The Pittsburgh Steelers have addressed multiple needs this off-season including adding players at quarterback, cornerback, linebacker and the offensive line. One position that has not been touched on is in the backfield. Najee Harris as a rookie last year touched the football over 400 times. Regardless of the shape he is in or his size, no running back can touch the ball that many times each season for 10 or more years.
That begs the question: why has the team not addressed the need for a more reliable man out of the backfield? No running back had more than 100 yards rushing or receiving all of last season other than Harris who totaled for 1,667 yards. The Steelers and head coach, Mike Tomlin trust Harris, but looking back at the past century, the team was competing at its highest level with multiple options out of the backfield.
1.) 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger's first year was a memorable one, although the team fell short of the Super Bowl. A 15-1 regular season had a duo at running back that took the weight of off Roethlisberger's shoulders. Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley both had over 192 carries and 800 yards. Bettis was the go to guy at the goal line with 13 touchdowns, but Staley was always available to answer the call if the Steelers needed him. Not to mention, Bettis was in his second to last year and was not as quick as he once was. The team as a hole had 2,464 rushing yards. Last year's Steelers rushed for almost 1,000 yards less (1,583).
2.) 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
On the way to Super Bowl XL, Willie Parker led the way with Bettis still chugging along as the goal line guy. Parker had 1,202 yards rushing and while Bettis only had 368, he had nine touchdowns. Verron Haynes and Staley even managed to have more rushing yards in 2005 than Benny Snell Jr. had all of 2021. The play-action was effective and the 2005-06 Super Bowl champs had more faith in their 4th string running back than the Steelers did all of last season. This was another year of a dominant rushing attack over 2,200 on the ground as a squad.
3.) 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers
As Roethlisberger continued to grow and the team began to throw the ball more, there was less of a rushing attack for the 2008-09 Super Bowl Champions. The Steelers still had two running backs in Parker and Mewelde Moore who both had 550 yards on the ground or more. The numbers aren't staggering or Pro Bowl worthy, but it was having the option to utilize either in key situations that made the running attack effective. Defensive units in 2021 had absolutely no worry when anyone but Harris was in the game. Moore added 320 receiving yards as well which turned out to be a wonderful safety net for Roethlisberger on third downs.
Thomas B. Shea / Getty Images
4.) 2010 Pittsburgh Steelers
Rashard Mendenhall broke out in 2010 to help lead the rushing attack for the Steelers in 2010-11. He rushed for 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns. One of the more underrated players that season, however, was Isaac Redman. Redman only rushed for 247 yards in the regular season, but was Tomlin's got to guy on third down. Nowadays, a third and short seems nearly impossible for the Steelers to convert. Redman's main priority was third down conversions and he still managed to average 4.8 yards per carry. Present day Steelers haven't seen that number pop up since Le'Veon Bell averaged 4.9 yards per carry in 2016. Redman was crucial to consistently moving the ball and Mendenhall's play helped the Steelers get to another Super Bowl.
This would carry over into the following season when the Steelers were 12-4 and Mendenhall rushed for 928 yards and nine touchdowns and Redman's role expanded with him rushing for 479 yards and three touchdowns.
The examples show when the Steelers were at their very best and competing for Super Bowls. When Bell was taking most of the carries during his tenure, the Steelers still had serviceable guys like LeGarrette Blount, DeAngelo Williams and James Conner to rely on. This year's team does not have a formidable option behind Harris. While Harris would tell us he wants the ball every play, the history and competing for Super Bowls has a clear correlation as far as the rushing attack goes: have two options.
For the record, Harris has the ability to be better than everyone including even the Hall of Fame running back, Bettis. With that said, to have a long lasting career as a tailback in the NFL, 400 touches each year from your rookie season on is too much on the body to hang around to put up Hall of Fame numbers. There are very few running backs that have been able to accomplish this. The Steelers need to invest in a serviceable backup to help manage more of Harris' carries. The lack of trust in the current group shows in their lack of involvement last season.
Do you think the Steelers need to replicate old ways and find a more trustworthy second option at running back? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
