yards. It was the third consecutive game the Steelers failed to reach 50 rushing yards.

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“The biggest critique is our ineffective running game,” Tomlin said Tuesday afternoon on his weekly Zoom call with local reporters. “We spent a lot of time talking and thinking about that in an effort to move forward. One of the things I’ll acknowledge is you always go through lulls in a season when components of your play are lacking. It requires a re-center of energy or attention. I believe that’s where we are in regards to the run game. We’ll get about that task this week.”

Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson makes a catch against the Cowboys on Nov. 8.
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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat transcript: 11.18.20

Tomlin said the Steelers worked hard on fixing their third-down conversion percentage last week after some poor outings in previous weeks. In the 36-10 victory over Cincinnati, the Bengals were 0 for 13 on third downs. He is confident the Steelers can fix their issues in the running game.

“The only thing that is perfect about our team is our record,” Tomlin said. “There will always be things to work on. I look forward to getting in the lab and tackling this run game situation. It’s something we shouldn’t have a difficult time pushing through to be quite honest. We have very capable people in that area, but it is below the line as we sit here today. Thankfully, it wasn’t significant enough to cost us a game at this juncture, but we are proceeding with that level of urgency.”

The Steelers are 24th in the league in rushing yards per game and 27th in yards per carry. It’s been a month since they’ve rushed for more than 100 yards in a game.

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“We’re not up to snuff,” Tomlin said. “We’re going to roll up our sleeves and resolve it.”

When he was asked if Conner remained his “bell cow,” if he needed to make a change, Tomlin responded: “I do not. He is. We’re going to get better.”

Injury update

Tomlin said there is “big optimism” that cornerback Mike Hilton and defensive lineman Chris Wormley will return for the game in Jacksonville.

Steelers running back James Conner fumbles football against the Broncos Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, at Broncos Stadium at Mile High in Denver Colorado.
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Hilton has missed the past four games with a shoulder injury while Wormley has been on injured reserve with a knee injury.

Running backs Jaylen Samuels and Trey Edmunds sustained injuries in the Bengals game and are questionable heading into the work week. Samuels injured his quad while Edmunds has a hamstring injury.

Still in protocol

The Steelers have two players on the reserve/COVID-19 list: tight end Vance McDonald and offensive lineman Kevin Dotson. For that reason, they will remain in the “intensive” protocol, Tomlin said. That means the team will continue to meet remotely, and the only time they will be together is for practices.

“It is my hope we do a better job this week than we did a week ago — better instructing, better listening, better use of the time and better understanding of the technology and the resources at our disposal in an effort to combat the challenges that are associated with it,” Tomlin said. “No question you lose a little bit when you’re not in the same physical space and get a chance to look a man in his eye or feel the reactions to the information. As a staff, we’re working extra hard to avail ourselves at all the options to be at our best. It’s probably more of an adjustments for us as coaches. The [players] live in that technological world. They appear to be extremely comfortable with it. I think there is less comfort from a coaching standpoint. It has our attention, and it is required.”

Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.

First Published: November 17, 2020, 6:09 p.m.

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