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Football games aren’t won between the 20s; they are won in the red zone. Offenses can be as dominant as they can, marching up and down the field, but it doesn’t mean anything if they can’t finish.
In 2014, the Pittsburgh Steelers were ranked 28th in the NFL in goal line offense. They sport a high-powered offense featuring three of the NFL’s best offensive weapons in Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger. Brown rewrote most of the Steelers’ record book for wide receivers, Roethlisberger had the best statistical year of his career, and Bell was the best all-around back in the league. So, why couldn’t they score?
Part of the issue is their lack of big-bodied wide receivers. While he’s a fantastic receiver, Brown is smaller and not as dominant in the red zone. While a consistent player, Heath Miller isn’t the red-zone threat he used to be and for much of the season, the Steelers lacked the size of Martavis Bryant.
Bryant figures to be a much larger part of the team this year, his second in the NFL. At 6-foot-4, Bryant has shown the ability to track balls in the air and beat cornerbacks in the air for them. He needs to be a main target for Roethlisberger this year and will likely rack up a ton of red-zone touches.
Fifth-round pick Jesse James may also have an early role in the red zone. The Steelers have employed a two-tight end offense in the red zone in the past, so James may have the opportunity to prove himself early on as the Steelers attempt to create mismatches for the defense.
Bell will also need to step up in red-zone opportunities like he did last year, but not just as a running back. Getting Bell into space with quick screens and rolling him out as a wide receiver can catch defenses off guard, giving the Steelers and advantage and hopefully a score.
With a high-powered offense and a couple of new toys for Roethlisberger, the Steelers will not just have an opportunity to improve in the red zone: they’ll need to.
