Ben Roethlisberger confirms Steelers plan to use more two-running back sets in 2019

[polamalubeast]

Ben Roethlisberger has confirmed one of Pittsburgh's worst-kept secrets heading into the 2019 season. On Friday night, during the Steelers' annual "Friday Night Lights" training camp practice at Latrobe High School in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Big Ben openly discussed Pittsburgh's plans to employ more two-running back sets for the upcoming season.

A month after backup running back Jaylen Samuels opened up to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler about his team's upcoming plans for a two-back set, Roethlisberger told SiriusXM NFL Radio that the Steelers' offense will indeed use more multiple running back sets in 2019. Big Ben confirmed the change when specifically discussing Samuels, who caught three touchdown passes as a rookie last season.

"Jaylen, I think we all saw what we can do last year with him," said Roethlisberger, who led the NFL with 5,129 passing yards in 2018. "He's a little bit more of a receiving running back. We can actually flank him out. He's got great hands. We can do some kind of interesting things with him in the two-back situation."

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https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/b...-sets-in-2019/


We're going to see if that's going to be the case, but if Samuels can beat the slot CB, it will be a good idea, but that's what's going to be the key, otherwise it will not work

But I think Samuels was a very good receiver in college and he was also good with us last year as receiver, so it's worth the try

[pczach]

Ben Roethlisberger has confirmed one of Pittsburgh's worst-kept secrets heading into the 2019 season. On Friday night, during the Steelers' annual "Friday Night Lights" training camp practice at Latrobe High School in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Big Ben openly discussed Pittsburgh's plans to employ more two-running back sets for the upcoming season.

A month after backup running back Jaylen Samuels opened up to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler about his team's upcoming plans for a two-back set, Roethlisberger told SiriusXM NFL Radio that the Steelers' offense will indeed use more multiple running back sets in 2019. Big Ben confirmed the change when specifically discussing Samuels, who caught three touchdown passes as a rookie last season.

"Jaylen, I think we all saw what we can do last year with him," said Roethlisberger, who led the NFL with 5,129 passing yards in 2018. "He's a little bit more of a receiving running back. We can actually flank him out. He's got great hands. We can do some kind of interesting things with him in the two-back situation."

read more

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/b...-sets-in-2019/


We're going to see if that's going to be the case, but if Samuels can beat the slot CB, it will be a good idea, but that's what's going to be the key, otherwise it will not work

But I think Samuels was a very good receiver in college and he was also good with us last year as receiver, so it's worth the try

When they go to a 2-back set, I think they likely are looking to force a LB to cover him when he splits out.

[Mojouw]

When they go to a 2-back set, I think they likely are looking to force a LB to cover him when he splits out.

Almost certainly. Could be really effective.

[86WARD]

Almost certainly. Could be really effective.

At what point in his career has Tomlin ever used two backs?

[polamalubeast]

If Samuels would be on the field with Conner, he'll be up against a slot CB if the opponent are not silly (like not putting the personal right on the field,) since unless Samuel or Conner are able to be a fullback and to block when it's a running play, the opponents will treat it as a passing formation.

[pczach]

If Samuels would be on the field with Conner, he'll be up against a slot CB if the opponent are not silly (like not putting the personal right on the field,) since unless Samuel or Conner are able to be a fullback and to block when it's a running play, the opponents will treat it as a passing formation.

The whole point of having 2 backs on the field is to give the offense the option to have a favorable matchup in either the running game or the passing game.

If the defense sees the 2 back personnel on the field and they go small with nickel to have a CB or safety likely in coverage.....they run the ball.

If the defense decides to go with a more base look for more strength against the run with a LB having responsibility in coverage....they pass the ball.

If the offense can dictate to the defense with personnel packages and be able to take advantage of the matchups, they can really gouge teams from the running back position and will open things up even more for the WRs and TEs.

If they do use 2 running backs, they need to execute and produce with the run and the pass for the whole thing to work. The bottom line is that every team in the NFL is trying to dictate with personnel by having versatile, talented players that are physical mismatches based on the scouting of the opposing team. It's that simple.

Everyone tries it, but not everyone can do it consistently.

Also remember what Fichtner said about the passing game being part of the running game. They can also throw to the RBs at or around the line of scrimmage and get the OL moving to use it like a handoff. The RB doesn't necessarily need to split out and run patterns down the field. There is a lot they can do out of that formation if they decide to use it.

[polamalubeast]

The whole point of having 2 backs on the field is to give the offense the option to have a favorable matchup in either the running game or the passing game.

If the defense sees the 2 back personnel on the field and they go small with nickel to have a CB or safety likely in coverage.....they run the ball.

If the defense decides to go with a more base look for more strength against the run with a LB having responsibility in coverage....they pass the ball.

If the offense can dictate to the defense with personnel packages and be able to take advantage of the matchups, they can really gouge teams from the running back position and will open things up even more for the WRs and TEs.

If they do use 2 running backs, they need to execute and produce with the run and the pass for the whole thing to work. The bottom line is that every team in the NFL is trying to dictate with personnel by having versatile, talented players that are physical mismatches based on the scouting of the opposing team. It's that simple.

Everyone tries it, but not everyone can do it consistently.

If you want to run the ball with a lot of success with this formation, Samuels must be able to block in the running play, otherwise it will be like running the ball with 3 WR if he can't block.

But I think Samuel already played as TE in college, so the hope is there.

[pczach]

If you want to run the ball with a lot of success with this formation, Samuels must be able to block in the running play, otherwise it will be like running the ball with 3 WR if he can't block.

But I think Samuel already played as TE in college, so the hope is there.

I hear what you're saying, but that's the beauty of seeing whether a new formation can work or not with the talent on the field. Plus, they don't have to always run traditional running plays when they do run the ball.

Let's also not forget that Conner is a big, physical player that is capable of blocking as well. Samuel may not only be blocking for Conner, it could be the other way around as well. I think it's the only way it works is if the defense has to honor all the possibilities when the players line up.

[Born2Steel]

According to TC reports Samuels hasn't made the 53 just yet. Conner and Snell are the locks. Samuels is getting a lot of competition especially from Ralph Webb. I like the versatility of Samuels but he better bring his "A game" each practice if he wants to keep his job from what I'm reading/hearing.

[polamalubeast]

I would be very surprised if Samuels don't make the team ... He would need to have a very big regression to be cut ... With the way that Ben talked about him, I think he is a lock for make the team(even with the slow start he has in the training camp_ .... Just his game against the Pats last year will help him to keep his job, since he showed what he could be done in the NFL, which is not the case for the rest of the roster at this position, except for Conner ... Of course, Snell is also a lock for the roster, so the question is if the steelers are going to have a 4th RB in their 53 roster man?