James Conner good to go for Sunday

[NorthCoast]

I did not think JC had a good game. It was certainly better than last week - but I really didn't see any runs that made me go 'wow'. Some nice power on a few, not too bad when he hit the hole right off the bat. But overall still seems slow to me, he's not making people miss - and the run at the end of the game was simply denver selling out and him having a good lead block. I will caveat that though I thought the line play was good today - until I rewatch the game and pay closer attention to the run blocking, I'm not prepared to say it's all on JC.

for whatever reason though, our run game today was not sufficient in my opinion.

I agree. Conner seems to struggle picking the holes. That's why I think he would benefit a lot from a FB leading the way.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I agree. Conner seems to struggle picking the holes. That's why I think he would benefit a lot from a FB leading the way.

Agreed. He seems to be at his best when he can quickly slam through a hole and run through smaller defenders on the second level. He is the opposite of Bell. LB would patiently wait for an opening and was very good at identifying and running through the right one.

It seems we were a little quick in anointing Snell. I prefer him as a runner, but he just needs to learn when to protect the football. Up 12 with under 10 to go, he should not have to be reminded that job 1 is to take care of the ball. Job 2 is to fight for yards. It wasn't like it was even a great play to strip the ball. It was garbage ball security.

[Shawn]

Agreed. He seems to be at his best when he can quickly slam through a hole and run through smaller defenders on the second level. He is the opposite of Bell. LB would patiently wait for an opening and was very good at identifying and running through the right one.

It seems we were a little quick in anointing Snell. I prefer him as a runner, but he just needs to learn when to protect the football. Up 12 with under 10 to go, he should not have to be reminded that job 1 is to take care of the ball. Job 2 is to fight for yards. It wasn't like it was even a great play to strip the ball. It was garbage ball security.

How this is going to play out is a Conner injury and Snell showing he can be the man. Until that happens, Tomlin is going with his experienced back.

[Shawn]

I did not think JC had a good game. It was certainly better than last week - but I really didn't see any runs that made me go 'wow'. Some nice power on a few, not too bad when he hit the hole right off the bat. But overall still seems slow to me, he's not making people miss - and the run at the end of the game was simply denver selling out and him having a good lead block. I will caveat that though I thought the line play was good today - until I rewatch the game and pay closer attention to the run blocking, I'm not prepared to say it's all on JC.

for whatever reason though, our run game today was not sufficient in my opinion.

I just don't think Conner is a good back. I think he has benefited running behind a solid OL (at least during his big year), and QB play that prevents teams from boxing him up. He is stiff, lacks significant burst, vision is subpar. He has good power, a decent feel for the game but he isn't scaring anyone.

[Steel Maniac]

I agree. Conner seems to struggle picking the holes. That's why I think he would benefit a lot from a FB leading the way.

I would love for a fullback to be in front of him. Two tightend set...love how that sounds.

[hawaiiansteel]

I would love for a fullback to be in front of him. Two tightend set...

except we don't have two TEs that can block very well...

[Steelerphile]

If Conner can average 6.6 and go over 100 yards and people are saying, he didn't look good, he must be a beast. Because he can look better than that.

[feltdizz]

If Conner can average 6.6 and go over 100 yards and people are saying, he didn't look good, he must be a beast. Because he can look better than that.

or they watched the game and recognized before the big run he was 15 for 47 yards.

Not knocking his big run to seal the game but people are discussing the first 58 minutes of the game and the rushing stats weren’t impressive.

[Steelerphile]

or they watched the game and recognized before the big run he was 15 for 47 yards.

Not knocking his big run to seal the game but people are discussing the first 58 minutes of the game and the rushing stats weren’t impressive.

I watched the game and didn't feel that was Conner at his best. But he still managed the big run and in the final analysis did post good stats.
You defend Le'veon all the time and he didn't have a run over 19 yards last year.

I don't know if Conner still felt the effects of a dinged ankle, or just is a little rusty, but he had a run of 59 yards.

[feltdizz]

I watched the game and didn't feel that was Conner at his best. But he still managed the big run and in the final analysis did post good stats.
You defend Le'veon all the time and he didn't have a run over 19 yards last year.

I don't know if Conner still felt the effects of a dinged ankle, or just is a little rusty, but he had a run of 59 yards.

Bell has nothing to do with this current conversation.

Most people were saying Conner wasn’t at his best and you called him a beast based on his average.

[Steelerphile]

Bell has nothing to do with this current conversation.

Most people were saying Conner wasn’t at his best and you called him a beast based on his average.

I was being a little satirical but also I was illustrating that on a bad day, Conner still did good things. That is what a good player does.
and possibly if he shakes off the rust, he can do even better.

[NorthCoast]

I just don't think Conner is a good back. I think he has benefited running behind a solid OL (at least during his big year), and QB play that prevents teams from boxing him up. He is stiff, lacks significant burst, vision is subpar. He has good power, a decent feel for the game but he isn't scaring anyone.

I agree 100%... Conner scares no one. Of his 16 touches, 8 went for 3 or less yds and his yds/att declined as the game went along (excluding the long one).

[Steelerphile]

NFL players are not playing scared. Benny Snell scares noone either. But that statement is only used against someone if you are defaming them.

[NorthCoast]

NFL players are not playing scared. Benny Snell scares noone either. But that statement is only used against someone if you are defaming them.

Not sure how you are interpreting 'scares no one', but I think most people interpret it as 'he is a guy we have to gameplan for'. In that sense, it's not the players, it's the coaches and coordinators. And it's not defaming someone to point out that they are not elite. Not every player is.

[Steel Maniac]

Not sure how you are interpreting 'scares no one', but I think most people interpret it as 'he is a guy we have to gameplan for'. In that sense, it's not the players, it's the coaches and coordinators. And it's not defaming someone to point out that they are not elite. Not every player is.

Here's next year's draft class; find your elite runningback and take him.

https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2021-nfl-draft-top-10-running-backs-travis-etienne-najee-harris-chuba-hubbard/