Benny Snell’s return and future impact for the Steelers without James Conner
Though Steelers RB James Conner’s injury history continues to build & remains a question for the future, rookie RB Benny Snell is on track to prove that he’s able to contribute Conner’s absence.
As controversy boils opinions, the Steelers have been on the front page more than most for the exact thing. Whether it was the recent egregious actions in Cleveland, or the forgone seemingly endless sagas with top-tier talent, headlines have had their fair share of play in the Steel City.
In a year filled with aggravating key injuries, it has opened opportunities for other players to step up. For instance, the season-ending surgery to QB Ben Roethlisberger has paved the way for third-string Devlin Hodges to prove he’s the best choice in holding together the final hopes of the season. Likewise, the RB group were struck with some minor hits in James Conner & Benny Snell, but as Conner continues to rest, Snell recovered with a needed resurgence for the offense.
After having to miss three weeks for undergoing a minor procedure, a surgery that trimmed his meniscus, Snell led the team in carries in his return against the Cincinnati Bengals. The fourth-round rookie carried the ball 21 times -15 more than the next carrier and a season-high workload for the Kentucky alum, that averaged 4.67 YPC & ran for 98 yards on Sunday.
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This was a refreshing showing, considering that from weeks 9-11, RB Trey Edmunds was the only Steelers back to eclipse more than 30 yards in a game, and only did it once. Of course, the level of difficulty is drastically different from the Bengals to the Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, & Cleveland Browns, but Snell’s toughness, vision, and control has proven he can be a complementary option for this team.
In both games Snell was given 15+ carries, he ran for 75 or more yards while averaging at least 4.4 YPC. Although he’s not the most athletic, Benny is very solid in his abilities that also possesses one really good quality: He’s reliable.
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As four of their final five opponents rank 15th or worse in defensive rush DVOA, a once-again established run game can be reclaimed with Snell as the leading back & will be necessary for the offensive balance while the Steelers advance with Hodges at quarterback.