Steelers News: How Benny Snell Jr. can be the perfect complimentary back to James Conner

With the 2019 NFL Draft in the rear view mirror, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2019 season is fast approaching, and the news surrounding the black-and-gold is far from over. As the team now turns their attention to more offseason workouts, OTAs and minicamp, there is no shortage of news.

Today in the Black-and-gold links article we take a look at how rookie draft pick Benny Snell Jr. could be the perfect compliment to James Conner in the Steelers’ backfield.

Let’s get to the news:

• Almost everyone who follows the Steelers, and NFL football, knew the team had to draft a running back at some point in the 2019 NFL Draft. Many wanted them to pull the trigger on a back earlier than they did, but the 4th round pick Benny Snell Jr. might just be the perfect compliment to James Conner.

Snell might serve as complement to Conner

By: Dale Lolley, DKPittsburghSports

In fact, if you look back at Tomlin’s 12 seasons as the Steelers’ head coach, you’ll see his lead back has averaged 251 carries per season in that span, an average of 15.7 per game. And that’s with the lead runner playing an average of just over 14 games per season.

The backups? They’ve averaged 85.5 carries per season in Tomlin’s tenure, a number skewed by Bell’s backups. For example, Jonathan Dwyer got just 49 carries in 2013, while James Conner had only 32 in 2017.

In most cases, the Steelers’ No. 2 running back has been right around 100 carries. That was true even in the season of Tomlin’s famous quote regarding Parker. Sure, Parker had 321 carries in 15 games that season, an average of 21.4 per game. But his backup, Najeh Davenport, had 107 rushing attempts that season, as the Steelers ran the ball 511 times that year.

To read the full article, click HERE

• The Steelers typically give their head coaches new contracts with about two years remaining on their current deal. While this news isn’t always public knowledge, considering a coach’s contract doesn’t count towards the salary cap, it begs the question what the Steelers should do with Mike Tomlin in the near future.

Tim Benz: Reevaluating Mike Tomlin’s contract situation with Steelers

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Tomlin has two years remaining on his deal. That’s when the Steelers normally extend head coaches. They attempted to do so with Bill Cowher after the 2005 Super Bowl. It didn’t work out. He coached one more year then retired.

In January, Art Rooney II put off any talk of an extension for Tomlin. He said: “Those things we’ll get to sort of later in the offseason. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

If we are talking bridges, Tomlin’s 2018 club caused far too many Steelers fans to consider leaping off one of the many available in Western Pennsylvania.

So once 2018 ended, I wrote that I was against a Tomlin extension. But I wasn’t going to fret about it because, well, it’s just Rooney’s money. And who cares? He has plenty of it.

To read the full article, click HERE

• Devin Bush is an electrifying talent on the football field, and certainly could be considered a candidate for a postseason award if he lives up to the hype.

Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams co-favorites for defensive rookie of the year

By: Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk

The first two defensive players in the draft have something else in common: They’re the co-favorites to be named the 2019 defensive rookie of the year.

Caesers Palace has set the odds at +400 for 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa and +400 for Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. For each, that means a $100 bet would win $400.

Bills defensive lineman Ed Oliver lands next at +550, Steelers linebacker Devin Bush comes in at +700, and Bucs linebacker Devin White sits at +800 along with Raiders defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell. Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen has +1000 odds.

To read the full article, click HERE

• If the day of the week ends in a ‘y’, there is a good chance a member of the Browns is running his mouth. Here is the latest.

Odell Beckham wears sleeveless, skirted tux; says he’ll turn Browns ‘into the new Patriots’

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

“I plan on being (in Cleveland) for the next five years and trying to bring as many championships there as possible,” Beckham told GQ, “turning (the Browns) into the new Patriots.”

That would be the New England Patriots, the franchise that has won six of the past 18 Super Bowls.

And that would be the Cleveland Browns, the franchise that has zero playoff appearances over the past 16 seasons and has won 11 GAMES over the past four seasons.

To read the full article, click HERE

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