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I like this list, always have been a big fan of Duke Johnson and Gaskin. There are several on this list I'd rather have than Snell and McFarland.
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The tape on ballade seemed ok too.
Didn’t see much of him though.
Is that the staff or was it bad production.
if it’s bad production, is that in the player or the OL?
Like last year , I’m sure there’s a back up defensive position the staff will deem more important then a starting OL player -
Our second team vets Snell n McFarland are role players for sure. Some veteran backs on the steeler depot list have been productive.
We did sign Mateau Durant out of Duke. Now Duke ain't no powerhouse but this young back has some good tools to work with.
Catches the ball well enough. Mostly used on check downs but hands seem fine and gets up field very quickly.
They ran a one cut system trap blocking and wham blocking with TE's. He fits that system well quick to the hole but not much wiggle.
Ran a 4.38 40. You can see the straight line speed when he out raced the Fla FS down the sideline for a long TD. Had a few long runs against Fla St. Speed is vg.
Now this rook is not an everydown player. At 6 1 just under 200 he is not a 20 carry guy on Sundays. However change of pace, 3rd down or against a team with olb's that are not their best in coverage he could play a role.
He'll need to at least be able to chip block so if he can get bigger n keep the speed he's someone to keep an eye on. I would say he'll also need to show some special team talent but if he does we may have a f/a who sticks. An interesting prospect to watch at Latrobe.Comment
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I posted in another thread about how many RBs 185 LBs have made it in the NFL; the list is short: James Brooks (one of the most underrated RBs in NFL history), Sproles, Warrick Dunn, Eric Metcalf and I'm forgetting some. There have been a lot more "short" RBs who have succeeded, who have weighed 200+ LBs, but very few 185 LB RBs who have lasted/produced in the NFL. So, it's not impossible for Durant to become one, but odds are not in his favor.
James Brooks used to tear us a new @ss hole when he played for Cinci, and he only went a buck 85.
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I think the running backs in general might be getting a raw deal, due to the poor play of the offensive line last year. With the (hopefully) improved interior OL, we should see better production from all of them. Tomlin also has that commitment to a workhorse back philosophy and has such a workhorse back in Harris. I don't see any free agent or camp cut wanting to come here, unless they have no other options. They would basically be on the shelf waiting for Harris to be injured.
I have zero issues entering camp with the backs we have.sigpic
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Reading the tea leaves, the "work horse" approach to Harris by Shades is going to be lessoned, Naje himself said so. I think it's an edict given by Art 2. And what the owner says goes. For that reason, I am not OK with just standing pat on our back up RBs; we need better.Comment
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If you're going back to the days of brooks and metcalf, the list is NOT short. MANY of them were under 200, but nobody cared because so many were that size.
That's a function of changing times as backs (and all the players) get bigger. But that was a time where it was a big deal that William Perry was over 300...
Tony Dorsett, for example. But again, no one cared cuz so many of them were. Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas, Emmett Smith. But, even guys more recent like Tiki Barber, Ray Rice, Lesean McCoy, CJ2k entered the league under 200.
I would guess Marshall Faulk too, but that's enough names, you get the point. Durant being 195 means virtually nothing on a 6'1" frame. If he were 5'6", it might be more concerning.2013 MNF Executive Champion!Comment
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Joe washington Balt colts
and joe Morris are 2 others that come to mindComment
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The original #s I saw said he was 185. That WAS and STILL is light for a successful NFL RB. A lot of the guys you list were closer to 200 LBs than 185. Emmitt, Thurman, etc. were 200 LBs. And being short is not a disadvantage. Being too small is, big difference. Barry Sanders, Ray Rice, MJD were all short. It didn't hurt them. Now you want a RB too small to produce? How about that "little person" we drafted a few years ago? Dri Archer.Comment
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The Athletic's Mark Kaboly believes the Steelers could sign a veteran running back during training camp or the preseason.
Kaboly suggested Latavius Murray, the Ravens' primary back for some of the 2021 season, could be of interest for the Steelers as they seek a reliable backup for Najee Harris. Benny Snell has shown he's not capable of handling a starter's workload, and Anthony McFarland has proven inconsistent and unable to gain coaches' trust.Comment
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I don't know, I used to like Murray's upside, but that was a few years ago; initially he reminded me of Dickerson, but not so much any longer. Still better than our current back ups. McFarland has proven NOTHING other than a "poor man's" Spin-and-Fall. They used to say about some backs, "one cut and he's gone." With McFly, they say "One cut and he's down."Comment
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Ernie knows what f-ing time it is!!
Even if Tomlin's stance on a workhorse philosophy softens, there will be no semblance of a divided workload in the backfield. If you think that might happen, put down your pipe. Let's go to camp with the dudes we have and see how they do. I'm sure there will be a dozen backs with shiny resume`s available who capture the attention of our fanbase, should the players we have look like crap in the preseason.
Worry about the line and not the backup running backs.sigpic
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