No matter how many times you may hear John Madden and Al Michaels say otherwise, the Steelers are no longer a power running team. Jerome Bettis is long gone, and Alan Faneca now pulls to lead runs in New York.But if the Steelers are going to harken back to the days when they could run against any defense, it will likely be in part because of their G-Power run. It was their favorite play when Faneca was the left guard and, even without Faneca, it's still a key part of Pittsburgh's playbook.
The play involves Steelers left guard Chris Kemoeatu pulling to lead tailback Willie Parker into the hole. If the rest of the line does their job, then Kemoeatu is meeting an inside linebacker in the hole -- a battle he should win -- and Parker is going for a long gain.
When it works, Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians will call it over and over. In fact, against the Browns in Week Two, the Steelers ran the G-Power 13 times out of 29 running plays with plenty of success. There's nothing really deceptive about the play, it's more of a baseball bat to the head, over and over, as you can see it coming. But if it's blocked properly, it's still tough to stop.
The Steelers will run this play out of many different formations. While I illustrated it with the Steelers in a two tight end formation, Pittsburgh will run it out of almost any formation, including ones where Heath Miller (No. 83) lines up as an H-back or fullback in motion. But wherever he lines up, Miller's block is a key to the play's success. He has to control the outside linebacker, ideally by driving him to the outside, which creates a logjam that helps ensure that the cornerback can not come over to help out in run support. But if the linebacker tries to knife inside of Miller to blow up the play, he can simply use the linebackers momentum, drive him inside and let Kemoeatu pull around to his outside.
The other key block, depending on the defense's formation is that of right guard Darnell Stapleton (No. 72) or right tackle Willie Colon (No. 74). One of those two has to get a block on the play-side inside linebacker. If defensive end Darnell Dockett (No. 90) is lined up where Stapleton can reach him, Stapleton blocks him while Colon picks up the linebacker. But if Dockett is too far to the outside for Stapleton to reach him, than Colon will block Dockett while Stapleton handles the linebacker. Depending on the play, either of them may be asked to double team one of the defensive linemen first before going downfield to block the linebackers.
If they all do their job, this is one of the Steelers' best bets at a big running play. But there are several ways the Cardinals can blow it up. First of all, if outside linebacker Chike Okeafor (No. 56) can beat Miller, the play falls apart. He can either stuff the play for no gain, or at worst, can swallow up Kemoeatu's attention as well, which will allow the inside linebackers a chance to make the tackle.
The Cardinals defensive ends can also blow up the play. If Dockett can shoot a gap and get into the backfield, he can stop the play before it ever gets started. But if neither of those two can win their battle, the other key is a decision Cardinals defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergrast will make before the play even begins. If the Cardinals are more worried about the Steelers running game, they will likely walk up strong safety Adrian Wilson as an eight-man to help out in run support. If that happens, Wilson will likely be in good position to either eat up a blocker or make the tackle.
But if the Cardinals have been gashed by the Steelers' passing game before the G-Power is called, Wilson may be back in pass coverage. If that's the case, with only seven men up in the box, then the Steelers should have some opportunities with the G-Power.
