Art Rooney II weighs in on his opinions of the 2012 Steelers Season. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

Frustrated.  That seems to be the consensus all over Steeler Nation in regards to our emotions about the 2012 season.  This week Steelers President Art Rooney II made his first public comments about the Steelers 8-8 season and the future of the franchise.   The frustration keeps on going, too.  From the 2012 draft class that amounted to mostly injuries and arrests to an offense that could never seem to get on the same page.  The missed opportunities on defense and the impending salary cap issues will continue to cause frustration for the front office and fans alike.

Last season Rooney startled everyone when he stated in his post-season interview that he though Roethlisberger needed to “tweak” his game in order to prevent him from injuries.  Then of course he went on to announce the “retirement” of offensive coordinator Bruce Arians starting the sh** storm that still seems to be swirling around the team’s OC position as inconclusive reports on whether or not current OC Todd Haley has interviewed for a head coaching position in Arizona came out this week.  Rooney stated that he believes both Tomlin and Haley did a good job this season and expressed confidence in both coaches going forward.  For all the unnecessary drama that followed Haley and Ben during their first season together, none of it would have been as bad as it was if Rooney hadn’t of handled the transition of Arians to Haley so poorly.  Whether the majority of Steeler Nation wants to admit it or not, the best thing moving forward for the Steelers offense would be for Haley to continue to be able to implement a system in which Ben is protected more and his offensive weapons talents are maximized.  It’s obvious that didn’t get a chance to fully develop this season, with Ben still missing games due to injury and coming back a shell of his first half of the season-self.

What offensive weapons will Ben have in the next season?  Rooney also spoke about the salary cap issues that have presented themselves for the 2013 season.  The Steelers are projected to be roughly $10 million over the projected cap of $121 million with just about 30 players under contract.  Rooney would not discuss which players he thinks will be salary cap casualties and which will be asked to restructure as he stated that Tomlin was still in the process of evaluating the players.  Rooney stated in regards to the salary cap,

“We’re tight, similar to where we’ve been the past few years.  We’ve got work to do there.  That will be one of the challenges of this offseason, really trying to figure out how we’re going to put this jigsaw puzzle back together.”

Another topic Rooney tackled in his interview was the turnover situation.  The Steelers defense couldn’t create any and the Steelers offense couldn’t stop turning the ball over.  That’s a combination that will certainly secure a team’s fate of not playing any games in January.  While the Steelers defense ended the season with the overall #1 ranking in the league, that ranking only relates to yards allowed as the defense ranked 25^th overall in takeaways with 20 on the season.  The Steelers offense, on the other hand, coughed up the ball 30 times, most of those seemingly coming in that disaster of a game in Cleveland in Week 12.  In my humble opinion, the turnovers are going to haunt me the most this offseason.  With all the criticism of the offense, the lack of consistent rushing game, the defense not getting enough sacks or turnovers, and questionable discipline problem leading to ridiculous amounts of penalties and missteps made, the Steelers still had a chance to control their own destiny, still had a chance to make it into the playoffs until Ben threw that interception in overtime against the Bengals in Week 16.

In the midst of Rooney making his end of the season review, the Steelers unfortunately became the first team with an offseason arrest with RB Chris Rainey getting arrested in Gainesville, FL for domestic battery.  Rainey was almost immediately waived by the Steelers in response.  This brings the draft class of 2012 to a new low with their third round pick Alameda Ta’amu having been arrested during the season for a multitude of charges involving a DUI on the South Side.  Ta’amu wasn’t immediately waived like Rainey was and there seems to be no consistency involving the treatment of the two situations unless of course you take into account the fact that Rainey had already had a history of issues with domestic violence while he was a student at UF.  The rest of the draft class included the #1 overall pick David DeCastro spending the majority of the season on IR and Mike Adams not lasting the entire season falling to injury as well.

So when will this frustration go away?  We have yet to even scratch the surface of what this offseason will bring for the Steelers.  It remains to be seen whether or not Haley will return as OC or will be accepting a head coaching position elsewhere, there will be a search for a new OL coach along with potentially a new Special Teams coach, not to mention the news that Omar Khan might be on his way out as well with an interview for the GM position with the Jets.  There’s another change, well not necessarily a change as much as a return, for the Steelers this offseason.  Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney has relinquished his position as United States Ambassador to Ireland and will presumably return to the Steelers organization.  How much affect the 80 year old Rooney will have over the football operations remains to be seen.  The offseason is frustrating already for those of us who live and breathe for the Black & Gold.  Especially when it’s longer than it was expected to be.  Here’s hoping the front office can make the right moves this offseason to prevent some of the frustrations of the 2012 season from repeating themselves in 2013.

Follow me on Twitter @Kimmy_KimKimM and follow all of NPC’s posts @NicePickCowherC

Dec 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (left) talks with Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II prior to the game at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

I read some of the comments that Art Rooney II made about the Steelers 2012 season and initially felt irritated that he was starting to lean toward the Jerry Jone’s style of ownership. I’ve been wondering just how the firing/hiring of the offensive coordinator was handled last year and it probably leads me to jump on comments a little quicker. After I read the actual article, I realized he was responding to reporters’ questions and not simply espousing his views about player and staff performance. However, that said, I thought his statements were meant to keep the media and Steeler Nation guessing about how he really felt and what direction the organization was heading.

When asked about the perception that there was a lack of discipline, he said he didn’t feel that was a problem but pointed to the poor turnover ratio. “When you’re on the negative side of the turnover ratio, most of those teams aren’t in the playoffs.” Well, I looked up the stats and the Steeler’s defense  turnover stats are about the same for this season and the previous five seasons. With the exception of a really great year in 2010, this hasn’t been the strong point for the defense. Why point it out now? Perhaps because someone in the media pointed it out and it’s a safe topic? If this is really a concern, why do you keep the same defensive coach year-after-year? Don’t think this is a knock on Dick LeBeau – it isn’t. This is just me wondering why Rooney picked this as a problem.

Courtesy of NFL.com, here are some of the Steeler’s turnover stats.

Steelers Defense Stats:

             2012            2011             2010            2009             2008           2007

Interceptions                 10                11                 48                12                  20                11

Forces Fumbles            15                10                 24                14                  12                25

Sacks                             37                 35                21                47                 51               36

Offense Stats

                        2012            2011           2010             2009             2008             2007

Interceptions            8                 15                9                  14                    15                14

Sacks                      30                42              43                  53                    49                  47

Turnover ratio         -10              -13             +17               -3                     +4                 +3

I don’t have the full fumble stats from Steeler’s RBs, and WRs, but they are substantial and contribute the largest amount to the negative turnover ratio.  Fumbles and dropped catches were rampant this year and spread among the offensive. Fumble-fingers Wallace needed some stick-em. Mendenhall was so overjoyed at being back on the field he figured that everyone would feel the same way and just get out of his way so he didn’t need to secure the ball. And those are just two of the offenders. Dwyer and Rainey had their share as did Antonio Brown. So the blame can be spread around for turnovers, but if you’re looking for something to fix do you get rid of all of everyone who fumbled? This year marked very low numbers for sacks on the Steelers QB as well as interceptions and it went to waste because of fumbles?

I see some of Rooney’s point, but does keeping the same coaches and expressing confidence in them help? (Rooney expressed full confidence in Todd Haley and Mike Tomlin.) Perhaps Rooney believes you have to give a coach more than one year to work miracles and I usually agree with that. However, something has to change. There has to be a meeting of the minds of Roethlisberger and Hayley and they need to buy into one another. Rooney has expressed support for both of them, but if they aren’t getting along well someone has to police the playground and figure it out. If the QB and the OC aren’t in sync, the attitude ripples across the defense. Yes, everyone needs to do their job and not worry about what is going on around them, but that isn’t reality. People are affected by what is going on around them.

Mr. Rooney also pointed to Ben’s injury as being a turning point in the season. I agree, but I’ll go back to my point from a previous blog of what did you do to prepare the team for potential injury to your first-string players? I don’t think they put much thought into it besides: “let’s try to design plays so Ben doesn’t get hit.” Well, ok Skippy, nice thought, but this is a violent league and he’s going to get hit. Now, go figure out a real back-up plan.

So, Rooney’s comments didn’t reveal anything to me and I honestly wondered if he borrowed from some of the sports pundits. The turn-over issue has been a constant question to LeBeau, Haley and Tomlin. I thought about searching for some of his phrases from among other articles, but decided that wasn’t worth the time. I support the Steelers whole-heartedly, but I’m left wondering what the Steelers believe they need to change for 2013. I don’t expect them to tell anyone. Things stay pretty close to the vest and I understand that. Just stop sounding a little like Jerry Jones, please Mr. Rooney.

One more thought: NicePickCowher already has a blog on Chris Rainey’s arrest and subsequent release. Here’s another example of someone given a second chance who failed to turn it around. It’s amazing how youth and emotions, one of the things we prize in football players, work against people. According to Alan Robinson’s article, there is more pending than just this arrest:

Last month, Rainey was issued a defiant trespass citation, a summary offense, after entering the Meadows Racetrack and Casino near Washington, Pa., on Dec. 2, the same day the Steelers beat the Ravens, 13-10, in Baltimore. According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, a person can draw such a citation if that person agrees to stay away from a gaming center but returns.

Accordingly, the Steelers acted very quickly to release Rainey. It tells me that they don’t have a lot invested in him and his value was judged to be easily found somewhere else. He’s made poor decisions more than once. However, I find it hard to see him dismissed so quickly (before he has his day in court) when Roethlisberger wasn’t. I understand business and all that and I feel certain that Roethlisberger’s case came down to money. But, loyal fan or not, guilt or innocence aside, the Steelers have not handled everything about off-the-field activities in the same way:  zero tolerance. You either have no tolerance or you don’t and you either let the courts work or you don’t. Either way, good luck Chris Rainey – maybe the Cowboys or the Jets have a spot open.

Some excepts from Rooney’s statements to the press are courtesy of The Pittsburgh Tribune Review and Ed Bouchette’s Twitter feed.

RB Chris Rainey has been waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers following an arrest for simple battery in Gainesville, Florida.

As reported earlier today here on NPC (http://nicepickcowher.com/2013/01/10/chris-rainey-arrested-another-2012-steeler-draft-class-member-with-problems/), RB Chris Rainey was arrested this morning in Gainesville, FL and charged with simple battery after allegedly striking his girlfriend in the face.  The confrontation occurred as a result of a dispute over a cellphone, with witnesses stating that Rainey pulled the woman out of a vehicle and struck her with an open hand.  The incident continued with Rainey chasing down the woman on foot and pulling her to the ground while attempting to retrieve the cellphone from a bag she was carrying.  Rainey was taken to the Alachua County Jail for booking, according to the Gainesville Police Department.

The Steelers announced that they had waived their 2012 fifth-round pick this afternoon in a statement from team general manager Kevin Colbert.

“Chris Rainey’s actions this morning were extremely disappointing,” team general manager Kevin Colbert said in a release.

“Under the circumstances and due to this conduct, Chris will no longer be a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

This event follows a 2010 arrest in Florida on a felony stalking charge and a December citation for defiant trespass while at the Meadows Racetrack and Casino outside of Washington, PA.

Chris Rainey played in all 16 games during his rookie season with the Steelers, leading the team with 1,035 yards on 39 kickoff returns.  He added 102 yards rushing on 26 carries, 14 catches for 60 yards, and two touchdowns.

Quotes courtesy of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/steelers-rookie-charged-with-simple-battery-in-florida-669866/

‘Hey. Is that my phone over there?’ Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

There are actually two big stories involved with this headline – both not good for the Steelers.

The first (and most shameful) is that Chris Rainey decided to pull his girlfriend out of a car and slap her.  According to the multiple reports from the media and the news release from police Rainey and his girlfriend got into an argument over his cellphone.  Rainey pulled her from a car, slapped her, and then they both fell to the ground.  The altercation did not stop there as Rainey’s girlfriend ran away, Rainey pursued, grabbed her bag, and the two fell to the ground again.  The event stopped there and the police were called.  Book’em Danno – simple battery.

This now makes two players from the 2012 draft class who have had run ins with the law while they’ve been on the Steelers’ roster.  Rookie defensive lineman Alameda Ta’amu, as you all remember, had his infamous Need For Speed car chase on the South Side earlier in the season.  As disturbing as Ta’amu’s reckless evening was where he nearly ran over an innocent by-stander, Rainey’s altercation reveals an unsettling trend in young athletes.

The disciplinary era (or lack thereof) in the college football arena is for a completely different article as the problem really stems from there.  I’ll let someone who’s more well versed in the scandals that take place within the NCAA write that gem.  But there is indeed a trend of the college football athletes entering the NFL possessing a lack of maturity and respect for a lawful society.  

Back in 2010, Rainey was arrested for stalking, a third-degree felony, that landed him in hot water while attending the University of Florida.  He sent a pretty nasty text message to an ex-girlfriend.  It read, ‘Time to die, bitch.’  Pretty serious implications, and as is the case with many college players threatening young women (see also Notre Dame).  Unlike Notre Dame, the Gators dismissed Rainey from the squad. But then he eventually made his way back. When Rainey was selected by the Steelers this draft, he was asked about his past and that stalking charge.  His response at the time:

“I became a better man, I matured. I learned a lesson not to do that ever again.  It’s something I know that I won’t ever do again. I didn’t even know that you could get in trouble over a text. Plus, I wouldn’t harm a fly.”

I guess that kind of maturation in a young man only lasts so long.  Or if a fly had his cell phone, then all bets are off.

The second and increasingly disturbing issue is that the Steelers are having a tough time gauging and assessing potential rookies.  There was a time, whether myth or not, when the Steelers could be placed on a podium in being able to obtain players with strong character and dump the bad eggs.  There is a paradigm shift taking place where the line is becoming rather blurry and numerous shades of grey (but maybe not 50 of them) as to what is acceptable and not for a persons character.  And is the front office in error when they think they can become a rehabilitation center for rookies and players who have a darkened past?

What is ironic about the conduct of the 2012 rookies is that the guy who tested positive for marijuana, Mike Adams, was in a much hotter and bigger spotlight than the two players who had much harsher allegations/arrests – Rainey (stalking and death threats) and Ta’amu (DUI arrest).  Even better, Adams kept clean all season and improved in performance as the season went on despite questions and doubts from the media and pundits.

Going 1 for 3 are pretty poor stats.  Colbert is certainly on a bit of the hot seat for the trend taking place, but this once again is another rough spot in the Tomlin era of Steeler football.  Player assessment is very important, but equally important is what you do with the players once they are on the roster.  Maturation on the field is absolutely needed, but I feel that it is part of the deal to also get these young men to mature into upstanding adults.  Tomlin has always been considered being a ‘players coach.’  I guess that means letting them do whatever the hell they want, unless they start fumbling the football.

This offseason needs to become a bit of a reassessment of how the Steelers go about assessing incoming rookies and then putting a plan in place on how to address issues (if there are any).  Personnel damage control is a very distracting and destructive element to a football team and season.  If the Steelers don’t want to clean house with players who have a history prior to the team or those who have had run ins since being on the team, then they sure as hell need to have a plan in place.

UPDATE:  The Steelers have released Rainey from the team.  Kevin Colbert released a statement: “Under the circumstances and due to this conduct, Chris will no longer be a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

Well it’s a start, but I think the better and more ideal situation is to not be in a position to have to dismiss players….

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