Unpopular opinion, but...

[Chadman]

I keep looking at the draft options at RB, and the more I do, the less excited I get. It looks like a whole bunch of OK players.

Obviously there is at least 50% of the fan base on the side of “improving the OL makes the RB’s better”, of which I unashamedly side with.

Given the team invested a 4th round pick in McFarland last year, and new guy Ballage is a short yardage specialist and pass catcher....

What if, the Steelers FO, were not just giving lip service, but actually like Benny Snell Football?

My issue with Snell has only ever been that he is, basically, James Connor in style, so it never offered any variety. Snell’s on field struggles were never much different to Connor’s. And he doesn’t carry the injury history.

If the theory holds true that the issue was the OL, could there be an argument that Benny Snell leads a RB committee next season?

[steeler_george]

the way how how things are heading, this class of ilb is turning out to be deep, the T as we know is, the center class is surprisning good, the CBs is deep, the qbs might be 5 deep 1st round...

however after the top 3 the rest look like wildcards. So might be best to take best RB and then go from there

[Chucktownsteeler]

I think the offense was so predictable and the play-calling very poor the last 2 seasons not much can be determined. Factor that with an old and aging line is were the issues lay. Until the offensive scheme and playing is fixed, coupled with an upgraded O-line I am not sure what can be determined about our current RB stable.

The Steelers will get a very, very good player at #24 but there are so many paths they can take it is nearly impossible to predict. I am starting to think ILB if the player they covet is there. If not, who knows? I am not even sure they know 100% at this juncture.

[Northern_Blitz]

I'm with you Chadman.
I'd be open to the RBs we have playing with an oline and better play calling.

Shore up all the holes across the depth chart by going BPA with our picks. If it's a RB, great. If not, great.

[whatever]

Draft a qb and oline.

[hawaiiansteel]

Draft a qb and oline.

why in the world would we drat a QB this year, so he can sit on the bench and waste a year of his rookie contract?

[flippy]

I think the play calling is the biggest issue. If we throw every pass at the LOS and Ds have 0 field to defend and can have 11 guys in the box, no OL is blocking anyone and no RB will have anywhere to run.

[feltdizz]

yesh, this is an unpopular opinion. The RB’s this year are not just okay. I think this is a deep draft for RB’s.

Etienne
Harris
UNC duo

I believe all 4 are WAYYYY better than what we have right now. With a better OL Snell will get a nice 7 yard run. These other RB’s would turn that same gain into a 30 yard run. That’s the difference.

If you are fine with that then cool but if you want to see our offense improve, draft a RB early and then grab OL.

I believe we can draft both and improve. Also, I really don’t see our OL being drastically better this year for a RB by committee to shine.

[Buzz]

I think the play calling is the biggest issue. If we throw every pass at the LOS and Ds have 0 field to defend and can have 11 guys in the box, no OL is blocking anyone and no RB will have anywhere to run.

This. I do think we will invest a couple of picks in OL, and we may well draft a RB, but I don't think we'll have to reach for a player early on.

[pittpete]

IMO the game is won in the trenches.....
OL all the way

[Buzz]

Here's a video I found today that highlights Anthony McFarland's problems making good running decisions.

Not sure better blocking will help him all that much

I know a lot of y'all have a crush on him, but I would not be that surprised if he is replaced before the season

[feltdizz]

Here's a video I found today that highlights Anthony McFarland's problems making good running decisions.

Not sure better blocking will help him all that much

I know a lot of y'all have a crush on him, but I would not be that surprised if he is replaced before the season

nice stuff. I think its too early to give up on his potential. It was his first year during a covid offseason. Hopefully he can correct these issues. Why would we replace him before the season? That doesn’t make sense. I think we will be patient and let Canada work with him this year.

But this is also why I say grabbing a pate round guy or putting anyone behind a good OL will never trump talent. The top RB’s are naturals when it comes to finding running lanes and following blocking.

I think it was Hoge who bashed all of our RB’s last year and said they were horrible at picking lanes. Most plays won’t have perfect blocking and of we need our OL to be perfect for success we will struggle again next year.

I still like Snell over Conner and McFarland but he isn’t the fastest guy.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Not disagreeing with the video, but can't come to the conclusion that he will never be able to improve. What you often hear about rookies is that the game is too fast for them. Maybe once the game slows down a bit he will be able to gather himself and take the time to set up the run better. When guys spend more time thinking than doing then these are the results. I always find it funny when fans come to conclusions about a player based on a poor rookie season. Let us see before we conclude. At least let him have a training camp.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Unpopular opinion, but...

Not unpopular at all. Boring opinion but not unpopular. However, sometimes you need boring and this is one of those times.

[Buzz]

I'm not proposing we give up on Little Booger yet. Let's see if he improves through the coming preseason. Perhaps he does need the game to "slow down for him," although running backs generally acclimatize to the pro game faster than players at other positions.

On the other hand, if he just doesn't have good football "vision," well, most often that's not going to get better with more experience.

We shall see.