What happens with the ground game
Benny Snell was a pleasant surprise in week one, rushing for over 100 yards despite not starting the game. James Conner made an early exit due to an ankle injury and Snell took over. Both appear to be healthy this week, and it will be interesting to see how the Steelers utilize these two backs. If they were smart, they would allow Snell to handle the full workload.
Last year, Conner struggled with injury during most of the year. The Steelers tried to rush him back though, and he never fully healed. Instead, he would start games until his injury flared back up and then exit early. The problem with this is that the Steelers could never get into a groove. Conner would struggle through 5-10 carries and then Snell was never given the proper time to get into his own style.
This week, the Steelers need to figure out this group and stick to whatever they determine to be the best strategy. The Steelers obviously need a running game, so it is paramount that they find the right combination of backfield components. Snell can and should handle the full workload, and it’ll be disappointing if he gets relegated to backup duties again.
The Steelers are early favorites to win in week two, but there are still plenty of storylines that will dominate this game. If the Steelers come out on top, it’ll be because they properly answered these concerns and storylines by games end.