Barring injury, it appears that Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin plans to go with what he knows.
During a live, interactive call with the Steelers Nation Unite fan group on Thursday, Tomlin responded to a question about whether he was planning to deploy a running-back-by-committee approach this season.
“I’m a feature runner type guy by mentality,” Tomlin said. “I think that if you have a featured runner it gives them an opportunity to drop a stake in the ground and allows others to rally around him. It gives you a set of core phase run plays that he specializes in and you find a rhythm in that way. But no question in today’s game that a feature runner needs to be supplemented and supplemented by guys who are capable of doing similar things in case he misses time, but also supplemented by guys who are capable of doing different things to maybe challenge the defense in different ways and I think that’s just the makeup of our group right now.”
“James is a feature runner and a proven guy when healthy and we’re excited about him getting back to health and displaying that in 2020. Benny Snell is a guy who plays with a physical style in a similar manner as James and might be capable of being a James-type guy if James is unavailable. As you mentioned we’re excited about McFarland, who brings a different component. He’s got catch quickness and is quick to speed and is capable of producing big plays in open spaces. We like the collection of guys we have in the group.
The Steelers currently have six running backs on their roster: Conner, Snell, Jaylen Samuels, Kerrith Whyte, Trey Edmunds, and rookie Anthony McFarland.
Conner missed six games in 2019, but still managed to lead the team in rushing with 464 yards. In his absence, Snell got the majority of the carries for 426 yards on 108 attempts. Samuels, Whyte, Edmunds played sparingly, with Samuels being used more as a receiver.
“No question in today’s game, a featured runner needs to be supplemented and supplemented by guys who are capable of doing similar things in case he misses time and some that are capable of doing different things and challenging defenses in different ways,” Tomlin said.
When breaking down the group, Tomlin didn’t mention Samuels, Edmunds, or Whyte but hinted that fullback Derek Watt, signed to the team in March, may see some time in the backfield.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the addition of Derek Watt at the fullback position. We’re excited about him. We’re excited about what the group is going to do largely, but usually, when it’s doing well, it’s because you have a lead dog out front, and that guy is the featured runner.”
“We’re excited about what the group is going to do largely,” Tomlin said. “Usually, when it’s going well, it’s because you have a lead dog out front, and that guy is the featured runner.”
Tomlin had better have a more solid backup plan (pun intended) than he did last season in case Conner misses any amount of time.
[vertical-gallery id=464988]
[lawrence-related id=464962]