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RB James Conner leading by example for Steelers
By Grant Gordon NFL.com
Published: May 27, 2019
Often lost in the histrionics that seemingly defined a tumultuous 2018 Pittsburgh Steelers season, James Conner emerged as an inspirational story and a standout running back.
Now that Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown are gone, controversy has waned at least somewhat and roles will need to be filled.
No longer a fill-in for Bell, Conner is the front runner of a running back corps that includes Jaylen Samuels and rookie Benny Snell Jr.
A survivor of Hodgkin's lymphoma who is now cancer free, Conner has quickly become a leader, but he contends he's just leading by example.
"It's something that just happens," said Conner, via the team website, of becoming a leader when you're a returning starter. "I just go about my business, and when I can help someone I will. If that is a leader role, it is."
Thus, voluntary or not, Conner has been at the Steelers' organized team activities. No matter how one views the importance of OTAs, just showing up is likely a breath of fresh air for the Steelers faithful which endured a season in which Bell missed all 16 games and Brown missed the final contest of the season before a bumpy offseason that culminated with him being traded to the Oakland Raiders.
"The first rule of getting better is showing up," Conner said. "With all of us being here, running the plays we are going to be in season, it's going to help us in the long run.
"I want to knock the rust off, do some conditioning, and be around the new guys. A little bit of everything."
Conner was injured for parts of 2018 with a leg contusion and ankle issue, yet still earned a Pro Bowl nod. In only his second season, he showcased his versatility with 973 yards rushing and 497 yards receiving with 13 total touchdowns (12 rushing) in 13 games. So, in many ways, he's already shown a little bit of everything.
Now he's simply showing up and bestowing upon his backfield mates an example of how it's done.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...e-for-steelers
Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer
Steelers RB James Conner set a team-first tone in his media session: "I'm all for that" (multiple backs getting the ball) "I haven't earned anything." "It's important to be a good person and have good character" "No players motivate us. We're motivated by a trophy."
1h
Steeler teams featuring stat-driven, me-first, fantasy-football-darling diva types such as Antonio Brown & Le'Veon Bell won no championships.
Super Bowl winning Steeler teams were built around a dynamic, in-your-face defense plus blue-collar, hard-hitting, no-nonsense football players on offense such as Hines Ward & Jerome Bettis.
We don't want Juju & Conner to replace what we lost in Brown & Bell.
We are counting on Juju & Conner to return us to the glory we once had with Hines & The Bus.
Monday, May 27, 2019 09:30 AM
Conner: 'I just go about my business'
Teresa Varley
Steelers.com
On the run: James Conner entered OTAs as the team’s No. 1 running back, but that isn’t changing the way he prepares. He is a regular at the voluntary practices, knowing there is always room for improvement and growth.
“The first rule of getting better is showing up,” said Conner. “With all of us being here, running the plays we are going to be in season, it’s going to help us in the long run.
“I want to knock the rust off, do some conditioning, and be around the new guys. A little bit of everything.”
Conner said he doesn’t look at himself as a leader, even though he is the most experienced running back in the group. But if others look at him that way, he knows he needs to step up.
“It’s something that just happens,” said Conner. “I just go about my business, and when I can help someone I will. If that is a leader role, it is.”
Conner is excited to have rookie Benny Snell join the running back group, and the energetic, physical back can do nothing but help the group overall.
“That is how you win games, with depth,” said Conner. “If you look around the league a lot of good teams have multiple running backs. I know he had great numbers in college. I know he can play. There will be no drop off. That is how you win games, with depth.
“We are getting to know each other, getting to know the new guys. They are great people and great players. We are getting to know each other in the meeting room, on the field, in the locker room.”
Working together: Linebacker Mark Barron, who signed with the team as an unrestricted free agent this offseason, has been working in a rotation at inside linebacker along with Vince Williams and first-round pick Devin Bush.
And so far, so good, for the new addition.
“Everything has been good so far. No complaints,” said Barron. “I like everything that has been going on.
“It’s a process. Any time you step into a new scheme there are going to be a lot of thing going on, a lot of terminology. They are going to do things different. It’s a learning process, learning curve.”
Barron said he is already impressed with Bush, who has already picked up the nuance of calling out the defense in a short time.
“A good young talent,” said Barron. “I knew that as soon as we picked him up. I am excited to work with him. I always feel like great players bring out the best in each other. Just getting to work with each other and bring the best out of each other, I think that will be good for the team as a whole.”
Barron isn’t the only one who likes what Bush has brought to the table so far. Williams also has taken notice.
“He is amazing. He is smart,” said Williams. “Top 10 athletically. Loves football.”
Williams did say he wasn’t ‘impressed’ with the way Bush picked up the playbook so far, but that isn’t a knock on him.
“I am not impressed,” said Williams. “After having a few conversations with him he seems intelligent. If I was impressed that would say I’m surprised. I am not surprised. He seems like a sharp guy. That would mean I am surprised.”
Williams said the addition of Bush definitely helps the defense, adding to the competition which will make everyone better.
“I was excited about it,” said Williams of his reaction to Bush being drafted. “It adds more playmakers to the defense.”
He said it:
Terrell Edmunds on if the defense has something to prove this year:
“Definitely. Last year we were Top 10. This year we want to be the best. We are working on being the best. We are trying to make turnovers. Last year we didn’t do what we wanted to do, what we are capable of doing.
“We want to get more interceptions, be comfortable with the ball in our hand. That is a big emphasis. Going after the ball. Having it in our hands even if it’s a pass breakup. We have the mentality of we have to have the ball when it’s in the air. It’s ours.”
JuJu Smith-Schuster on the improvement he has seen from James Washington:
“He is not jumping every time he catches the ball. He is running through all of his routes. Powerful, strong. His conditioning is up there.”
https://www.steelers.com/news/conner-i-just-go-about-my-business
Steeler teams featuring stat-driven, me-first, fantasy-football-darling diva types such as Antonio Brown & Le'Veon Bell won no championships.
Super Bowl winning Steeler teams were built around a dynamic, in-your-face defense plus blue-collar, hard-hitting, no-nonsense football players on offense such as Hines Ward & Jerome Bettis.
We don't want Juju & Conner to replace what we lost in Brown & Bell.
We are counting on Juju & Conner to return us to the glory we once had with Hines & The Bus.
In Conner and JuJu its great that the Steelers have two young players who seem to "get it." Guys who put the name on the front of the jersey first versus the name on the back.
I just hope Conner can show this season that he can answer the bell for 16 games and the play offs.
agreedOriginally Posted by Oviedo
if he doesn't, i actually trust the depth. huge fan of snell... he may steal short yardage carries away early on...
2013 MNF Executive Champion!
DeVille's final Mock
1.20 - Tailiese Fuaga, OT, Oregon St
2.51 - Zach Frazier, C, WVU
3.84 - Luke Mccaffery, WR, Rice
3.98 - Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
4.117 - Maason Smith, DT, LSU
6.178 - Travis Glover, OT, Ga State
6.195 - Dillon Johnson, RB, Washington
James Conner Happy To See Steelers Building Depth At RB Position
By Matthew Marczi
Posted on May 28, 2019
The turnover at the running back position in just a couple years’ time has been awfully significant for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and in particular for James Conner, the team’s second of two third-round draft picks in 2017. In a little over two years, he has suddenly gone from being the greenhorn to the seasoned veteran.
As he came in, he was brought in as Le’Veon Bell’s backup. Bell was about as proven as any running back in the league at the time, a Pro Bowler, and All-Pro, whose only blemish in his career at that point pretty much had been his availability. Of course his availability for the 2018 season is what opened the door for him.
And for Jaylen Samuels. And now for the drafting of Benny Snell. Samuels got to start a few games last year and held his own. The team feels really good about Snell, both on and off the field, and his ability to contribute. They feel they have a strong group now, and the head of the pack, Conner, is happy to see it.
“That is how you win games, with depth”, he told the team’s website. “If you look around the league a lot of good teams have multiple running backs. I know he had great numbers in college. I know he can play. There will be no drop off. That is how you win games, with depth”.
Just think of the New Orleans Saints, who in recent years got to pair Mark Ingram with Alvin Kamara. Now Ingram is actually with the Baltimore Ravens and will pair with 2018 rookie Gus Edwards, who found success after Lamar Jackson was installed into the lineup.
Other teams with notable usage (or projected usage) of multiple backs would be the Cincinnati Bengals with Joe Mixon and Giovanni Bernard, the Minnesota Vikings with Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray, the Los Angeles Chargers with Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler, and the Cleveland Browns, who will have Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, and Duke Johnson in 2019.
Is it any coincidence that all four teams in the AFC North could figure prominently in the mix of teams who make use of a stable of multiple running backs? Of course, we’ll have to see if Ben Roethlisberger is going to throw the ball 700 times or now.
“We are getting to know each other, getting to know the new guys”, Conner said, which there is largely talking about Snell, who figures to be the number three back this year, replacing veteran Stevan Ridley. “They are great people and great players. We are getting to know each other in the meeting room, on the field, in the locker room”.
Two years ago, Conner was the guy behind Bell, working with veteran Fitzgerald Toussaint and just learning the ropes. Now he will be trying to show the ropes to Samuels, who is still new to the position on a full-time basis, and Snell. But that’s how you build depth, especially at a fungible position with a short shelf-life.
https://steelersdepot.com/2019/05/ja...t-rb-position/
By the start of preseason folks are going to want Conner to run for Mayor.
Keep that same energy when Snell starts taking your reps and you are riding the bench.
When Benny Snell starts playing Benny Snell football and doing Benny Snell things.. lol.
James is going to get dinged up. It's just the way he runs and initiates contact. There will be time to use others. I still think Samuels is the #2 choice especially after the way he ran against NE last season.
All for it!
No. 1 priority, balance the offense.
No. 2 priority, have NFL capable backups at the skill positions. The Steelers, I think, have #2. Just need to follow through with a scheme to get #1.
Let's go!
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