Why the Steelers RB depth could lead to new approach on the ground

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 02: James Conner #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers rushes the ball in the first half during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Heinz Field on December 2, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 02: James Conner #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers rushes the ball in the first half during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Heinz Field on December 2, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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Could there be a change in the way the Steelers use running backs this year? Here’s why their new depth makes that possible.

I recently read an article suggesting that the Steelers will use their running backs by committee this year. This is the time of year where writers speculate a lot and so it could all be smoke. However, there is teeth to this theory, because the Steelers have invested in more depth at the running back position.

Drafting Benny Snell was a statement that the Steelers don’t intend on just giving the ball to James Conner. My take is the middle ground where I think you will see plenty of a two back rotation, but not a committee as some writers have suggested.

What makes this theory plausible is drafting Benny Snell. Certainly, the Steelers draft the best player available and that best player may have just been a running back in this case. The reason that I think they intended to draft a running back is that they had used a lot of pre-draft visits on the running back position.

LEXINGTON, KY – NOVEMBER 17: Benny Snell Jr #26 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs with the ball against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Commonwealth Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – NOVEMBER 17: Benny Snell Jr #26 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs with the ball against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Commonwealth Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

A ‘one-two punch’ is not a new phenomenon for the Steelers. In fact, the intention with having LeGarette Blount along with Le’Veon Bell early in his career was to have a ‘one-two punch.’

Of course, this tandem did not work out for character reasons, as the two were caught with marijuana and Le’Veon Bell got a DUIC for this incident. LeGarrett Blount was later let go for this incident as well as walking out on his team, but before all of this, the Steelers were touting one of the better ‘one-two punches’ in football.

This would be smart to revisit if the Steelers want to have James Conner long-term. One of the mistakes that the Steelers made with Le’Veon Bell was giving him too many touches and not resting him enough. Sure, they wanted to get the most out of Le’Veon Bell, but they also upset him enough that he did not show up for the entirety of the 2018 season.

Bell’s side of the story was that he was not just getting paid too little, but they were running him into the ground without fairly compensating him. They might have had a better long-term relationship with Bell if they brought in a number two back to complement him.

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Fans and annalists may be claiming too much when saying that there will be a running back by committee system in 2019, but they are on to something. The Steelers will have a formidable ‘one-two’ punch in Conner and Snell. Both are hard-nose runners who are high in character and in youth. I look forward to the Steelers running game in 2019 despite the departure of Le’Veon Bell.