Steelers' Mike McCarthy Gave His Offensive Line Their Flowers After A Masterclass Performance

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New Orleans Saints 16-10 thanks to a valiant trench effort in Week 7. The defensive line dominated the Saints' offensive line, holding their run game to just 18 yards. Tyler Shough was sacked just twice, largely due to quick throws, but the defensive line wreaked havoc. The Steelers' offensive line of the was arguably the MVP of the contest, helping Jaylen Warren rush for 101 yards and average 5.6 yards per carry. The run game dominated the game and even got the offense in position to kick a field goal that would have iced it. 

Pittsburgh has used many premium draft picks on its offensive line in recent years. They have improved each year they've played, but the group is still very young. Led by one of the best centers in the NFL, this unit has been exceptional at run blocking, even with a new right side manned by Brock Hoffman and rookie first-round pick Max Iheanachor. 

Although Mason McCormick and Troy Fautanu switched to the left side, they are developing well together and on the right trajectory. The men up front are showing they can take over games, as we saw in Week 7, something fans haven't seen since the days of Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro. They ended the game in Paris by running the ball all the way down the field, even when the defense knew what was coming. 

Head Coach Mike McCarthy didn't forget to mention this performance during his postgame press conference. He said they felt they needed to own the line of scrimmage and run for about 30 attempts, and they did. 

"We felt we needed to own the line of scrimmage on both sides. We felt going through the game plan process that was going to be an important factor in the game, and we definitely hit the target there," McCarthy stated. "Specifically about the offensive line, they're young. They're getting consecutive starts, so this is another game we can build off of. Finally, we were able to get our rushes up to 30; that was a goal to get the rush attempts up. Very excited to see us take that step."

The Steelers didn't run the ball well through the first two games, and an injury to Rico Dowdle forced them to lean on Warren. While injuries are unfortunate, Dowdle's toe injury was a blessing in disguise for the offense and Dowdle himself. Since Dowdle's injury, Warren has been one of the NFL's best running backs and the nucleus of the offense. Warren isn't the only one who stepped up. The offensive line has created huge lanes and, for the most part, kept Aaron Rodgers upright. 

Since returning from his injury, Dowdle has looked much more explosive since the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Warren is getting most of the touches, which is the right call, but Dowdle is making the most of his carries, averaging 4.6 yards per carry against the Saints and totaling 86 combined yards. The Steelers are finally seeing the two-time 1,000-yard rusher they expected. 

Steelers Have A Serious One-Two Punch At Running Back

Warren and Dowdle have been a strong combination over the past two weeks. Warren is one of the NFL's best playmakers, and Dowdle is a gritty runner who always gets the extra yard. The pair dominated the Saints' run defense both through the air and on the ground, which could make them more dangerous than last year's duo, which featured Kenneth Gainwell. 

Warren is obviously a great receiving threat, but Dowdle has also shown he can be dangerous in the flat. When he gets the ball with space, he easily picks up first downs and moves the chains. The former Dallas Cowboys standout is gaining traction in his former head coach's offensive scheme, making Pittsburgh's rushing attack even more dynamic. As the season goes on, both men will become increasingly important as the stakes get higher. 

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