I expect Samuels to be the next great dime-a-dozen-we-don't-need-Bell Running Back for the Steelers.
The Steelers front office certainly has acted as if backs are interchangeable cogs with their approach to designing Plan B if Bell did not show this season
Bell and the Steelers front office have engaged in the old Cold War doctrine of deterrence through mutually assured destruction except in this case the missiles launched
This from Ed B. of the P-G
Steelers can blame themselves for their RB mess
Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that halfback-by-committee is possible with Conner out. Better yet, why didn’t the Steelers pursue that way back in the spring, when they pushed all of their chips on the table that Le’Veon Bell would gladly return for another season?
The Steelers had choices back then. They could have washed their hands of Bell and let him go, or even just put the transition tag on him and either match someone else’s offer or let him leave. If he left, they would have had $14.544 million to not only sign a good veteran back to complement Conner, but use some of the money to help their defense, and maybe draft a back higher than the fifth round.
However, once they committed to Bell, they still should have prepared for what might happen if he decided to stay away. They should have gone right to work to find a better veteran back.
Even after they did not do that, they staked everything on Conner. Tomlin has a track record of running the wheels off his No. 1 back, and that did not change because that back was Conner and not Bell or Willie Parker or Rashard Mendenhall.
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...s/201812040149
C'mon Ed, did you really believe Bell was going to forfeit an ENTIRE SEASON worth of checks?However, once they committed to Bell, they still should have prepared for what might happen if he decided to stay away. They should have gone right to work to find a better veteran back.
Bell's 2018 has been a case study in how NOT to hold out for more money.
Really? That's funny, because all I've heard lately is a bunch of bitching about "Air Fichtner" abandoning the running game.Tomlin has a track record of running the wheels off his No. 1 back, and that did not change because that back was Conner and not Bell or Willie Parker or Rashard Mendenhall.
Isn't 20/20 hindsight wonderful?
One definition of irrational behavior is someone doing something you do not expect them to do. Just because something is not probable does not mean you do not plan for it (assuming the plan is more than hope Conner has great year and does not get hurt)
Because who could have foreseen a running back missing multiple games due to an injury.
The only time Tomlin "ran the wheels off" was Willie Parker in 2007.Tomlin has a track record of running the wheels off his No. 1 back, and that did not change because that back was Conner and not Bell or Willie Parker or Rashard Mendenhall.
Added that little extra caveat, but yeah, it's true.Really? That's funny, because all I've heard lately is a bunch of bitching about "Air Fichtner" abandoning the running game (when it was effective)
15 carries on Conner total even after averaging 4 yards a carry and scoring two TD's? Yeah, I think that warrants "Air Fichtner", as the Steelers proceeded to blow a 16-point lead and lost. This is Bruce Airhead and Todd Haley even at their very worst.
Samuels can hold down the fort for now, he'll be our mewelde moore
So the Steelers had 3 non-scoring drives to open the second half.
Drive #1 - 4 rushes and 4 passes
Drive #2 - 2 passes and 1 run. Then a holding penalty and then a sack.
Drive #3 - 1 run and 2 passes
Not exactly a pass wacky situation. 6 rushing calls and 8 passing calls. That is balance in 2018.
It is interesting how a narrative takes hold and can not be rooted out despite like facts and stuff. The Steelers offense was fantastically ineffective for 4 out of 10 drives. And a 5th resulted in a boneheaded INT by the franchise.
But an initial pass through the game book and lack of called plays to the RB wasn't the problem. It was the inability of the pass game to convert on 3rd and medium yardage.
Bell led the league in carries in 2017 with 321
https://www.pro-football-reference.c...B/BellLe00.htm
Mendenhall had 324 carries in 2010
https://www.pro-football-reference.c...M/MendRa00.htm
Parker had 321 carries before he broke his leg in his 15th game in 2007
https://www.pro-football-reference.c...P/ParkWi00.htm
Only season I recall Tomlin significantly mixing it up with 2 backs was Parker and Mewelde Moore in 2008 after the Ravens broke Mendenhall’s clavicle (?) early that season
Agreed in a rational world that made perfect sense. But the Steelers already knew Bell was not approaching the process in the manner one would expect after he ignored his agent’s recommendation to take the 2017 offer so planning for Bell going rogue was more prudent than in most negotiations
We are about to find out. The Chargers certainly did in the second half Sunday night.But I thought RBs were a dime-a-dozen and the position was devalued in the modern NFL?
Wait, so now Samuels isn't an insurance policy? What the heck else can you see him as? When he was drafted the Steelers, in theory, had Bell AND Conner on the depth chart. If taking a draft pick and turning it into the exact type of swiss army RB you already feature TWICE on your roster isn't an insurance plan...I'm not sure what is.
I swear Steelers media/Twitter is simply a race to see who can be the gloomiest. Can you imagine what would have happened if the Steelers had either devoted a HIGH draft pick to a RB OR several million in cap space and then held a press conference to say that just in case Bell holds out and Conner gets injured we really wanted to have another RB on the roster. As best I can gather that is what Ed B and others are now running with as a hard hitting story. But, again, I might've missed the point...I often do. Especially after a Steelers loss.
blame Tomlin and front office for thinking a RB in his prime with a chance at SB would turn down 14.5 million to play a game and be set for life. Bell is a selfish piece of shit and a horrible teammate, I guess the front office should have planned for it. They had a have bigger needs, could you imagine the shit they would have taken for trading up in draft and drafting a RB. This site alone would have blown up. We've done pretty damn good without Bell and saved 14.5 million, now Conner injured and the armchair idiots start chiming in. Its on Bell, I hope he crashes his fukking jet ski.
That was a bad play by AV. No doubt. It was the turning point of the game, because it led to the sack and the punt return for a TD.
More importantly, on the opening drive of the second half, the Steelers were driving. Conner gets pushed out of bounds at the San Diego 26 yard line. FG range... and momentum (probably a TD). Instead, a phantom holding call on Foster kills the drive.
If the Steelers could have gone up by 23 (or even 19) the Chargers would have abandoned the run... and the one thing the Steelers defense does well is play well against a one-dimensional offense that has to pass on every down. Alas...
Trey Edmunds might be a nice surprise, I'm wondering how a RB with his measurables didn't get drafted at least late
EDIT:
Conner had a 26-yard run negated. It would have been first down at the 22. That phantom hold was a difference of 36 yards.
Normally, these things even out. I figured that th refs would “give” the Steelers this “hold”, considering that they blew a far, far, faaar more obvious false-start by the Chargers’ RT.
Alas...
Probably a blessing in disguise that Conner misses a game so we can see what we have in Samuels with an extended workload. Hopefully JC gets back for the Pats.
I think Samuels will do fine, he looks like a hard punishing runner that can pick up the hard yards. This is probably the best game to have him carry the load, the Raiders run def is terrible, will give him a lot of confidence if he does well and maybe Conner needs the week off also.
why ?
he after all made the Saints roster at RB and they have quite a bit of talent there ...
not only made the roster but got a hat all 16 weeks ....
it didnt turn unto many opportunities but in the regular season but just being active is a pretty decent statement when you have Ingram and Kamara on the roster ...
special teams is a given , he is very good st player
Kenny Pickett is who I though he was .. Eagles problem now
I'm just glad Frenchy is not brought back.
You all realize he is the 3rd Edmunds brother, right? Likely given a flier based on athletic talent and the fact that his brother is on the team.
Firstly, IF Bell did come back and was injured last week, the media would spin why we should have never given money to a guy that rarely makes it through a season... Tomlin's run the wheels off game plans... or ZMOG, the Steelers don't have a decent running back to take his place. Conner hasn't proven he can carry a start. They should have planned better. So, imo nothing is different with their narrative just because it's Conner that is down instead.
Having said that, I hope Samuels is up to the task because he really doesn't have that many carries... even in his college career. So, his entire body of work at the position is limited. He's basically a glorified H-back that was primarily a pass catching TE and was probably drafted as a red zone toy for Ben. Not necessarily to be a back-up RB... And even though he caught that TD last week, the bobble was a little worrisome at the time.
I figure Tomlin's gonna have to take Ridley out of the doghouse and challenge him with the opportunity to prove he can be effective... and hold on to the ball. I think he'll be in there more than many would think or probably even like.
Why? Look at his pro day measurables, he's talent wise on par with any back that was selected in the 1st-3rd rounds. It wouldn't be a reach to pick someone like that as a 6th or 7th rounder.
In any case he looked decent in his time with the Saints, looks like another straight ahead runner that runs with power, similar to Conner. Also seems to have decent hands. All I'm saying is if given a shot, it's not unrealistic to think he can produce.
no, no, no, no no. we don't need to get overly excited at this point in the season about players with "good measurables". If he was that good, he would've been on the roster over Ridley. He went 9 carries for 48 yards and a TD in his rookie season with the Saints. Not impressive considering one run was 41 yards for a TD.
I think a lot of people given a shot can produce behind the Steelers O-Line. I'd be more impressed if they signed Kenjon Barner to use him against the Patriots...lol.