The Steelers have a good problem on their hands Sunday, and that’s a couple running backs who appear to be all healthy and ready to carry the ball.
Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Rashard Mendenhall, who hasn’t had a carry in 2012, is ready to go, and he said himself today when if he felt he would start – “I believe so.”
There’s also Issac Redmen, who has been the starter all year, and when asked about a decrease in carries – “I don’t know — that’s up to the coaches.”
Jonathan Dwyer said that he expects the Steelers coaches to go with the “hot hand” if you will as far as carries.
“We’re going to do what works at the time,” Dwyer said. “If he has a hot hand, we’ll keep going with the hot hand. That’s the same for any sport — shooters have a hot hand shooting 3s, then you pass him the ball. So that’s pretty much the same emphasis of what we’re doing right now.”
Right now the team needs to find a way to run the ball better, as they are averaging 65 rushing yards per game, second-worst in the league.
DrGeorge
October 5, 2012 at 1:38 pm
The problem is the O-line, not the backs. Redman and Dwyer have done well when they have had holes to run through. When the O-line can’t move bodies, it doesn’t matter who carries the ball, including Mendy.
But it would help the cause if Haley would run the power backs forward (between the tackles), instead of trying to run them wide. A big back running parallel to the line gives away his strength and plays right into the hands of the defense. Rainey is the only RB we have with the speed to turn the corner, and so far he hasn’t done it consistently.