The Big Back Theory
by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 17, 2009 6:10 PM EST
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PrintAll puns aside, here's an issue that very may well be addressed this coming draft.
Since the departure of our beloved Jerome Bettis, we have not had the "bruiser" type running back that can get us those short yards. We drafted Mendenhall this past draft, partially for this reason, but more so for the use to help take off carries Willie P's back. I don't see Mendy being the goal line guy, but more so a "reaction back", a term he came up with himself. He doesn't designate his run style just to power, or just to elusiveness, but a mixture. Who knows, he could fill this role in the coming years, as he is over 220 pounds, but I'm thinking of investing in other options for a short yardage back.
As I have said before, Gary Russell has done a good job, but I'm not convinced that he's up to challenge either. What we need is a guy who can consistently pound the rock past the goal line or move the chains when we only need a yard or so. M&M also was brought in this past year, in the hopes that he might supply the answer, but was stood up on numerous occasions (partially due to poor blocking).
So I believe we can make a low-risk investment in this year's draft, where there are 3 realistic options that will most likely be available on day 2.
First off, Shonn Greene, the junior out of Iowa. Greene stands at 5' 11'', 235 lbs, and was a force to be reckoned with this year at Iowa. He was practically unstoppable as he ran for 1850 yards on 307 carries, and scored 20 rushing touchdowns on the year. He ran for 100 yards or more in every game of the season, and only had one game where he did not run for at least one touchdown. My question is, how the hell is a guy who put up those kind of numbers, projected to go in round 3? It could be the fact that he'll be 24 before he takes a step into an NFL game, or the fact that he played at Iowa, a non-powerhouse, easy-schedule type of school, or because his speed is less than dazzling. In any case the guy is a major sleeper in this year's draft due to great power, and great vision on the football field.
Click here to see some highlights.
Second on my list is P.J. Hill the power house runner from Wisconsin. Hill weighs in at 5' 11", 230 and only just turned 22. His career numbers are impressive, as he's started since his true freshman year. His totals look like this: 37 games, 3,942 rushing yards, averaging 106 yards a game and 5.1 yards a carry, tallying up 42 total rushing touchdowns. Again, another less recognized school with Wisconsin, and a slower 40 time have this guy projected to go in round 3.
Finally, there's Jorvorskie Lane, the FB/RB, from Texas A&M. Lane is primarily a fullback, but at 6', 285 lbs, it's hard not to use him in a running attack. Could be another version of LeRon McClain. During his college career, Lane has had some unbelievable numbers. Over the course of 4 years, he's carried the ball, 489 times and netted 2,193 rushing yards, 49 rushing touchdowns, and over 4 yards a carry. The guy can also block, and when he lands a hit, boy is it devastating. This is an area where he can be inconsistent. For now, he is projected to be drafted somewhere after the 5th round, which is definitely a pick we could spend on him.
Any 3 of these guys could make a decent addition to our already-deep running back position. Hill and Greene are guys that could eventually turn into quality starters if given the chance. My vote? Well I am a fan of LSU's Charles Scott, but he didn't declare this year, and will probably put good enough numbers in his senior season to jump up to the 2nd or 1st round in 2010. So, in my opinion, the next best thing would be P.J. Hill. Until today, I didn't know much about Hill, but after seeing some his highlights I'm sold on his running style. Of course if Mendenhall and/or Gary Russell, turn out to be the solution to this problem, then that is fine too. I just think we could find a gem this year, for a very low cost. Thoughts?
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I like Greene
but I’ve also had a good friend from Iowa talking in my ear for a number of years now, so I might be biased. But I’d say wait until later rounds … the first three or four picks (in my opinion) ought to be used to tighten up the lines.
Fred Taylor is available now
Is he a blocking back? He might come very cheap… seems to want a 1 year shot on a super bowl caliber team… If hes cheap enough, I think they ought to grab him. Quality depth is more important than just depth.
true but Fred Taylor is likely to take one snap and have his knees grind to dust then play effectively
I like the guy but he’s old, and has had a history of injury problems.
To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)
Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.
by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 17, 2009 7:10 PM EST up reply actions
Keep in mind we do have a comp pick equivalent to a third rounder
To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)
Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.
by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 17, 2009 7:10 PM EST reply actions
The Saints also just released Deuce McCalister....
I would love to have him on our roster as a short yardage back as well
I think GR or Mendy will be great short yardage backs....
if only we invest in our O line… great post though HSS, it’s cool seeing who’s out there. I just don’t think it matters how much a back weighs when he’s getting dropped during the hand-off…
+1
Size is not a prerequisite for short yardage success. Marion Barber (6-0, 225) is an excellent short-yardage back; Brandon Jacobs (6-4, 265) not nearly as good. Mendenhall is almost exactly the same size as Barber and runs hard; Russell is a strong kid with good leg drive who had some success including a SB touchdown. It all starts up front.
+1 -1
Seeing our HBs getting hit in the backfield on all those short yardage plays made me ill.
Still, I would be pleased to see Lane in Black and Gold if we can get him in the 5th or 6th. We didn’t resign Cary Davis yet, did we?
I liked the clip of Lane, HSS, he really hits people when he runs, the other guys were running better, but they had holes to go through.
agreed
drop davis, pick up lane in the 5th round a great value
by tannofsteel84 on Feb 18, 2009 9:51 AM EST up reply actions
yea he can definitely run well.
He’s got some nasty blocks though. Just picture a 280 pound Hines Ward type block.
To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)
Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.
by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 18, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
if we could get Lane cheap...
like 5th round or something after addressing the O line then let him have Davis’ spot.
by SteelersFnRule on Feb 18, 2009 11:58 AM EST reply actions
line
I don’t really think it’s an issue of who we plug in until our line is in place. I say give Mendenhall a chance to have the decent season we were hoping for.
Also, I don’t believe we’ll “replace” Bettis. Bettis was a rare player and is not going to be replaced by any old 250 pounder running in a straight line.
Oh yea
By no means do I mean replace Bettis; that’s impossible, but I think we should get some one who plays a similar way.
To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)
Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.
by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 18, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
Agree with much above
I think short yardage backs are about one thing, falling forward on contact. We have that in Gary Russell. He churns his legs and falls forward. 90% of our problems converting short yardage was our line and the play calling in my opinion.
by Chicago Steeler on Feb 18, 2009 2:03 PM EST reply actions
short yardage backs
At one point, late in the season, Brandon Jacobs only converted 4 out of 9 3rd and 1 situations. Also, read a blurb on the Senior Bowl about J. Lane where he was stop on 3 consecutive times inside the 10 yard line for no gain.
As stated above by others, and I’ve made this point before, “Big backs” don’t necessarily make the best short yardage/goal line backs.
I know I’m in the minority, but I’m not a fan of the “Big Back”…I’d much rather have a tough, 210-220 LB 5’8-5’10, who was quick and elusive. RM seems to have the perfect build but I’m not so sure of his toughness. GR, I think, has done a credible job and he will get his shot next year to prove himself again.
It’s funny that people always joke about that.
Average returns of G. Russell during the season? 23.2 yards
If you were to compare the average of his kicking returns against NFL teams would rank 14th, right in the middle of a pack of teams. Not bad at all…I’m not going to say he was a threat to take it the distance, the steelers had the 2nd worst long kick return in the league, but I’ll take an average returner with good hands on this pittsburgh steelers team any day.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
Plus...
I like the fact that we bring in a hammer type guy in a spot where most teams look for speed returners. It brings an extra element of physicality to the field. It’s something different for opposing teams to prepare for. I do wish we had some bigger plays from time to time, but you can’t have it both ways.
Russell and this Logan guy might be a special teams thunder and lightning. We’ll see.
by NYSteelersFan4 on Feb 19, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions
I like Mendenhall. It's not his fault he broke his shoulder on that play.
He was running really well that game before the injury, not like you can judge anything from so few carries. Russell was OK. I think adding a big RB is a luxury that we may or may not be able to afford this year. I consider fixing our OL and adding DL depth to be priorities 1 and 2. I think if we add one of these guys, especially Greene, it would really take our running game to the next level. We would have 4 good running backs in that case: FWP, Mendenhall, MM, Greene. We could really batter teams into submission.
by houksyndrome on Feb 19, 2009 3:50 AM EST up reply actions
We can’t batter teams into submission until we have a mean and nasty line.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
+1
Until we do that, it will be our RBs and QBs who get battered into submission.
by steeler.lifer on Feb 19, 2009 2:15 PM EST up reply actions
FB low priority
Lane might not even get drafted. He doesn’t take training seriously and needs space to utilize his size. Poor special teams candidate. Unlikely the Steelers would draft a FB but with extra picks, maybe a late-rounder like Tony Fiammetta of Syracuse (6-1, 235) would be a good pickup. Good player in a bad program, leadership skills, hard worker, can catch the ball. Probably a better fit for the Steelers than the other top-ranked FB, Quinn Johnson of LSU. We need FB competition for Davis’ spot, not converted TEs like McHugh.
A little off-topic
but i REALLY wanted to see us grab MJD(who ended up in Jax. Jones-Drew was a fast, strong, smart, very compact and powerful back with a great attitude. IMO he’s as good a power-back as is in the NFL right now. There is really something to be said for the short, stout runner with a thick trunk. Remember that Emmit “Mumbles” Smith is only 5’8", an inch taller than Maurice Jones-Drew.
Anyway, it’s all long past now. But i’d still like to see us get a low-center-of-gravity power runner.
Hey Highschoolsteeler - I am an Iowa fan and also a Steeler fan (of course)
Where do you get off calling Iowa a non-powerhouse, easy schedule type of school? We are a Big Ten team and Greene was the best RB in the Big Ten this year. We beat Penn State just about every time we play them. Don’t give me this second tier horse shit.
In any event, I liked your post. I think we should go with Greene in round 3 (assuming we have addressed our OL issues by then). The only way I feel otherwise is if a good NT prospect is available at that point, but that is very unlikely. What you said sums up the current “analysts” thoughts on Greene. Here are a couple of points that I think should be considered in addition to the points you already made. First, he is 24, but he only really carried the ball much in one season. He has much less wear and tear than either Hill or Lane. Second, he has more breakaway speed than people give him credit for. He had several long runs this season (60+ yards). I am hoping he runs a lousy 40 at the combine and then falls, so we can draft him in the 3rd or 4th. On the football field, he has very good speed – not that we really need it all that much. He really looks to punish defenders and hits the hole very hard, yet is also very patient. If we get our OL fixed and add Greene we could have a devastating running attack to go with our superstar QB and great defense – sounds like a good way to beat the Pats.
I thought this might come up
Powerhouse was the wrong word, I was meaning more along the lines of BCS rankings, which I know are a joke, and to be fair, when it comes to college football, I’m more interested in the players not the teams.
But I agree with you on Greene’s speed. In seeing all his highlights, he accelerates really well and seems to be deceptively fast.
To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)
Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.
by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 19, 2009 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
What we NEED
is a back that gets 3-4 yards every down. A “home-run” guy like Willie is nice to have, but he is a gamble on clock-burning drives.
IDK why the NFL suddenly seems to think that the only worthwhile RBs are speed guys who can bust an 80-yarder for a score. It’s just as important(or MORE so) to have a steady, work-hard guy who just moves chains.
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