Ray Fittipaldo Raises Major Concern About Steelers' Running Game Before Week 1

The Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of questions heading into Mike McCarthy's first season; however, Ray Fittipaldo believes one of them could become a real problem fast. The Steelers spent the preseason sorting through their quarterback situation, and that came with a cost. According to Fittipaldo, the Steelers never really got a true look at their running game. Now they're about to find out how ready that part of the offense actually is. Ray Fittipaldo Raises A Big Concern For The Pittsburgh Steelers The Steelers enter Week 1 with Aaron Rodgers at QB and plenty of new pieces around him; however, the running game could determine how comfortable this offense looks early. Fittipaldo pointed out that the Steelers did not get much opportunity to stress-test their ground attack during training camp or the preseason. The team was not tackling at full speed in practice, while its preseason games were largely centered on figuring out the backup quarterback battle between Drew Allar and Will Howard. 'I have a big question about this team's running game right now. They didn't really work on it in practice. They didn't go full speed and tackle in practice. They certainly didn't work on it in the preseason games, that was all about figuring out the whole Drew Allar and Will Howard thing. So I have questions about that.' Ray Fittipaldo questions the Steelers running game right now: 'I have a big question about this team's running game right now. They didn't really work on it in practice. They didn't go full speed and tackle in practice. They certainly didn't work on it in the preseason games,… — Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) September 7, 2026 That is a fair concern considering what the Steelers want this offense to become. Rodgers is not the same QB who could consistently erase problems with his legs, and the Steelers need the ground game to keep defenses honest and prevent opponents from simply teeing off on him. The offensive line has already given reason for some concern. The Steelers struggled in both pass protection and run blocking during the preseason, even with players such as Troy Fautanu and Dylan Cook getting opportunities. That makes Sunday's opener against the Atlanta Falcons an important early test for the front five. There is also plenty riding on the backs behind them. The Steelers need its rushing attack to complement Rodgers rather than leave the veteran QB carrying the offense on his own. The Steelers have built a roster they believe can compete in the AFC; however, an inconsistent ground game could make that much harder. Moreover, even Google's Gemini projected Pittsburgh to finish 11-6, with several of its wins tied to the Steelers controlling games through their defense and running attack. That projection looks a little less convincing if the ground game isn't ready. The Steelers don't need to suddenly become the league's most dominant rushing team in Week 1 but need to prove they can consistently stay ahead of the chains, and that's something they haven't really had the chance to prove yet. Related reading: 'The Most Corrupt University in America' — Jason Whitlock Doesn't Hold Back on Michigan's Controversial Western Michigan Win Chiefs' Latest Roster Move to Support Travis Kelce's TE Room Gives 'New Opportunity' to 6-Foot-6 International Talent Falcons Name Starting Quarterback For 2026 Season (Breaking News) Robert Griffin III Digs Up Old Stanford NCAA Violation to Defend 'Under-the-Table' Allegations