LLT
08-13-2012, 05:31 AM
By Chris Adamski
CBSSports.com
August 12, 2012
Speedster running back Chris Rainey has shown the Steelers just about everything through 2 1/2 impressive weeks of his first NFL training camp.
But Rainey as a goal-line back? That was new.
The 5-9, 180-pound (and that's generous) rookie from Florida was getting the ball during the popular goal-line drills Sunday at practice.
To be fair, his participation in the drill was more out of necessity and a last-man-standing quality than anything else. Nagging injuries to Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer kept them out of practice, and fellow back John Clay left the workout with a hip/groin injury.
That left Baron Batch and Rainey, who used his blazing speed to score a touchdown during the Steelers preseason loss at Philadelphia Thursday. But that, like most of his touchdowns at the University of Florida, was in the open field. Lining up at the 1 1/2-yard line behind a two-tight end set was different.
"Obviously, he doesn't fit the cookie-cutter of a man who runs in that situation, but he did a nice job today," coach Mike Tomlin said.
"We don't have him in the box, we really don't. He's done just about everything we've asked him to do and we'll continue to find ways and see if he's capable of doing things."
Defense dominates goal-line drills: Out of seven snaps in the practice-ending goal-line drill, the offense scored only once. That was when Rainey extended and crossed the plane -- and the offense never even came close in any of the other snaps. The offense attempted five runs and two passes. Veteran linebacker Larry Foote made two tackles in the backfield.
Read More: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/nfl-rapidreports/19785623/steelers-chris-rainey-a-speedy-goalline-back
CBSSports.com
August 12, 2012
Speedster running back Chris Rainey has shown the Steelers just about everything through 2 1/2 impressive weeks of his first NFL training camp.
But Rainey as a goal-line back? That was new.
The 5-9, 180-pound (and that's generous) rookie from Florida was getting the ball during the popular goal-line drills Sunday at practice.
To be fair, his participation in the drill was more out of necessity and a last-man-standing quality than anything else. Nagging injuries to Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer kept them out of practice, and fellow back John Clay left the workout with a hip/groin injury.
That left Baron Batch and Rainey, who used his blazing speed to score a touchdown during the Steelers preseason loss at Philadelphia Thursday. But that, like most of his touchdowns at the University of Florida, was in the open field. Lining up at the 1 1/2-yard line behind a two-tight end set was different.
"Obviously, he doesn't fit the cookie-cutter of a man who runs in that situation, but he did a nice job today," coach Mike Tomlin said.
"We don't have him in the box, we really don't. He's done just about everything we've asked him to do and we'll continue to find ways and see if he's capable of doing things."
Defense dominates goal-line drills: Out of seven snaps in the practice-ending goal-line drill, the offense scored only once. That was when Rainey extended and crossed the plane -- and the offense never even came close in any of the other snaps. The offense attempted five runs and two passes. Veteran linebacker Larry Foote made two tackles in the backfield.
Read More: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/nfl-rapidreports/19785623/steelers-chris-rainey-a-speedy-goalline-back