DOG: Where's The Running Game?

Many Stiller fans are scratching their heads and asking each other: Where's our vaunted running attack? Why is Willie Parker having so much trouble? Is Rashard Mendenhall really a bust? Can Mewelde Moore really be our best RB? Why is Frank Summers having so much trouble?

Then they discuss the answers: Willie Parker is washed up. FWP has never been the same since he broke his leg. Mendenhall hasn't seen enough game action yet. Mendenhall is fumble prone. Moore is a good back but he won't hold up as an every down player. The offensive line can't run block. Jim Brown couldn't gain yardage behind this line. We miss Dan Kreider. Frank The Tank has never been a blocking back and we're asking him to learn a new position on the fly. Isaac Redman did the best in pre-season why isn't he running the ball. Let DJ Johnson line up as the blocking back. And on and on it goes.

Now in truth, each of these theories has some basis in fact. The line isn't great. Parker hasn't been resigned for a reason. Nobody has confidence in Mendenhall. Summers does appear over his head. Moore may be too valuable as a 3rd down back to see action in other situations. And I'm certain Tomlin will be exploring the answer by game time Sunday.

But it seems everybody has missed one very important factor. The retirement of Dick Hoak. Hoak was RB coach for as long as I could remember when he wasn't an active Steeler. This guy coached Franco Harris, Barry Foster, Merril Hoge, Jerome Bettis, Frank Pollard, and Rocky Bleier. And finds himself 5th on the Steelers all-time rushing leaders!

Perhaps Willie Parker hasn't been the same since he broke his leg in December of 2007. But let's not forget that Dick Hoak retired just 3 weeks later! And the development of our running backs has stagnated.

This is not a criticism of current RB coach Kirby Wilson. I don't know enough about the situation to be critical. But I know one thing. We miss Dick Hoak.