While the Steelers have their new bell-cow back, there is an extremely tight race as to who will be the team’s top backup running back.
After the Steelers invested their first pick of the 2021 draft in Najee Harris, there is little question as to who will start at running back by week one. This doesn’t mean the group is set though, as there is a fierce battle brewing at backup running back.
While not the most important position for the team, having a capable reserve take some snaps away from Harris keeps him healthier and well-rested. As well, if an injury were to occur, having a good backup alleviates the potential loss. Here is a ranking of who would be the Steeler backup running back in 2021:
4. Steelers Jaylen Samuels
This is essentially a formality at this point, as while Jaylen Samuels is still on the roster, there is a very good chance he is looking for a new team by the start of the season. If he did somehow make the roster, he would be the fourth option on the depth chart and would ideally not see a lot of snaps. Of all the options currently on the Steelers, Samuels is the least likely to have any sort of an impact in 2021.
Most of this is due to Samuels mediocre play. He does nothing that well, and it is frustrating when the team would force him onto the field. While he has decent size for a back, he lacks the power to push the line. He had below-average athleticism, and despite the hype he has as a receiver, his hands and route running are nothing special. He can chip in on special teams, but the impact he has there is minimal. It would be a shock to see Samuels make this team, let alone him serve as the primary backup.
3. Steelers Benny Snell
A name I thought about putting higher, but looking at the makeup of this roster, it isn’t a lock that Benny Snell is on the Steelers roster in 2021. While he has looked ok in limited action, he doesn’t produce much on his own. He runs with a lot of power, but he lacks the speed to be a game-changer. As well, he is wholly dependent on the line in front of him, as whenever there isn’t much in front of him, the play often ends in a minimal gain.
While Snell would be a fine short-yardage back, and if he makes the team that is the role he would take on, he lacks the upside to be the true backup. Honestly, he is just a severely downgraded Harris at this point. Both aren’t elite athletes, and both possess a great amount of power, but Harris can create lanes for himself in space. As well, Harris is the far better receiver of the two.
Now, if the Steelers keep four running backs, Snell makes the team solely due to the lack of surrounding options. His lacking athleticism makes him a mediocre option outside of the occasional short-yardage plunge forward. The only real perk with him is how he has embraced special teams since joining the team. Once again though, that special team’s aspect can easily be replaced by a different position. Snell will be the top backup heading into camp, but don’t be surprised to see that change as the other candidates get an opportunity to prove themselves.
2. Steelers Kalen Ballage
The more you look at Kalen Ballage, the more you realize he will be giving Snell a run for his roster spot. Ballage is once again a short-yardage back, but he has been far more successful in that role to this point. This is due to him being faster and more explosive initially due to his far-better testing numbers. Given his size, Ballage may be the pound-for-pound most athletic back on this roster based on his athletic profile.
No, Ballage isn’t going to break out for long runs, as his speed dries up after about ten yards if he gets into space. What it does mean though, that when the team needs only a yard or two, Ballage hitting the hole sooner than Snell makes him more efficient at picking up the necessary yardage. Assuming the Steelers want to use one of these guys as a backup short-yardage option, Ballage is far better suited for the role.
Once again, the focus here isn’t getting Ballage 20 or more snaps a game. They have Harris for that. What they would get out of Ballage is a better option in the short game and one that does the same quality of special teams’ work as Snell. Little was thought of Ballage when the Steelers signed him, but when comparing him to Snell on paper, he seems like a better fit for what this team will need in 2021.
1. Steelers Anthony McFarland
While I wasn’t initially sure of who to put at this top spot (and that may be more indicative of the issue the team has at backup running back), Anthony McFarland is the best choice. This isn’t due to him having the best stats to his name right now, but more so due to the unique skill set that he brings to this offense that the other options are lacking: speed.
Speed was the reason McFarland got drafted last year, and given the lack of athleticism in this backfield, getting a home run on the field to complement the more powerful Harris makes the most sense. Granted, the job won’t be handed to him, especially after a rookie season where he struggled to hit the hole and seemed to trip over himself. Ideally, he builds off his positive traits and can establish himself as the top backup behind Harris.
As well, Matt Canada’s offense is well suited for a player like McFarland, as the jet-sweeps and end-arounds that he typically calls are ideal calls for a speed back. Again, this doesn’t mean McFarland has nothing to prove during camp, as he needs to show that he has improved the basics that he struggled with in his rookie season. If he can do that though, his speed and athleticism make him the best option to backup Harris.
While each of these options, save Samuels, has some positive traits, none are slam dunks to be quality backups. Perhaps this means a free agent should be brought in to be the backup? Assuming the team doesn’t go the veteran route though, McFarland is the best option to be the backup followed closely behind by Ballage. They both are unique enough to offer something that Harris doesn’t. All that said, this group has a long way to go before camp opens.