PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense has been erratic. The quarterback's been injured. Even Antonio Brown's production has been down on occasion.

The one constant has been Le'Veon Bell, who is setting a potentially historic pace through his first four games.

Bell's 589 yards from scrimmage from Weeks 4-7 account for 38.14 percent of Pittsburgh's overall yardage of 1,544 against the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots.

That's a slightly higher usage than Arizona bell cow David Johnson's 36.8 percent of the Cardinals' offense.

And that's with Bell's 10 rushes for 53 yards against Miami, where the Steelers abandoned the run early while playing from behind and dealing with Ben Roethlisberger's injury.

Le'Veon Bell is carrying a historically high load for the Steelers. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

With 344 rushing yards and 245 receiving yards, Bell is on pace for 2,356 total yards over a full season. That would be 153 shy of Chris Johnson 's total yards record of 2,509 yards set in 2009, and 73 short of Marshall Faulk's former record of 2,429 in 1999. Bell's overall usage is higher than Faulk's 37.8 percent that year.

That 2,356 total would rank sixth all-time. With 30 catches through four games, Bell is on pace for a wild 120 catches over 16 games.

Over the years, the 24-year-old Bell has drawn inspiration from versatile backs such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Matt Forte and Faulk, who was lined up wide and running slants before that was cool for a tailback to do.

He's becoming a collage of all three.

"I kind of put all their games into my game," Bell said. "Whatever the coaches want to call and are comfortable with me me running, I'm always down."

The one thing eluding Bell this season is touchdowns, but after scoring 22 times in his first 35 career NFL games, the points should follow him. While averaging nearly 25 touches per game, two more than his career average, Bell will get more goal-line chances. On last Sunday's lone touchdown against New England, Bell carried twice for six yards to set up a 14-yard touchdown catch by Darrius Heyward-Bey.

"Give the ball to 26," Heyward-Bey said about the game plan two days before the Patriots matchup.

Bell said he doesn't have any personal yardage goals, but the Steelers' game plan for winning will heavily include Bell. Eli Rogers has been in and out of the lineup, making Bell a de facto slot receiver.

Bell is willing to do whatever necessary.

"Deep balls, running across the middle, it doesn't matter," Bell said.