Do the Steelers need a new Running Back?

May 15th, 2014. The 2014 NFL Draft is a few day over. News is spreading around the league after the draft, undrafted players are asking to try-out for teams, asking scouts why they weren't drafted. One of these players was Wake Forest Running Back, Josh Harris. Harris had 4 productive and pretty impressive seasons in North Carolina, and was at one point projected a 4th to 6th round pick. He went 7 rounds without hearing his name called.
A twitter post hit the news stream. It was a note, composed by Josh, with a caption that stated simply "Pray for me."
His own teammates and coaches had badmouthed his name to where teams wouldn't talk about signing him. He was put down for bad work ethics, bad locker room presence, lack of leadership, when in fact, Harris was a clean kid, and just the opposite. He's got no criminal record at all. He grew up in a good Christian home, and had no desire to get on drugs. He's never failed, or come close to failing, a drug test in his life.

And NFL teams won't see that as a sign.

It took Josh 2 months to find a team who would give him a chance. When Mike Tomlin looked impressed with what he did, he signed Harris to the roster on July 31st, 2014.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are about to loose their 2 top running backs to most likely 4 game suspensions. Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount were caught together with a woman with 20 grams of pot in their car. Bell admitted that he had indeed smoked some, but he claimed "It has been a couple of hours." The police noted that they handled themselves very well, gave no problems, and released them the same day they were brought in.
That was Wednesday, August 20th, 2014. Just 3 weeks after Josh had been signed to the team.
The next day, the police filed reports on them making them suspect to a 4 game suspension, thanks to the NFL substance abuse policy. Bell and Blount will probably be out for the next few games.
I spoke with Jesse Kirkendill, one of the Pittsburgh Steeler analysts for cover32.com, a site I highly recommend from their website design to their article content. I asked him about the Steelers Running Back situation, with just Tauren Poole and Dri Archer left on the roster to really do anything, who should they sign?
That's when Mr. Kirkendill pointed out to me that they had Josh Harris, who he described as "impressive in training camp." I looked at this kid, his preseason stats were less then impressive. Just about 35 snaps, 2 carries for 0 yards (a 1 yard gain and a 1 yard loss), and a catch for 4 yards (with a target not caught). I asked him what was in his skill set that his preseason stats didn't show.
Mr. Kirkendill told me that "in his time at Wake Forest, Harris had an average of 4.6 Yards Per Carry (YPC). He is a stout running back that has dangerous speed when he hits the open field and reminds me very much of Willie Parker. His preseason stats may not show it, but given the chance he would be just another diamond in the rough player that the Steelers have found within free agency or trades."
I had to learn more of this kid. I put his name in my google search with "Wake Forest" attached to it, and I found an article from May 15th, 2014, that went on nfl.com. It was about Josh, and his articles. When I saw the headline, Josh Harris Blames Coaches And Teammates For Not Being Drafted, I thought, "Well, great. This kid is immature, and that's why NFL teams passed on him." I remembered the same thing happening to Tyler Bray in the 2013 draft, a great QB prospect who lost his draft stock for his immaturity.
When I read the article, and saw how Josh was handling himself, I saw the maturity in his actions. He has 11,500 twitter followers, he was letting them know why he wasn't drafted. NFL scouts were telling him that some of his teammates and his coaches were complaining about his work ethic, and locker room presence.
I went on to you-tube to find his highlight reel. I saw a terrific bounce back and change of direction that reminded me of LeSean McCoy, not quite because he can't flow a sweep one way and then turn around 180 degrees, and run the other way. No, he makes up to 120 degree switches and hits the holes with speed. He's a patient runner, who trusts his blockers and will let them create the play for him before lunging into a hole. He is, as Mr. Kirkendill described, a "diamond in the rough."

So here is where Pittsburgh stands. Dri Archer is a lightning fast back, with excellent hands and a 4.26 40 yard dash. He showed he has the speed week 1 of preseason when he burned the Giants for a 47 yard catch that started with a little screen pass. He will probably be used for outside runs, end arounds, possibly even for lightning quick slant routes. Ben Roethlisburger likes throwing the ball his way already.
Next, Tauren Poole. Poole was a Tennessee Volunteer runner from 2008-2011, went undrafted to Carolina, and then through Indianapolis before landing in Pittsburgh. He's a north-south type runner, not too much more.
Now, Josh Smith. Smith should be the one out of these 3 to land the feature back role, because of his history and his raw talent.
Should Pittsburgh add to this at all? I believe that they should. Tauren Poole is not going to keep them safe, even as a #3 back for 4 games. It looks to me as if they can sign Michael Bush, the former Oakland Raider and Chicago Bear, they can use him as the feature back and move Smith to the #3 role. Smith should stay around for his special team contributes, and possibly might be able to stay around on the practice squad, and get his chance when injuries knock them low on the roster space.
Will this effect the Steelers at all? Mr. Kirkendell doesn't seem to think so. He told me that "Tomlin and the Steelers have handled adversity well in the past, and I have no doubt they will be able to do so this year. The team was able to handle the loss of Ben Roethlisberger during his 4 game suspension, and with a Super Bowl champion quarterback heading their offense along with a defense that is youthful and dangerous as it has ever been, they will be able to handle what would be a very significant loss on their offense."
Yes, Mr. Kirkendell, I agree with you. Mike Tomlin is a great coach, whether the stats show it or not. He know's how to win, and to know how to win, you cannot let slow starts get to you. And Tomlin can pull talent out of players. Watch the Steelers pull an impressive start and them step a notch up when Blount and Bell return.

4 Running Backs who Could help the Steelers

   The Pittsburgh Steelers are already moving into 2014 with a lot of uncertainty with who will take over for the top to RB's, Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount, who will most likely be charged by the NFL for abusing their substance policy. Bell and Blount were arrested on Wednesday for possession of pot, and were released shortly their after, with 20g recovered out of their car. Thursday, they were charged with pot possession, and will face court time for it, possibly jail time.
    Behind those two in the depth chart on unaccomplished and simply non-fits. Dri Archer cannot handle a 20 carry per game load due to his size. Tauren Poole is a 2012 college free agent from Tennessee who is on his 3rd team roster. He has yet to make it.
    So, the Steelers need to sign someone out of free agency, of course. But who should they choose? We have narrowed it down to 4 players, and here they are, pros and cons.

1. Willis McGahee
    Willis spent most of last season with Cleveland after unexpectedly being cut by Denver. He enters his 10th NFL season, and is now the ripe old age of 32.
    How He Can Help- McGahee isn't a 20 carry per game back at this point of his career either. He is a guy who can take some of the load off of Dri Archer, help Ben Roethlisburger on screens, and offer some between the tackle support.

2. Tashard Choice
    The former Dallas Cowboy who has spent time on the Buffalo Bills roster as the #3 back, and also with the Indianapolis Colts, was a #2 back in Dallas before falling to #3 with the arrival of Demarco Murray combining with Felix Jones, can probably handle an extensive #2 back load. He's played in 17 games the past 3 years, as he's passed through 3 teams.
    How He Can Help- Choice isn't a feature back, but he can get a rotation going with Archer and Poole, or another back they may add instead of Poole. A rotation is probably Pittsburgh's best bet. Choice can go between the tackles and cause some trouble.

3. Delone Carter
    Formerly a hot shot and budding star in Indianapolis, Carter lost his roster spot due to sheer depth, and then got picked up by Jacksonville, and was used sparingly. He can take a load for a few games, and still swing nicely into a rotation.
    How He Can Help- Carter has injury and durability issues, but he can still play well and fit into Pittsburghs 10-15 carry per game guy. He has a lot of talent, and would fit well with Todd Haley.

4. Andre Brown
    Brown was a growing star in New York for the Giants before crazy roster numbers at the Rb position made them cut him. Signed by Houston during the offseason, and then cut again, Brown would be a logical fit in Pittsburgh for his smashing style of play.
    How He Can Help- Brown is a crusher between the tackles, and strong. He can offer the Steelers the help they need to run a rotation, but as the other 3 backs, he cannot take on more then 15 carries per game. He has health issues too, and they might bug him all season.

OUR LOGIC SAYS: Pittsburgh's best shot would be to sign 2 guys to rotate with Archer, and then cut Poole. We think the best fit would be to sign Delone Carter as the #1-2 back, and Andre Brown as a #2-3 back. Archer would rotate more with Brown, and Carter would get the majority of the carries until Bell and/or Blount can come back. Bell and Blount might cost the Steelers 3 or 4 wins this season, something that they cannot afford. But it's Pittsburgh we're talking about. Mike Tomlin. Tomlin will find a way to win. He always does.