Who should be the #1 RB?

[IowaSteeler927]

I wouldn't mind seeing us draft a thoroughbred running back in 2013. For now it has to be Dwyer. He's played the best hands down. Redman has been injury prone, Hesitation Mendenhall is also injury prone and looks like he's afraid to just RUN, then we have Batch who sees a carry once in a blue moon, and lastly Rainey who I think has seen a decreased roll due to that rib injury he had. They use him sparingly as a distraction more than anything. Rainey would be a nice change of pace if he was healthy.

[SuperSteelers]

Originally Posted by steeltheone

Dwyer is an average NFL back, nothing he does is any better than any other back his size.

I wasn't comparing him to other NFL backs. I was comparing him to the backs on our roster.

[SuperSteelers]

Originally Posted by NoFieldFive

with Dwyer you don't see the 4 yard loss runs like Mendanhall would often get.

The problem with Dwyer is you don't see him on the field more than 2-3 carries per drive. I wish we would see more of him, but he gets winded and needs to sit down. And sit down he does, at the very time the team needs him.

I wish it weren't true, b/c otherwise, I love the way the guy runs.

[Lokki]

Originally Posted by SuperSteelers

The problem with Dwyer is you don't see him on the field more than 2-3 carries per drive. I wish we would see more of him, but he gets winded and needs to sit down. And sit down he does, at the very time the team needs him.

I wish it weren't true, b/c otherwise, I love the way the guy runs.

Is this an issue with Dwyer or an issue with Haley though? The 2 games that he started when Mendy and Redman were hurt, he was in there for a good majority of the snaps.

Maybe he is looking to the sidelines to see if he's being subbed out. Since they seem to like rotating these backs so much, it may not be Dwyer's fault.

I don't think any backup RB in their right mind would want to sit down on a possible game winning drive. That's where you make a name for yourself. You stay in there move those chains and become the MVP.

[SuperSteelers]

Originally Posted by Lokki

Is this an issue with Dwyer or an issue with Haley though? The 2 games that he started when Mendy and Redman were hurt, he was in there for a good majority of the snaps.

Maybe he is looking to the sidelines to see if he's being subbed out. Since they seem to like rotating these backs so much, it may not be Dwyer's fault.

I don't think any backup RB in their right mind would want to sit down on a possible game winning drive. That's where you make a name for yourself. You stay in there move those chains and become the MVP.

I totally agree. I don't know if this issue was discussed elsewhere, however, I distinctly remember seeing Dwyer waving to the sidelines for a replacement during Sunday's game.

If he's getting pulled by the coaches, shame on them. But it looked like he was pulling himself.

[steeltheone]

Originally Posted by NoFieldFive

Dwyer should be #1 - no contest. guy runs forward and can catch the ball too.

need to go with one starter and use the others for relief only.

Dwyer is the best 114 carry 561 yards no touchdown back in the history of the NFL!

[Darkstorm05]

Originally Posted by Lokki

Is this an issue with Dwyer or an issue with Haley though? The 2 games that he started when Mendy and Redman were hurt, he was in there for a good majority of the snaps.

Maybe he is looking to the sidelines to see if he's being subbed out. Since they seem to like rotating these backs so much, it may not be Dwyer's fault.

I don't think any backup RB in their right mind would want to sit down on a possible game winning drive. That's where you make a name for yourself. You stay in there move those chains and become the MVP.

It's Dwyer calling to be let out. This has been brought up since he started getting more carries. He is taking himself out because he can't keep going. He took 17 carries in both of his 100 yard games. 19 in his epic 56 yard game against KC. Go back and look at all these games, and even his lesser carry games. If he makes any kind of meaningful run he will tap out, especially if he puts up two plays back to back.

[kent]

Originally Posted by Darkstorm05

Yes, you can fix conditioning. When do you expect him to do this? He's been with us a few years now. Shouldn't he be capable of playing at the NFL level by now?

Good point. I think people are over criticizing his conditioning in general though, in his 100 yard games this year he had 17 carries each time. Im not saying start him and only play him. Hes not going to ever be a 25-30 carry guy and may not be the running back of the future. But for now he needs to be the feature back and get the bulk of the workload.

[Darkstorm05]

Originally Posted by kent

Good point. I think people are over criticizing his conditioning in general though, in his 100 yard games this year he had 17 carries each time. Im not saying start him and only play him. Hes not going to ever be a 25-30 carry guy and may not be the running back of the future. But for now he needs to be the feature back and get the bulk of the workload.

I applaud you for trying to be reasonable on this. But here's the thing...Dwyer leads our carries right now with 89. Redman has 85. Mendy has 30, and Rainey 16. Now, Dwyer doesn't seem to be able to take more than 15-17 carries before he begins to break down. With Mendy gone, who is going to fill that gap? We've already seen that when it's just Dwyer and Redman they constantly get hurt trying to run a full game. Batch still sucks, and Rainey can't physically take too many beatings out of the backfield.

So when Mendy goes, what will we do? Either let those two rush themselves into retirement, like Parker, and simply not be able to dial up runs at critical times because the RB's are in an oxygen tent on the sidelines. Neither of these appeals to me. IMO, everyone will get their wish and next year it'll be Dwyer and Redman all on top. Then the next year, we'll be drafting a franchise RB and everyone who is begging for Mendy to leave now will be praying for the new guy in 2014.

[kent]

Yeah like I said I dont see him being a long term franchise running back. I would love for me to be wrong about Mendy but I just dont see it. The only huge game that he had of significance would be the AFC title game against the Jets. One running back I would take on this team over any other is the guy we will be facing Sunday.