Can we Mend this team back together?

I don't believe in singling out a single player and looking to him solely as the key to winning a game, but I do believe that this coming game between the Steelers and the Chargers we should all look to one player to see which direction this team is heading.

This game is the perfect opportunity for Rashard Mendenhall. The stars just might be aligning for this guy. First of all, Willie Parker may be out with a Turf Toe, therefore Mendenhall will be our starter. Yes, I actually would rather give the ball to Mewelde Moore (he's consistent, reliable and good in space), but we drafted Mendy in the first round for a reason.

Second of all, the Chargers' defense is allowing an atrocious 142 rushing yards per game at a pace of 4.5 yards per carry.

Third, it is redemption time for Mendenhall after being benched last week against the Bengals for not being up on his playbook. It shows that Rashard simply hasn't set his mind on the game. I'm not sure what's wrong with the kid. I believe he made a terrible decision last year after his injury to not stick around the team during practice. Instead, he chose to take that time off to work on his Michael Jackson dance moves (In case you don't know what I'm talking about, go here). He could have used all that time off to familiarize himself with the playbook, ask questions and create a bond with his teammates. His decision to take that time away from the game was childish.

Now it's time to grow up.

With this game.

Why this game? Because this is the game we will need him the most. Our running back situation is depleted, and we face the fourth consecutive team with a QB who knows how to hit the right targets against our Defesnse. You think Philip Rivers hasn't been watching our fourth quarter performances? To keep the ball away from him... run the pig.

In 2007, under Tomlin's first year, we faced three different teams who were at the time ranked LAST in rushing defense when we played against them... and we weren't able to control the game using our running game in at least two (Broncos and NY Jets) -- resulting in losses.

Right now we face a team that's ranked 26th in that category, and if we don't get our running game going now, we likely never will.

Rashard can help us even out the score and step up to 2-2. If we don't control the running game, I guarantee we fall to 1-3.

Running the ball means doing it through all four quarters. Especially in the fourth when it counts the most.

If Rashard can match the rushing average the Chargers have been giving out so far, we will control the clock, keep the ball and avoid another fourth quarter debacle.