From Steelers West back home to the Burgh. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Draft Shmaft.  We don’t need no stinkin draft to add to our roster, which is apparently very contradictory to what Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said in several radio interviews last week, but hey who’s counting?  Well we have all you can handle draft coverage here on NPC so I figured I’d take the opportunity for this morning’s huddle to see what the experts are saying about the Steelers latest non-draft acquisition.  Yesterday the Steelers agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent running back LaRod Stephens-Howling.  The Steelers picked up the former 7^th round pick from Pitt, a Johnstown native, to a one year deal with no financials reported yet.

Ed Bouchette of the PPG says the Steelers will mostly look at Stephens-Howling to contribute on Special Teams.  He’s had three career kickoff return TD’s but no punt returns.  In the same article Ed states that the Steelers would still consider signing former Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw, but that would depend on the draft.  Now that the Steelers have added Le’Veon Bell to the roster in their second round pick, you have to think the Bradshaw ship has sailed.

With five running backs in the stable for the Steelers you have to figure that someone is going to be the odd man out when the roster is finally cut down to 53 before we kick off against Tennessee.  The running backs right now consist of Jonathan Dwyer, Isaac Redman, Baron Batch, LaRod Stephens-Howling, and Le’Veon Bell.

What are your thoughts, Steeler Nation?  What did you think of the non-draft pick up right in the middle of the draft?  Who do you think gets left behind?

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Steeler Nation loves running backs.

By now we’ve all heard Tomlin’s comments regarding the criticism of their free agent moves so far from the owner’s meetings in Phoenix.  Tomlin expressed unconditional confidence in his team regardless of the pieces added or still missing stating,

“That’s March talk.  I’ll see you in the stadiums in the fall.”

I’m a sucker for a good Tomlinism and I’ve been known to be the Tomlin apologist and defender of the NPC staff.  I think he’s a great coach and he’s capable of leading this team to many more Super Bowls.  Unfortunately, my confidence is wavering a scooch after the disappointing 8-8 season, the comments of several players regarding the status of the locker room during last season, and the decisions made so far in regards to the departure of key members of the team.  By far my biggest concern for March and the fall that I’d like Tomlin to address is who in the hell is supposed to the running the ball for the Steelers come September?

I, for one, am going to be the last one on Earth to admit the Steelers are rebuilding right now.  I refuse to admit it, I’m in complete denial and I’ll own up to that.  I don’t want it to be true.  I feel like having Ben Roethlisberger under center means you don’t rebuild, you reload.  Unfortunately, with the salary cap limitations and lack of depth at certain positions now it’s not as easy to reload as it sounds.  As much as I feel that letting James Harrison walk away was a mistake, specifically since no other team has signed him yet signifying the market for a LB with a history of injuries and being on the wrong side of 30 isn’t as lucrative as he and his agent might have thought it was, I somehow have more confidence in our defense than our offense.  I think last season showed that our defense, with the players still signed under contract, are capable of making the necessary plays to keep the team in games in which they can win late in the season.  Our offense, on the other hand, ran like a car with no engine most in part to the lackluster rushing game put on by the trio of Mendenhall, Redman, and Dwyer.  Mendenhall is gone and I have no problem with that.  He quit on the team last year and he has no business being a part of this team, and he’s an average back at best anyway.  The fact that at this point we have Redman, Dwyer, and Baron Batch to run the ball so far for the 2013 season makes me want to refill my anti-anxiety medication.

I have to believe the Steelers are still planning to add a running back to the roster before camp opens at the end of July.  At this point, only Dwyer has signed his tender and will remain on the roster for at least another season.  Last season I was all for Dwyer getting the start when he ran all over Cincy and Washington in back to back games.  Then he never ran for more than 60 yards a game the remainder of the season and when he was in games, tapped his helmet signifying he wanted to come off of the field so many times you’d think he was playing some odd game of Simon Says during the game.  I don’t know now if Dwyer has what it takes to be the starting back for the Steelers and taking the majority of the reps.  Dwyer ended the season with the most rushing yards (623) of all the backs on the team.

There has been some speculation that the Steelers are interested in signing former New York Giants FA RB Ahmad Bradshaw, although he hasn’t officially visited the team and no proposed deal is in place.  Bradshaw has ok numbers, kind of similar to Mendenhall’s career numbers with a couple of 1,000+ yard season and some injury issues mixed in as well.  As Dom stated in an earlier post, Bradshaw could be a steal salary-wise considering when you’re still unsigned in the third week of free agency, you can’t really command a big salary anymore.  Bradshaw is a six year veteran and could very well help out with that “leadership problem” the Steelers seemed to have last season, you can only speculate that could have been traced back in part  to their most tenured RB Mendenhall and his pouting fits regarding playing time.  Bradshaw could provide to the running back corps the same kind of thing that Jerricho Cotchery and Plaxico provided to the wide receivers.

Former Alabama running back Eddie Lacy has been in draft discussions for the Steelers, however he’s currently nursing a hamstring injury that is keeping him idle for Alabama’s Pro-Day and also kept him out of the NFL’s scouting combine in February.  Most draft experts are predicting the Steelers will go either defensive line or linebacker with their pick at #17 overall and address their offensive needs in the later rounds but you never know what’s going to happen come draft day.  Addressing the running back needs has to be a priority in either the draft or the remainder of free agency.

Tomlin himself expressed earlier this month that the need to add a running back to the squad is imperative.  The free agency market right now isn’t great for running backs.  Bradshaw is probably one of the best names out there right now and the Steelers have already met and turned down Beanie Wells and haven’t had any other visits since.  Running the Steelers offense without a tried and true starting running back is not going to work.  I have a mountain of faith in Ben Roethlisberger, but I know he’s at his best when he has a running game to compliment his talents.  Hell, Steeler Nation needs a running back.  We’re not happy unless we’re rushing for over 100+ yards a game no matter how successful the offense might be in the air.  It’s in our DNA; we crave sandwiches with fresh cut fries on them and rushing yards and touchdowns.    My confidence in Tomlin this season will in part depend on his and Colbert’s ability to land an actual running back to benefit this team.

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Jonathan Dwyer racked up only 623 Rushing Yards over the course of the 2012 season.  Not surprisingly, Dwyer’s team leading total was the lowest for a Steeler leading rusher during a regular season since the 1991 campaign!  (Merril Hoge “Factor Backed” it that year to the tune of 165 Carries, 610 Yards, and 2 TD’s)

I understand that to classify Pittsburgh’s Running Game last year as downright “dreadful” might not be kindest thing to say.  But give me another adjective to describe how ineffective the Steelers were at running the football with consistency in 2012?

It was bad enough that the team finished 26th overall in Total Rushing Yards and 28th in overall Yards per Carrty (3.7) amongst the League’s 32 teams.  But the fact that no player, not even a Running Back, on the roster finished with more than 2 Rushing TD’s over the course of the year was downright ridiculous.  I mean, I am willing to admit that the numbers of injuries across the Steelers’ Offensive Line did not help the team establish the run with any sort of consistency in 2012.  Yet it was never like Pittsburgh had themselves a “Game-Breaker” and “Every-Down Back” on their roster to turn to and save the day when the team needed them either.

From what we learned last year, Dwyer and Isaac Redman have proved that they are at their best when they used in backup/bruiser capacities, while Baron Batch has been little more than a Special Teamer during his two year stay with the club.  Now that Rashard Mendenhall is likely on his way out of town as a Free Agent, this team lacks a true #1 rushing threat who can be scheme-effective as the team moves towards a Zone-blocking based ground attack.

Unfortunately for Boss Todd’s Offense, the franchise has a multitude of other areas to address through the Draft process.  Thus, Running Back could take a back seat to others like Outside Linebacker, Safety, Inside Linebacker, and Wide Receiver on Day 1 and possibly even Day 2 of the Draft.  Thankfully for G.M. Kevin Colbert and the rest of the Steelers’ brass though, Pittsburgh might be able to mine some mid to late Round Zone-scheme “gems” at the Running Back position in the 2013 Draft.

With this in mind, I have thought of a few Running Backs who might be on Pittsburgh’s radars later on in the Draft process, and could potentially be terrific value picks if they slip to Day 3 of Draft Weekend:

Jamison had a productive career with the Scarlet Knights. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Jawan Jamison

Some might scoff at Jawan Jamison’s lack of height.  To those that do, I can only remind them of other smaller (below 5’9”) Backs who have found success in the N.F.L..  Then I mention another short Back from Rutgers who has made multiple Pro Bowls during his career with the Ravens.  You might know him Steelers fans, his name is Ray Rice.

Although Jamison can be considered “short” at 5’8”, he is definitely not “small.”  At 200 lbs., the Rutgers Back has more than enough bulk to shoulder and sustain big hits.  If Jamison only weighed 175-180 lbs. at his height, then I would be worried about his durability at the professional level.  Yet we have seen “short” Backs like Rice and Maurice Jones-Drew, who are built similar to Jamison, emerge as some of the best at their position over the last half decade.  In fact, Jamison’s height is actually more of an advantage to him, as he can hide behind his Offensive Line and create distress amongst the opposition.

Although he is not a “burner” in terms of his pure speed, Jamison has a nice deal of shiftiness and quickness to his game to break a big run every once and a while, and he can also execute a pretty lethal spin-move as evidenced here.  In addition, Jamison also does not tip-toe around the line of scrimmage as often as other players.  More often than not, Jawan will pick the assigned hole and make the appropriate cut for the necessary gain on a play instead of taking a loss.

As a Redshirt Sophomore, Jamison does not have a large amount of “tread” on his tires, but he was nevertheless a productive player for the Scarlet Knights and one of the Big East’s most consistent Backs.  During his first year, Jawan rushed for 897 Yards on 231 Carries, then improved last year to the tune of 1,075 Yards on only 255 Carries.

In the passing game, Jamison can hold his own in terms of him being a receiver, and can be an effective weapon on screen passes (28 Catches for 323 Yards and 2 TD’s in 2012).  From what I have watched of his pass-blocking technique, Jamison at least makes an effort to get after the blitzing Defenders despite their size advantage, and has potential to develop his game in said area.

I believe that once The Combine comes around and offseason workouts begin that Jamison’s stock will inevitably rise, and some team has to eventually look past his “lack of size.”  Nevertheless, we have seen Backs like Rice and Jones-Drew slip in the Draft due to height and weight concerns in recent memory.  Thus, if Jamison is around at the beginning of Day 3, then I am all for the Steelers trading up to acquire him if they have not selected a Running Back by that point in the Draft.

Graham had a fine bounce-back season in 2012. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Ray Graham

Graham is a player who performed very well as a Zone-scheme runner in college, and might be an absolute bargain for the Steelers if he drops into the middle of Day 3.  After two effective Freshman and Sophomore years at Pitt (209 Carries, 1,271 Yards, 12 TD’s Rushing combined), Graham appeared poised to have a fantastic Junior year and go professional like most talented college football Running Backs have done over the years to avoid a costly injury.  Unfortunately, Graham tore his ACL near the end of the 2011 season after he had racked up 958 Yards Rushing, 9 Rush TD’s, and 30 Catches for 200 Yards.  With his experience, field-vision, and effectiveness in college up to his Junior campaign, Ray would probably have been taken by a Zone-scheme team like Washington had he declared last April.

In terms of his skill-set, Graham reminds me of former Pitt Backs and productive Zone runners  “Shady” McCoy and Dion Lewis in body type and running style.  All three are a bit on the skinnier side (Graham: 5’9″ 195 lbs., McCoy: 5’11″ 208 lbs., Lewis: 5’8″ 195 lbs.), but it did not stop them from possessing solid field-vision, good patience, and a great amount of shiftiness and cut-back ability (especially McCoy), to be solid Zone-scheme Backs in college, and in the N.F.L. in McCoy’s case.

Graham’s ability to create and wait for a big play before he hits the hole sometimes is a bit of a “double-edged sword” for the Pitt Back.  Like a certain Running Back on Pittsburgh’s roster right now, Graham’s indecisiveness and tip-toeing at the line of scrimmage as he has looked for a big-play sometimes has led to him being stopped for no gain or losses on runs where a 2 to 4 yard pickup would have sufficed had he hit the necessary hole or made the necessary cut.  It is difficult for any N.F.L. Offense to play “behind the sticks,” and consistent 2nd & 7’s are much better than consistent 2nd & 10’s or 2nd & 10+’s, especially for a sputtering unit like the Steelers’.  Similarities to Mendenhall aside, Graham is definitely a 3-Down weapon and proved to be a viable pass-catcher with the Panthers.  Over his final three years with the Panthers, Graham caught 90 passes for 753 Yards and 4 TD’s, and has upside to be a real weapon as a pass catcher out of the backfield.

Although Graham returned to shine at times in 2012 after his injury, he might see his stock slip this April due to concerns over his once injured right knee.  What has sold me on Graham however and his potential was his performance against Notre Dame’s stout Run Defense (24 Carries for 172 Yards and 1 TD) last year, his overall upside, and the hope that he will be closer to “normal” two years after his ACL tear.  Overall though, I believe that Graham is arguably the most translatable Zone-scheme runner who might be available on Day 3.  Thus, as long as the Steelers believe that his knee is not an issue, I would be intrigued and excited if they indeed selected the Pitt Running Back to help their anemic running game.

December 4, 2011; Pittsburgh,PA, USA: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) calls an audible against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 35-7. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

If you are reading this, we made it through the Mayan-predicted end of the world. Cue the ABBA Disco music – it’s time to party.  Ok, wait, maybe I’m giving away my age, but oh well.

On to the Steelers:  Well, where do I start? I am tired of writing about what is wrong with the Steelers. In my opinion, there are still many things right about the team and organization that many other franchises don’t have. Here are some of my thoughts as we go into this game:

Willie Colon – What a shame to see him go on the Injured Reserve List again. After two complete years on the IR, he was finally have a great season. He plays the game all out and unfortunately, injuries happen to the offensive line at a high rate. I wish he was in this second game against Cincinnati. He was a BEAST in the first game. I’m afraid his injuries are becoming a liability to him and we may not see him back. However, I always felt he gave his all to the Steelers and hope he earns a place on the line again. I wonder when the injuries become too much though.

Running Back Drama –

• Mendenhall – In my book, he’s close to being a diva, but he hasn’t earned it. Running backs like the Viking’s Adrian Peterson have raised the bar for running backs. That guy came back from injury and said “I’ll show everyone – put me in and give me a chance.” It wasn’t about what was due him or owed him because of past performance. One of my favorite phrases: “Suck it up, buttercup!” Earn your money or go away and let someone else step in.
• Dwyer and Redmond – Both seem to be doing the right things when it comes to interacting with the media. They just want to play and help the team. They want to come back from injury as soon as possible and get in there. I can’t fault them for injury. I’m amazed that they can keep running into a solid wall of 6 or 7 300 pound lineman and still get some yards. Dwyer’s ability to bounce off and go another way is fun to watch.
• Baron Batch – I saw the interview for him on the NFL network and I’ve also read his blog before. His clock ticks a bit differently than some other football players, which you can see if you watch his twitter feed. However, I don’t care where his motivation comes from, just that he has motivation. I’m hoping he has a break out game soon. I’d like to see him succeed. It’s the typical American Dream story.

QB drama – Oh, am I sick of hearing about a rift between Roethlisberger and Haley. Seriously, I don’t care. No one gets along all the time. I think Roethlisberger’s comments were more mature than some of his previous comments. He should be allowed to voice frustration without the replay over and over and OVER again. Please, get over it sports pundits.

Going into Sunday:  Don’t think of last year’s Bengals. When you look at the Bengals you have to give them some respect. They’ve earned it. Are they the most dominant team in the league? No, but they are competitive in this division. Does Andy Dalton still have some off games? Yes, but as a team they have improved. My hat’s off to A.J. Green too. I wish Ike Taylor was in the game to cover him. I can only hope he has an off game against the Steelers on Sunday.

In honor of the upcoming holiday, I’m going to ask Santa for a few early Christmas presents:

• The Steelers need to have at least 4 sacks in the game – Harrison, Worilds, Keisel all get at least one.
• The Steelers need to have at least 2 interceptions and one is a pick 6. I nominate Ryan Clark for this.
• Ben Roethlisberger needs to play a complete game and not get sacked or throw any interceptions.
• Heath Miller needs to score at least two touchdowns.
• Last, but not least, the offensive line needs to have not any injuries.

Ok, so my wish list to Santa Claus probably isn’t realistic, but if  the Steelers can get the win with a Heath Miller touchdown then I will be ecstatic. (My husband is still on the hook to get me something for Christmas – be warned.)  I agree with Craig’s last post. The Steelers have a lot of talent and if we make it through the Apocalypse they should be competitive in this game.

Dwyer is now “Top Dog” on the depth chart. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-US PRESSWIRE

This depth chart shuffle comes as no surprise to this writer after what happened last Sunday afternoon in Cleveland.  As a unit, the Running Backs proved to be a complete and total joke against the Browns.  I understand that some of their ineptness had to do with the fact that backups like Doug Legursky and Kelvin Beachum received large amounts of playing time on an already backup-heavy Offensive Line.  Nevertheless, no excuse can be made for their collective output or lack thereof on Sunday.

With a calcified backup signal-caller like the 37 year-old Charlie Batch as the starter, they were counted on to produce and not make mistakes.  Unfortunately for the Steelers, the group nothing of either sort during a game when they were needed the most.

On the day, the quintet was downright pathetic as they rushed for only 49 Yards on 20 Carries!  As bad as those numbers are, their absolute inability to hold on to the ball with any consistency was the most infuriating part to watch that afternoon.  In only 26:30 of possession time, the crew fumbled a combined 6 TIMES, and 4 of the cough-ups were recovered by the Browns!  Each Running Back put the ball on the turf at least once, and Chris Rainey and Mendenhall each fumbled two times apiece!

Although each Running Back on the roster has shown a flash or two of solid play throughout this season, I have nevertheless been unimpressed with the consistency of Pittsburgh’s ground attack over their first 11 games.  So far, the Steelers rank 22nd in Total Yards Rushing (1,117) and tied for 24th in Rushing Yards per Carry (3.8).  Worst of all, due to injuries and inconsistent play, a clear-cut #1 Back has yet to emerge out of the group of the top four players on the depth chart.  I understand that the days of “The Bus” and the “3-Down Back” are not the norm in the now-specialized League.  But is is still no excuse for Pittsburgh to have loaded their roster with “Situational Backs” and subsequently cross their fingers for one to emerge as the featured “Bell-Cow” each and every weekend.

With all of these things in mind, I believe that changes must be made this offseason at the Running Back position, and someone capable of carrying the proverbial “load” to the tune of 20-25 Touches per game must emerge/be found.  Do not get me wrong, the tasks to add new and talented depth and groom new starters on the Defensive side of the ball are the biggest priorities for this organization to work on when the season ends.  But as pressing as the Defensive needs are, it is nevertheless imperative that the Running Back position cannot, and must not be overlooked during the Draft and Free Agency periods as I will discuss below.

Stable of “Situational Backs” & Impending Free Agents

Some would like to call the Steelers’ bevy of Running Backs on the depth chart “quality depth.”  I on the other hand like to refer to the Running Back situation as “The Stable of “Situational Backs” & Free Agency Issues Waiting to Happen.”  As I illustrated above, statistically and effectively, the Steelers’ running game has been sub-par so far this season.  Although the load has been shared by many at Running Back, a clear-cut starter has yet to emerge and fully win the job outright.  Because of their injuries and sparse productivity, no Back on Pittsburgh’s roster has totaled 100 Carries on the season, and each has struggled to find a “groove” as the team’s “go-to” guy at the position.

Although Dwyer leads the team in Rushing Yards (429), he has only participated in 8 games this season because of injuries.  Redman and Mendenhall have each dealt with their own ailments and combined to play in only 13 games (Redman: 9, Mendenhall: 4), rush for a combined 420 Yards (Redman: 307, Mendenhall: 113), and struggle to tote the rock with any consistency in terms of YPC average (Redman: 3.5, Mendenhall: 3.3).  Sadly, Rainey and Baron Batch have fared no better in the team’s 3rd Down Back role either.  Rainey has rushed for only 79 Yards with a 3.8 YPC average, and Batch only rushed for 49 Yards with a less than 2.0 YPC average before he was demoted to the Practice Squad.  The more the season has worn on, the more it has become abundantly clear that the Steelers do not have “The Guy” at the Running Back position, and instead have a group of decent “Situational Backs.”  And some of these “Situational Backs” I might add have their contracts nearing their ends as well.

Dwyer and Redman are nice options for the team to have in Short-Yardage & Goal to Go moments, as both can do a solid job of pushing the pile and attacking the necessary hole for the appropriate gain.  But as we saw most recently in the Kansas City game, neither Back has any business running Draws and slow developing run plays from the Shotgun formation.  Furthermore, both big Backs lack the necessary speed to break any run over 35 Yards or scare the Defense into taking guys out of the box, and have illustrated that they are less-than-durable in terms of their health to handle a consistent load of Carries at the N.F.L. level.  Both Backs will be Restricted Free Agents after this season, and Redman just turned 28 a few weeks ago.  Do not get me wrong, I am totally on board with the Steelers keeping one of these two players as a long-term Short-Yardage option.  It is always great to have a Back on the roster which is burly (230 lbs.+), strong, and can gain the tough and necessary Yardage near the Goal Line and account for 2-7 Touches per game.  But to have two on the roster makes little to no sense for a team with salary cap issues like the Steelers, and at a position in which only one of the role-specific backups is needed.

Mendenhall once appeared to be the clear-cut #1 Back from 2009-2011, and did a fine job in his 2012 debut against the Eagles.  Sadly, Mendenhall has been a shell of his former self this season, and has yet to win his old job back outright.  Old habits, like his propensity to put the ball on the turf and inconsistency to attack the necessary hole without being tentative, or be satisfied with a 4 Yard gain up the gut and instead tip-toe to the outside have reared their ugly heads this year for the 5th year Back out of Illinois.  This poor campaign comes at the worst possible time for Mendenhall as he A) is recently coming off of ACL surgery, and B) will be an Unrestricted Free Agent after the regular season ends.  It would truly shock me if the Steelers dedicated anything market-value and above to a player like Mendenhall who will be 26 before the 2013 season begins, has already sustained a significant knee injury, and has logged over 800 Carries during his short career (847 so far).

Looking Towards the Draft

With three of their top 4 Running Backs set to become either Restricted or Unrestricted Free Agents after the season, and none of them able to win the starting job and the bulk of the Carries outright, I hope that the Steelers consider taking a Running Back (somewhere hopefully in Rounds 3-5) during next April’s Draft.  I only say Rounds 3-5 because of the team’s dire needs on the Defensive side of the ball (FS & SS, OLB, ILB, CB), but luckily for the Steelers, some play-makers and possible “every-down Backs” could be available past the 1st Round of the Draft.  Some players I particularly like at the Running Back position include Oklahoma State’s Joseph Randle (Junior), UCLA’s Johnathan Franklin (Redshirt Senior), Florida’s Mike Gillislee (Senior), and Stanford’s Stepfan Taylor (Senior).

If Randle does indeed come out, I would like to see the Steelers take a long look at him as he has had quite the productive and successful career at Oklahoma State in less than three seasons.  After a stellar Freshman campaign during which he put up 452 Yards Rushing and 2 TD’s, Randle exploded last year to the tune of 1,216 Yards and 24 Touchdowns on the ground, and has already amassed 1,212 in 11 Games this year.  The part of Randle’s game that I find awesome is the fact that he can do damage as a pass-catcher.  Over his career, Randle has caught 103 passes for 894 Yards and 3 TD’s, and with Todd Haley’s increased use of Backs in the passing game, the current Cowboy could be a solid scheme-fit with the Steelers.

In addition to Randle, I am a big fan of Gillislee and what he can do.  For those of you who have not watched him, the Gator has exploded during his first season as “The Guy” with Florida.  After splitting Carries with numerous Backs over his first three seasons (including the Steelers Chris Rainey), Gillislee has come out of his shell and led a solid ground attack for the Gators.  Over 12 games, Gillislee has rushed for 1,104 Yards on 235 Carries and scored 10 Touchdowns on the ground and put up huge numbers against the likes of Florida State (140 Yards, 2 TD’s) and L.S.U. (146 Yards, 2 TD’s).  Like most Florida Backs, Gillislee has solid quickness, and also possesses a frame (5’11″ 209 lbs) that can take on the rigors of the N.F.L. after he held up nicely against the S.E.C. this year.

Franklin has been a solid force this season for the Bruins Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

Living in “Pac-12 Country,” I have also been exposed to quite a bit of both Stepfan Taylor and Johnathan Franklin.  And like Randle and Gillislee, I believe that either player could add a boost to the Steelers’ running game.  For those of you “Ground ‘N Pound” fans on the East Coast, Taylor is the embodiment of a Steelers “Every Down Back” in terms of what he does best.  After Toby Gerhart left for the N.F.L., many wondered who would shoulder the load for Stanford.  Luckily for the Cardinal, Taylor stepped up and has run roughshod over the Pac-10/12 since 2010.  Taylor put up 1,137 Yards his Sophomore year, 1,330 Yards his Junior year, and has already rushed for 1,364 Yards this season with the Pac-12 Title Game and a likely Rose Bowl left to play.  Taylor is a bruising runner (5’11″ 215 lbs.) who fights for extra Yards, pushes the pile well (38 TD’s over his career), and does so when the Defense knows he is what makes the Stanford Offense in the post-Andrew Luck era “go.”  The Cardinal Back can also do an adequate job in the passing game and has recorded 88 Catches for 706 Yards and 5 TD’s (Career-High 32 Catches so far in 2012) as well.

Taylor’s competition this Friday will be Franklin who has been no slouch himself during his successful college career with the Bruins.  Although Franklin played on some less than stellar Bruins teams to start his career, he nevertheless has improved each and every season and emerged as UCLA’s top ground threat.   After he ran for 2,669 Yards on 506 Carries during his first three years, Franklin exploded this season to the tune of 1,506 Yards on 249 Carries and 11 Touchdowns via the run game.  Although he was not used much during his first three seasons in the passing game due to the Bruins’ dreadful situation at Quarterback, Franklin has put up career-highs’ in Receptions (29), Receiving Yards (297), and Receiving Touchdowns (2) thanks in large part to the emergence of Redshirt Freshman Quarterback Brett Hundley.  Franklin has the frame to run between the Tackles (5’10″ 198 lbs.), and can do a nice job on Draws and Shotgun runs as he is employed in the Pistol and Shotgun Formations in UCLA’s Offense.

Final Thoughts

I cannot wait to watch the rest of the regular season unfold, because it should be interesting to watch the Running Backs on the roster jockey for Carries and extended playing time.  Although I am excited to see which players inevitably step up, I would not mind if the Steelers chose to upgrade the Running Back position in April’s Draft.  Not ones to spend the big bucks in the Free Agent market, Pittsburgh will have to look towards the Draft Process for help if their “Running Back By-Committee” system continues to operate like it has, the players currently in place start to leave via Free Agency, or are simply cut or allowed to walk after this season or the next.

How will the current depth chart work out and the Carries be divvied out over the next five games?  I am not totally sure.  But what I am sure of is that an influx of talent needs to be added to the mix at Running Back, and “The Guy” needs to emerge soon.  If this does not happen though, do not be surprised if the Steelers go after a Running Back in April to try to make sense out of their “Running Back by Committee” issue.

Readers:  Are you worried about the Steelers situation at Running Back?  Do they need a legitimate #1 on the roster?  Does one already exist?  Are there other Running Backs you would like the team to look at this offseason in Free Agency or via the Draft Process?

Figures, Stats, and Player Profiles Courtesy of: Spotrac.com Pro Football Reference.com, Team Rankings.com, CBSSports.com, and ESPN.com