Thursday's Take: There's a Log-jam at Running Back

The running game has always been the center of the Steelers offensive universe. Even with the ascension of Pro Bowl QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh operates what is essentially a run-first offense. This year, the Steelers boast a number of talented young running backs who will each do their part to continue Pittsburgh's rich tradition with the ground game.

The most well-known back in Pittsburgh's stable is the speed-demon, Willie Parker. He's an odd fit in Pittsburgh given that the team has a long history of power-runners, rather than breakaway speedsters. While he has worked on his inside running, a skill he began honing under the tutelage of power-runner extraordinaire Jerome Bettis, he's not quite there. Part of his deficiencies may be the result of the lineman in front of him, but even taking into account the dwindling level of talent on the offensive line, Parker still looks a bit too tentative when he runs between the tackles. Whenever he takes the ball outside, though, that's when he shows his true value. He is easily one of the fastest players at his position, and that speed guided him to three-straight 1200 yard rushing campaigns before an injury-riddled 2008 season.

The injuries add another level of drama to the backfield. Parker was fairly healthy in his first two seasons before breaking down after 337 carries in 2007. In 2008, he only managed to play eleven games. Parker can quite possibly be a workhorse, but a large number of carries will sap the ability that makes him so special, his breakaway speed.

The Steelers brought in Rashard Mendenhall in last year's draft to help share some of that workload. Unfortunately, he was placed on injured reserve with a fractured shoulder after the fourth game. To Steelers faithful, Mendenhall represents an unknown. His preseason performance was merely average and he had issues securing the ball both while running and while returning kicks. He was injured before he could show the talent that led to his selection in the first-round. Mendenhall has the size and speed to be successful in the NFL. He's 15-20 lbs heavier than Parker and still has above-average speed. If he can adjust to the speed of the pro game, he can form an excellent 1-2 punch with Parker and be that physical inside runner that past Steelers teams were built around.

If Parker and Mendenhall can return strong and avoid injuries, it will be less carries for one of the heroes of the 2008 season, Mewelde Moore. Moore was rescued from Minnesota, where he was stuck behind superstar Adrian Peterson and worthy backup Chester Taylor. Once he arrived, the team drafted Mendenhall and Moore looked to be behind another log-jam. Once the two runners in front of him went down, Moore showed his own brand of talent. Moore doesn't have great speed and won't wow you with his power. He is, however, incredibly shifty and plays with more passion that most players at his position. His shiftiness helped him to be a dual-threat runner-receiver in relief of Parker. Now that he's shown off his skills, he can parlay his great performance last year into a 3rd-down role ala Verron Haynes, with the opportunity to start if any injuries occur to the two men ahead of him.

The fourth man who will likely make the roster is the team's 2009 fifth-round selection, Frank "The Tank" Summers. Summers' physique could allow him to become the goal-line power back that the Steelers have been searching for since the retirement of Jerome Bettis. Gary Russell filled that role last year, but was merely average. The hope is that Summers can finish the work done by Parker and Mendenhall, while keeping the two stars away from the harsh demands of goal-line work.

Altogether, the Steelers may not have the best backfield in the league, but they have some surprising depth and a variety of options. Mendenhall and Parker should take the majority of the carries, with Moore coming in for passing situations and/or his usual third-down role. Summers will only see the field in goal-line situations, unless Mendenhall can show his coaches that he is ready for that duty as well. If the Steelers can divide the workload between these four runners correctly, the team could ascend to be one of the top running teams in the league once again.

Quick Hits
- Steve McNair's passing is just one of the latest gun-related deaths to hit the league recently. While he was no longer an active player, he has only been retired for one year and was undoubtedly fresh within the minds of fans. McNair was one of the toughest players to play quarterback and was an all-around standup guy in a league that needs one of those. He will be missed.

- Chad Ocho Cinco has decided to Twitter during games. I'm setting the over/under on three games before he "tweets" something that puts him in the doghouse with both the team and his fans.

- Jason Cole of Yahoo.com recently wrote an article about how players from the '05 draft are having trouble getting new contracts, citing the economy and struggles with the CBA negotiations as the man causes. He may have missed an obvious fact though. Though, for sure, teams are hesitant to sign players with the CBA issues looming large, a big reason why a number of these players are unsigned may be because the '05 draft wasn't very good. Within the first ten picks, only Ronnie Brown, Braylon Edwards, and Antrel Rolle have been major contributors. Brown, however, has injury concerns. Edwards looked like he was playing defense instead of receiver last year, and Rolle had to switch to safety before becoming an effective starter. All the same, there are a number of surprising players still without contracts for next season, including Roddy White and Steelers-star Heath Miller.

- Speaking of lack of contracts, is it just me or does it seem like it's taking forever for this year's draft picks to signs?

- A judge has somehow blocked the suspensions of the two Williamses in Minnesota. The pair better hope they win, otherwise they could see those four-game suspensions in the middle of the season, rather than in the cupcake four-game slate the team starts with (Cleveland, Detroit, San Francisco, Green Bay).






Kenneth Torgent
torgent@yahoo.com