The Pittsburgh Steelers got off to a good start in the preseason with a 31-25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars Saturday. And they did that without QB Aaron Rodgers, WR DK Metcalf, and a host of other starters. While the Steelers put up a lot of points, their run game was not a big part of the offense. In fact, the Steelers only gained 66 yards on 25 rushing attempts, managing just 2.6 yards per carry.
That’s not what the Steelers want to do in 2025. They want a strong running game to protect Rodgers. And after Saturday night, former Steelers CB Bryant McFadden thinks it’s the team’s biggest issue moving forward.
“You would like to have balance when you look at an older quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, to have the full playbook open,” McFadden said Monday on CBS Sports HQ before reminding listeners that Rodgers and Metcalf didn’t play. “But guess who played? The starting offensive line, right? They played two series. In those two series, you look at the running game, they only averaged 2.2 yards per carry in those series that the first offensive line unit was in the football game. That’s not ideal.”
Indeed, a strong running game takes the pressure off Aaron Rodgers. And as McFadden says, when your quarterback is going to turn 42 years old this season, that’s important. At one point, Rodgers would win games single-handedly. That’s why he’s got four NFL MVP awards on his resume. However, that time has passed. Rodgers has shown off his arm during camp, which is good. But he’s not as mobile as he used to be. So, the Steelers want to protect him with a strong running game.
That strong running game also keeps the ball away from other offenses. Keeping the defense rested longer into games is a good thing. Especially since the Steelers face the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals twice a year. They’ve got matchups against the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions this year, too.
That’s why McFadden is slightly worried after the first preseason game. The starting offensive line didn’t generate a lot of push up front against the Jaguars. He wants to see that change over the next two games. Not all is bad in regards to the line, though.
“You would like to see better efficiency in the trenches if you look to have a very, very successful offensive-type year for the Pittsburgh Steelers,” McFadden said. “Like I said, the starters didn’t play, but the offensive line did. You look at their ability to dominate, we didn’t see that in the trenches. They did a good job in protecting the quarterback in Skyler Thompson and Mason Rudolph, but we know how important the running game will be this year for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
The Steelers need to run the ball well in 2025. But they held up well in pass protection during the early part of the Jaguars game. And that will be huge for Aaron Rodgers’ health. If the Steelers’ offensive line can continue to protect the quarterback well while improving in the run game, that will help their playoff chances immensely.
