Free Agent Running Backs To Target

[Steeler Nation]

The Pittsburgh Steelers landed their next great running back last season in the NFL Draft when they selected Najee Harris. Harris was a work horse for the Steelers, rushing for 1200 yards and catching 74 passes for 467 yards. Combined he touched the ball 381 times.

THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY ONE TIMES. That’s just too much for a running back. Unfortunately that has coach Mike Tomlin’s MO. He famously once said that he was going to run the wheels off of Willie Parker, and he did just that. Tomlin ran Parker until he broke his leg in 2007 (Tomlin’s first year) and he never recovered. At the time of Parkers injury he was leading the league in rushing, but had 321 rushes through 14 and a half games. The Steelers selected Rashaad Mendenhall in the 2008 NFL Draft and Parker was finished in the NFL by 2009.

Tomlin spend several years with running backs that were ‘good enough’ but no where near the caliber of Harris until he draft Le’Veon Bell in 2013. Again he gave Bell the ball often, both receiving and rushing. It worked well and Bell seemed to be able to hold up for the regular season, but by the time the playoffs came around Bell was broken. That must stop now. Tomlin has to learn from his mistakes, even if it’s taken this long.

The team must sign a capable back up to Harris. While the offensive line struggles are part of the problem when it comes to running backs that aren’t as talented as Harris, Benny Snell has failed to show any consistency as a back-up. Snell has flashed in different moments a starter, but can’t be counted on to come in and spell Harris. The team needs to go out and upgrade the back up running back position. Below is a list of potential candidates.

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[Troglodyte]

Way down the list of priorities. Snell could be a more than adequate reserve running behind a good OL. If the Steelers are looking to add a RB, it should be one that can do what McFarland hasn’t been able to do.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

If the Steelers are looking to add a RB, it should be one that can do what McFarland hasn’t been able to do.

Act like a man?

 

[steelhurt]

I can't see where any of the good RB's on that list will want to come here. Not with Tomlin's reputation for running the wheels off his first string back and the backups get little to no carries. Those guys generally come with incentive laden contracts which will be hard to meet as a back-up here. Tomlin doesn't know how to use two good backs instead he'd rather run the heel out of his primary back and let the other one gather moss on the bench. Save the money and let Snell gather the moss. Its cheaper!

 

[livingthrudying]

Sign them all to sit on the bench! Tomlin does not like using multiple backs much.

 

[Buffalo66]

Sign them all to sit on the bench! Tomlin does not like using multiple backs much.

I think Phillip Lindsay would be a nice compliment to Najee Harris.

 

[slashsteel]

That Conner kid had 18 total TDs. He would look good in Black n Gold riding the bench.

 

[diver]

That is complete asinine speculation. Nobody can ever prove Willie Parker broke his leg due to overuse. It's just stupid. It was a broken leg. Maybe there could be an argument if it was a soft tissue injury, but even that I doubt. Tyson Alualu broke his ankle early. Did Tomlin overuse him? Maybe he underused him. Maybe Tomlin was bashing his ankle with a bat in the locker room and that weakened it somewhat causing it to break. It is so damn dumb.

 

[SteelerFan448]

With a guy like Harris who is going to carry the load, I would prefer a James White type player. He isn't going to take carries away from Harris, instead be a role player with his specific skill set. I'm also interested in White (ASU) and Pierce (Florida) in the draft.

 

[Buster]

That Conner kid had 18 total TDs. He would look good in Black n Gold riding the bench.

He couldn’t stay healthy behind a half-decent line. This line would get him killed.

Happy to see him having success this past year.

 

[Buster]

Mack, Bolden…good compliments. Mewelde Moore kind of guys.

 

[slashsteel]

He couldn’t stay healthy behind a half-decent line. This line would get him killed.

They almost did.

JC will probably always have injury issues. But I love me so James Conner.

 

[BLITZ]

what is Amos Zereoue doing these days?

I would love to se e JC back as a second back. but know it isnt going to happen

 

[livingthrudying]

I think Phillip Lindsay would be a nice compliment to Najee Harris.

Maybe but he would not see the field much. Tomlin simply does not like to employ a two back system. They barely use a second back to spell the main back let alone plan for using a second back. In fact we have seen several backs complain and leave here cause of this.

 

[bigben]

The Pittsburgh Steelers landed their next great running back last season in the NFL Draft when they selected Najee Harris. Harris was a work horse for the Steelers, rushing for 1200 yards and catching 74 passes for 467 yards. Combined he touched the ball 381 times.

THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY ONE TIMES. That’s just too much for a running back. Unfortunately that has coach Mike Tomlin’s MO. He famously once said that he was going to run the wheels off of Willie Parker, and he did just that. Tomlin ran Parker until he broke his leg in 2007 (Tomlin’s first year) and he never recovered. At the time of Parkers injury he was leading the league in rushing, but had 321 rushes through 14 and a half games. The Steelers selected Rashaad Mendenhall in the 2008 NFL Draft and Parker was finished in the NFL by 2009.

Tomlin spend several years with running backs that were ‘good enough’ but no where near the caliber of Harris until he draft Le’Veon Bell in 2013. Again he gave Bell the ball often, both receiving and rushing. It worked well and Bell seemed to be able to hold up for the regular season, but by the time the playoffs came around Bell was broken. That must stop now. Tomlin has to learn from his mistakes, even if it’s taken this long.

The team must sign a capable back up to Harris. While the offensive line struggles are part of the problem when it comes to running backs that aren’t as talented as Harris, Benny Snell has failed to show any consistency as a back-up. Snell has flashed in different moments a starter, but can’t be counted on to come in and spell Harris. The team needs to go out and upgrade the back up running back position. Below is a list of potential candidates.

Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..

Willie Parker never got the credit he deserved, undrafted underdog who led the league in rushing over Ladanian Tomlinson.
All three healthy seasons he posted much more impressive rushing numbers than Najee Harris in fewer games, behind a Line that had a hall of fame RB that hadn't rushed for 1000 yards in years. Willie Parker was the man!

 

[suncitysteel]

I don't think we could spare any of our current draft picks on a RB. Too many other holes to fill. Maybe we get lucky with an UFA after the draft, ala Willie Parker. And besides, many of the backs on that list have been starters and something tells me that not many of them would be willing to take a backup/complimentary role. If there was a possibility that we could get a Deangelo Williams type guy who is used to sharing carries, then OK.

I say UFA and/or roll with Snell, whom I'm not a big fan of.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Mack or Lindsay would be about the only 2 I would consider, maybe Sony Michel

Would rather draft Cook out of GA in the 4th or later (or grab one of the remaining scrap heap backs if we can’t find a suitable backup in the draft)

At any rate we all know Tomlin is not going to use the backup until he blows out one of Naj’s tires so I wouldn’t invest too heavily with all of our other needs.