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Steelers vs. Titans: Isaac Redman is preparing to be Steelers starting running back

Redman is the last running back standing - for this week at least. He hasn't been told he's the starter yet, according to Post Gazette reporter Ed Bouchette, but he's preparing as if he will be.

By Neal Coolong
Grant Halverson

The situation could be distracting to Steelers running back Isaac Redman.

If he let it.

The fourth year veteran from Bowie State is most likely the Steelers starting running back when Pittsburgh hosts the Tennessee Titans Sunday in Week 1 of the regular season. He doesn't have Jonathan Dwyer splitting reps with him in practice anymore. It used to be "the job is his to lose," but now it's "it's his job to produce."

He told Ed Bouchette of the Post Gazette in Tuesday's edition he's preparing as the team's starting running back and will continue to do so until he's told otherwise.

Perhaps that's the only way to do it. The "spin-the-bottle" approach, as Bouchette referred to it, of last year didn't appear to work very well. If it's Redman for now - at least until rookie Le'Veon Bell returns from a foot injury (Bell says he's aiming for Week 2), then so be it.

Redman has one week to create significant distance between himself and the rookie.

It seems beyond the concerns of fans who is running the ball for the Steelers as long as that player is producing. It seems the Steelers want to find one player to produce, perhaps subbed out here and there by a string of otherwise talented runners (Felix Jones will likely be Redman's back-up in Week 1 and LaRod Stephens-Howling will be the passing down/third down back).

The key to this season will continue to be the Steelers' ability to establish the running game. That starts in Week 1.

Redman is preparing himself as if it starts with him. Not a bad idea.

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