Without Jerome Bettis, the Steelers' offense just wasn't the same.It was more productive without him, leading to four wins in five games.
But they don't want to do it without him anymore.
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The Steelers' Jerome Bettis celebrates a touchdown during the team's 21-16 win over the Minnesota Vikings at Heinz Field in early December. (Gabor Degre, Post-Gazette) |
"He's Jerome Bettis!" safety Lee Flowers explained. "He's one of the most famous faces in the league. A lot of guys look up to Jerome, a lot of guys respect Jerome and, whenever you don't have that, you're missing a piece of the puzzle."
With all due respects to Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, who ran for 418 yards in Bettis' absence, the Steelers welcome the return of a healthy Bus for their first playoff game Sunday against Baltimore in Heinz Field.
"He represents the team," receiver Hines Ward said. "It's what the team is about. Fortunately, we've had guys come in and step in and substitute for him, but for us to go where we want to go, we need Jerome."
"We miss his emotion," Flowers said. "There's nothing like seeing him run the ball, getting up and getting the crowd pumped up and getting us pumped up."
Bettis left the Steelers Dec. 2 game against Minnesota at Heinz Field in the third quarter with a hip and groin injury and has not played since. At the time, he was leading the NFL with 1,072 yards rushing. The hip injury healed a long time ago, but the pulled groin muscle lingered longer than he expected.
The Steelers averaged 358.9 yards on offense through their first 11 games with Bettis and 387.8 yards over the past five without him. That happened because the Steelers were more productive throwing without Bettis, forced to do so because their running game was not quite as effective.
With Bettis, the Steelers averaged 179.5 yards passing; without him, they averaged 227.6. Their rushing yards, however, were off by nearly 20 yards a game without him.
"We've been winning without him; just imagine once he gets back," Flowers said. "There's going to be some flying around. He just really gets everybody pumped up on the field. We missed that a little bit.
"He's one of the best backs to play this game. Jerome knows what's at stake. This is his first opportunity. I actually expect a different Jerome, a much faster Jerome, a more pumped-up Jerome. He's been in the league nine years now and never been to a Super Bowl. He's definitely going to be pumped up."
Bettis and Coach Bill Cowher do not disagree with Flowers. He has practiced the past three weeks with the first team on a regular basis.
"I've seen him work here for about three weeks now," Cowher said after practice yesterday. "He has lot of bounce in his step right now. I feel real comfortable that he's back close to 100 percent."
"The rust," Bettis said, "Is pretty much worn off. I'm pretty much in sync with everything that's going on . It's just a matter of getting into the game and getting some hits on me."
Bettis believes he could be quicker and more effective Sunday because he is fresh, although he will run against a defense that allows 100-yard rushers with the frequency of blue moons. He hasn't taken a hit since Dec. 2 and he carried only 225 times, the second-fewest in his career and 130 carries fewer than last season.
"The body's not beat up," Bettis said. "That makes you a little quicker, considering everybody else has been through that 16-week schedule. I think it will help, yes."
As a bonus, Bettis will be joined by Amos Zereoue, who has been hampered by a separated shoulder since the end of October. Fuamatu-Ma'afala will resume his role as Bettis' backup and Zereoue will play on third downs.
Fuamatu-Ma'afala did reasonably well at times the past five games, but there's only one Bus.
"Whenever you can get your main horse back, it sure makes you go faster," tackle Wayne Gandy said. "It gives you an established guy, a guy who has had big days, who has been in these situations. Our other tailbacks, as good as they've been filling in, they don't know the pressure of third-and-one in a playoff game like he would. It gives the defense someone else to have to concentrate on. Now we can go back to the power and speed, with Amos being healthy, also."
"It also gives you someone who doesn't fumble the ball, someone who can pick up the blitz, a smart, heady player. Give him two more years of what he's done this year, you ride him to Canton."
The Hall of Fame can wait; Bettis wants something else, now.
"It's the playoffs, man," Bettis said. "That's what you play this game for. You don't get many opportunities to do this. This is not given, this is not promised to you, this is something you earn and, when you get the opportunity to play, you have to take advantage of it."
Cowher said he likely will stick with Bettis, even if he's not getting much yardage in the early going. He must take into account they are playing a tough defense and that Bettis in the past has gotten some of his biggest runs after a defense grows weary of tackling him.
"When we've played against these people, it's going to be a grind to run the football," Cowher said.. "You have to be careful not to make the assessment that "well, it's just because Jerome's rusty.' It's going to be a grind,, we have to be persistent and recognize there are going to be 0-yard gains, 1-yard gains."
Bettis said he will know if he's missing holes or not, and that he will not take it easy.
"There's only one way to go, right into it, first snap. You can't ease into it. I wish I could tell them to go half-speed out there."
Steelers welcome Bettis back after long absence 
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