Steelers claim former Jags running back

[SteelCrazy]

At a time when plenty of Steelers fans would like to see their favorite team trade for Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew, they’ll have to settle for another guy who recently toted the ball while wearing teal.

The Steelers have claimed running back DuJuan Harris on waivers from the Jags. The Steelers announced the move today.

Harris generated 42 yards on nine carries last season. He also returned 14 kickoffs.

He becomes the seventh running back on the roster, joining Rashard Mendenhall, Ike Redman, Jonathan Dwyer, Baron Batch, Chris Rainey, and Jason Ford.

So, basically, it won’t be easy for Harris to stick around four days from now, when the rosters drop from 75 to 53.

[url]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/27/steelers-claim-former-jags-running-back/[/url]

[flippy]

When I saw the title, I was having a Roger Clemens moment and half expecting you to say Fred Taylor.

[D Rock]

When I saw the title, I was having a Roger Clemens moment and half expecting you to say Fred Taylor.

I'd rather it be Natrone Means.

[NorthCoast]

so the coaches decided that Batch, Rainey, Dwyer, are not the answer as backups to Redman??

[flippy]

so the coaches decided that Batch, Rainey, Dwyer, are not the answer as backups to Redman??

I wonder if we could coax a guy like Alex Gibbs out of retirement to come in and help Koogs fix our line so we could plug in any old RB and have success.

[fezziwig]

to me it is wasted energy from the steler coaches. i dont understand this pickup .

[lloydroid]

so the coaches decided that Batch, Rainey, Dwyer, are not the answer as backups to Redman??

I think they know if they have to go to BB or Ford, we are in real trouble. Redman, Dwyer and Rainey are all in. This guy was brought in to upgrade what is behind those 3. BB has shown nothing.

[lloydroid]

to me it is wasted energy from the steler coaches. i dont understand this pickup .

I think it indicates they are not happy with what we have after JD, Redman and Rainey. Between those 3 we have a possible 3 down, bread and butter back with no history of being able to grind it out for any length of time (JD), a short yardage plugger who probably can't handle a full load every week and a 3rd down/specialist back, who is not an every down back. After that, we have basically nothing. BB, Clay, Ford - not good options if JD goes down, which will lead to Redman going down due to the nature of how he runs (slow, fights for every yard, which leads to too many hits and cold tub time). That is what I make of this move. I like this pick up, a lot. He may never see the field but I like the tude of always trying to upgrade every unit, all the time. That is much improved over the days of Cowher, where he got his "buddy buddy" players and didn't seek to upgrade much after he did. Chard Scott, Kordell, Gil-dong, Deewayne Washington, Kirkland all screamed for upgrading and the chin just remained rock headed and it hurt the team.

[Slapstick]

So, to solve this crisis, the Steelers bring in another 3rd down specialist back who is not an every down back?

At 5' 7" and 196 lbs, Harris isn't going to be anything but possibly a return man and a 3rd down specialist back...

But, he did run a 4.37 40-yard dash last year before signing as a UDFA with Jacksonville...

I'm thinking return man, since the return game hasn't been so hot this preseason with Rainey fielding the punts...

[Discipline of Steel]

what and then Rainey doesnt make the roster? I have a hard time swallowing that. This move is def hard to figure, think id prefer seeing Ford on the field...go Mini-Bus!!