How does the cliché about the best laid plans of mice and men go?
24 hours ago, all was perfect in Steelers Nation. The decision to resign Brett Kesiel won adulation from the both the press and the public and seemed to add more momentum in an off season that has seen the arrow on the Steelers progressively point back upwards.
They don't call it the Not For Long league without reason. Things change fast.
- Case in point, Le'Backfield's previously unknown Rastafarian tendencies.
As you undoubtedly know, the Steelers number 1 and number 2 running backs Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount, were arrested for marijuana possession. In addition, Bell also faces a DWU charge.
In a word, this is a problem.
Sure, BTSC has confirmed the report that Blount has thus far escaped criminal charges. But that won't save him from Roger Goodell.... While Ray Rice might get away with a slap on the wrist, Roger Goodell has suspended league personnel for even more innocuous substance abuse violations that Bell and Blount now stand charged of (see Wade Wilson.) And that is very, very bad for Pittsburgh.
We can and will condemn both men for their inane stupidity, and so we should as they've left their teammates in a bind.
- Because Bell and Blount are the only two Steelers running backs who have an NFL carry to their name.
They also have Tauren Poole and Miguel Maysonet who are considered practice squad contenders at best, and rookie Dri Archer who has shown a lot of potential in the preseason, but whose small frame was not designed to be a primary running back.
To get an idea of the Steelers situation at running back, even before the news of the arrests broke, Neal Coolong suggested the Steelers should scour the waiver wire for depth.
Felix Jones, whom the Steelers traded for last August, remains unsigned, as does LaRod Stephens-Howling, who was one of the many players injured during the Steelers 2013 opener. Neither are world beaters, but both would provide experienced bodies.
There is another experienced player out there....
- One who excels in short yardage situations.
- One who has and has 100 yard regular and post season games to his credit.
- One who knows the Steelers system.
His name of course is Isaac Redman. Earlier this off season, before Blount's signing, yours truly humbly suggested that the Steelers bolster their backfield depth by giving Redman a second chance via a no bonus, vet minimum contract.
Neither Kevin Colbert nor Mike Tomlin read my stuff (nor should they) and even if they had they likely won't have been swayed. Steelers Nation responded to the suggestion with a mixture of ambivalence and hostility.
To those naysayers, my response remains simple. Numbers don't lie:
Let's get this straight. These numbers reveal that Redman will never grow into cult hero proportions that fans on the BTSC community projected into him. He'll won't ever be a long-term starter.
On the flip side, the numbers do suggest he's a competent backup. Yes, those stats are pedestrian, but consider this:
- Both Redman's 2012 and 2011 rushing and receiving performances were better than Jonathan Dwyer and Felix Jones combined 2013 efforts.
Since getting cut by the Steelers last October, Redman's phone as been quiet. Indeed, he looked terrible during his brief appearances on the field in 2013. And Jim Wexell reported that he looked even worse in practice.
- But while those liabilities are real, they don't negate his past achievements.
Barring any unknown off the field issues, the Steelers would do well to consider giving Issac Redman a second chance. Right now a better alterative doesn't seem to be available.