If Rashard Mendenhall has been feeling the heat in light of the performances of his backups in last week's win over the Tennessee Titans, he isn't admitting it.

"Every day I approach my job the same," Mendenhall said Sunday after his 146-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Jaguars. "Every day I put my best foot forward and you can't do more than that. So this is just another day, another week."

But this was not just another week for Mendenhall, who entered the game averaging just 3.0 yards per carry. Part of the issue was running behind an offensive line that has been less than stellar. Mendenhall, though, was under scrutiny as he returned reinserted to the lineup after a week on the bench due to a hamstring injury. The result? He more than doubled his season average with a 6.3 yards per attempt, thanks in no small part to a suddenly resurgent offensive line.

"That's the Mendenhall I've always known," said recently re-signed left tackle Max Starks. "I wasn't here for the Mendenhall everyone else is talking about."

The addition of Starks and injuries to left guard Chris Kemoeatu and rookie right tackle Marcus Gilbert have led to a seemingly better, more cohesive offensive line performance the past two weeks, especially in the run game.

The improved line play sparked controversy among Steelers fans after Mendenhall's backups combined for 156 yards rushing in last week's domination of the Titans. The talk in Pittsburgh since last weekend has been how much better the Steelers running game looked without Mendenhall. There were calls for backups Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer to not only get more carries but perhaps even start over last season's 1,273-yard rusher. Mendenhall took a step toward silencing those critics with his performance against the Jaguars.

"He did a nice job," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "He ran the ball well. We blocked well. We put the ball where it was supposed to go. We finished plays."

One of the criticism facing Mendenhall was not just his production through four games, but also his running style. Sometimes mockingly referred to by Steelers fans as "Rashard Spinandfall" for his penchant for spinning to avoid tackles in the backfield, Mendenhall has erroneously gained a reputation for being a soft runner, one who dances around in the backfield instead of hitting the hole with authority and running straight up-field.

But Mendenhall dismisses the notion that he changed his style or that he did anything differently this week.

"I don't think that after running the same way for 24 years that you can change your style in a week," Mendenhall said. He added, "We did a good job as an offense."

"He's still the same guy," Starks said. "I think we did a better job of cleaning up the holes for him and giving him options to run through."

Unsurprisingly the improved offensive line play lead to Mendenhall's best performance of the season. Unlike in previous weeks he didn't find himself having to work to break tackles in the backfield or try to cut back outside due to non-existent holes. The running back worked in sync with his offensive line to rush for a season-high 146 yards on 23 carries.

"We felt more sound, we communicated cleanly and allowed opportunities for Jon Scott and Maurkice Pouncey and everybody to come in and work hard," Starks explained.

To say that the performance of the Steelers offensive line is going to be important the rest of the season is an understatement. When the line does well, so will the running backs, no matter who it is taking the handoff from Ben Roethlisberger.

But one thing is clear, the man who should benefit most from an improved line is Rashard Mendenhall. Barring injury, he will get the majority of the carries from here on out and no one in their right mind will be able to complain about it. Because Mendenhall has proven time and time again that he deserves it.

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-- CHASE KENDERES
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