awboatguy
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According to BTSC.
Meet LaDarius Perkins, the Steelers' newest roster acquisition
For the statheads, rookie undrafted free agent LaDarius Perkins scored well in SPARQ - a combined athletic measurement utilized by, among others, the Seattle Seahawks (and possibly by the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to our season-preview main story). He placed 30th out of 152 graded running backs eligible for the 2014 NFL Draft.
That put him, incidentally, ahead of both of Cleveland's stud running backs Terrence West and Isaiah Crowell, and just a shade behind Baltimore's Lorenzo Taliaferro.
So, if nothing else, there's some building potential. Besides, all Perkins needs to do is look at his newest team to see a reason to stay motivated and keep working. Josh Harris was called off the practice squad to take the spot of released RB LeGarrette Blount.
Issues like walking off the field during the game, which Blount did during Pittsburgh's win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 11, don't happen often, and Perkins can't expect anything similar to be what gets him into the NFL. But an opportunity is an opportunity.
He certainly has got the support of his hometown.
The Greenville, Miss., native is Mississippi State's fifth-leading career rusher with over 2,500 yards, and he was a second-team All-SEC pick last year. His high school retired his jersey last year, according to the Delta Democrat Times (subscription), but DDT sports editor Chris Whitaker supplied BTSC with a copy of the article from March. In that piece, Whitaker quoted Perkins' high school coach Phillip Wasson vouching for his character above all else.
"All of Greenville supports him. He’s a great role model, a great leader, and he has spoken nothing but good about Greenville."
Not to suggest the Steelers lack character, but there weren't exactly cries of outrage coming out of the locker room upon hearing of Blount's release. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger even chuckled a little bit upon hearing the news from NFLN's Rich Eisen.
With Le'Veon Bell not likely to be even remotely challenged for carries the remainder of this season and probably next year, it's interesting to look at who the Steelers have in line to back him up or pick up situation-based roles. Rookie Dri Archer was seldom used prior to Blount's release and his departure probably doesn't open anything up for him anyway. Harris is even less likely to see the field, but it's not out of the question either.
If Perkins performs well in practice the remainder of the year, he might get a future contract. If he progresses during the off-season, then perhaps he's on the training-camp roster. From there, who knows? It seems possible the Steelers might address the running back position in the draft, electing to roll the dice, aiming to back up Bell with inexpensive and selfless young players, instead of bringing in a veteran who might end up grousing about playing time.
That said, Perkins appears to be in a great position. The Steelers will have open competition for the second and third running backs on next year's roster. All Perkins needed was a chance, and now he has it.
Interesting read. Anyone know anything about this kid and what, if any, upside does he have?
Here's hoping for another undrafted gem!
Meet LaDarius Perkins, the Steelers' newest roster acquisition
For the statheads, rookie undrafted free agent LaDarius Perkins scored well in SPARQ - a combined athletic measurement utilized by, among others, the Seattle Seahawks (and possibly by the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to our season-preview main story). He placed 30th out of 152 graded running backs eligible for the 2014 NFL Draft.
That put him, incidentally, ahead of both of Cleveland's stud running backs Terrence West and Isaiah Crowell, and just a shade behind Baltimore's Lorenzo Taliaferro.
So, if nothing else, there's some building potential. Besides, all Perkins needs to do is look at his newest team to see a reason to stay motivated and keep working. Josh Harris was called off the practice squad to take the spot of released RB LeGarrette Blount.
Issues like walking off the field during the game, which Blount did during Pittsburgh's win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 11, don't happen often, and Perkins can't expect anything similar to be what gets him into the NFL. But an opportunity is an opportunity.
He certainly has got the support of his hometown.
The Greenville, Miss., native is Mississippi State's fifth-leading career rusher with over 2,500 yards, and he was a second-team All-SEC pick last year. His high school retired his jersey last year, according to the Delta Democrat Times (subscription), but DDT sports editor Chris Whitaker supplied BTSC with a copy of the article from March. In that piece, Whitaker quoted Perkins' high school coach Phillip Wasson vouching for his character above all else.
"All of Greenville supports him. He’s a great role model, a great leader, and he has spoken nothing but good about Greenville."
Not to suggest the Steelers lack character, but there weren't exactly cries of outrage coming out of the locker room upon hearing of Blount's release. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger even chuckled a little bit upon hearing the news from NFLN's Rich Eisen.
With Le'Veon Bell not likely to be even remotely challenged for carries the remainder of this season and probably next year, it's interesting to look at who the Steelers have in line to back him up or pick up situation-based roles. Rookie Dri Archer was seldom used prior to Blount's release and his departure probably doesn't open anything up for him anyway. Harris is even less likely to see the field, but it's not out of the question either.
If Perkins performs well in practice the remainder of the year, he might get a future contract. If he progresses during the off-season, then perhaps he's on the training-camp roster. From there, who knows? It seems possible the Steelers might address the running back position in the draft, electing to roll the dice, aiming to back up Bell with inexpensive and selfless young players, instead of bringing in a veteran who might end up grousing about playing time.
That said, Perkins appears to be in a great position. The Steelers will have open competition for the second and third running backs on next year's roster. All Perkins needed was a chance, and now he has it.
Interesting read. Anyone know anything about this kid and what, if any, upside does he have?
Here's hoping for another undrafted gem!
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