Considering that you live in PA I would have expected you to be a bit more knowledgeable about the Steelers. The whole 'Steelers smash mouth, etc.' is one of those things that gets repeated so often it's accepted as fact, but the reality is they are just as much, if not more pass-oriented (or the derogatory 'finesse' that so many prefer) than the Pats.
Little known fact that gets in the way of stereotypes: the Pats have out-rushed the Steelers for three consecutive years.
I absolutely do believe that the Pats need to run the ball more often, specifically with Stevan Ridley, but whenever I hear the terms 'finesse' team and 'smash mouth' football, it is almost always just people flexing internet muscles with little substance behind their opinions.
Steelers play a balanced attack of pass and run. Pats are pass first then run
2011 Steelers : 57% Pass, 43% Run
2011 Patriots : 65% Pass, 35% Run
Steelers also play ball control since they have the best Defense in the league for past many years, especially shutting down opposing teams run game. This affords them mixing up run and pass
Steelers of past 8 years are smashmouth football - be it Bettis, Willie Parker, Zeroue, Deuce Staley, Davenport, Mwelde Moore, Mendenhall. This pays off in cold weather games and come playoff time. Patriots do no have such RB's or focus. It is your juking style RB's they prefer since Running is afterthought. Since Corey Dillion year they never had a RB or attempted to get one with the sole focus to tell D we are going to ram it down your throat and there's nothing you can do to stop it.
Just having yards does not mean much. 2010 Pats outrushed Steelers by 30-40 yards, which statistically is negligible over 16 games.
2008 Patriots rushed for 2300 yards. Can you name the leading rusher ? or say they had a dominant rusher or 2 that could control the game ? Also, this was the year brady was knocked out. Suffice to say if he was not out Patriots would NOT have rushed for close to 2300 yards. It would have been Brady to Moss show again following up on 2007 season
At the end of the day running the ball is not about yards, rather can you control the game, can you control the opposing team psyche, can you dictate possession by possession strategy (run then switch to pass). Patriots do not have commitment to run - its always and afterthought.
Patriots of all teams should know that from 1-2 years of Clock killin Corey Dillon. It's not the 1600 yards he gained, rather the amount of time he allowed the Defense to be rested come 4th Quarter of games