Steelers Sunday Spotlight: Running back / Help wanted

[Hawaii 5-0]

Rashard Mendenhall’s future in Pittsburgh doesn’t look too bright

Posted by Josh Alper on January 25, 2013



When Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert promised changes to the team in his season-ending press conference, many people pointed to the running back spot as an area likely to look different next season.

Injuries and inconsistency helped the Steelers to their fewest rushing yards since 2003, which was also a year that ended without a playoff spot for Pittsburgh. Jonathan Dwyer, Isaac Redman and Rashard Mendenhall all had turns in the starting lineup and none of them proved up to the task of holding the job for more than a few games at a time. Mendenhall is a free agent after the season and team president Art Rooney II’s comments to the team website don’t paint a picture of a 2013 featuring Mendenhall in the lineup.

“The season Rashard had was not what we would have hoped for,” Rooney said. “Obviously, we knew he was coming back from an injury so there were some unknowns there. So, without getting into the real specifics with Rashard, it’s fair to say that we are going to need a better performance out of the running back position if we’re going to be successful, Whether it’s Rashard or Jonathan or Isaac or somebody else, we have to be better at that position, as well as others, but certainly at that position. In this offseason that’s something we’ve got to look at and decide how we get better and who we get better with.”

The website goes on to say that Mendenhall “seemed to cross the Rubicon” by not showing up for the team’s game against the Chargers this season, a decision that earned him a one-game suspension from the team. The team’s going to find someone to be the lead dog in the backfield next season, but it looks like a safe bet that said person’s name will not be Mendenhall.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ok-too-bright/

[cbrunn]

Originally Posted by WokeUpWithaWoodley

The thing wih most of those backs like Bernard, randle, even Franklin, they have the tendencies to bounce it outside a lot. Which is what a lot of people disliked about mendenhall. And the steelers want some one to run north south most of th time with speed. Taylor and ball did this well in college but Taylor has the speed as maybe a little more of Dwyer not beak away speed and ball has some speed but not great I wanna see his 40 time and if its in the 4.4 or very most 4.5 I would be happy with drafting ball.

Also watch th senior bowl this week. Franklin a guy i like has been working on running up the middle and not bouncing so much, also barner is looking to be around 200 at the combine and is also working on going up th middle and showing scouts he has strength to fight of blockers. Also Gillesie from Florida hesbeenrunning north south with speed and only carried the ball like 380 times in college so doesn't have a heavy workload on him

Gillislee is my favorite RB in this draft

[harrison'samonster]

If Mendenhall isn't back next year, RB is the one position I can think of were we can't compete talent wise. I know the theory that a team can have a good offensive line and plug in RB's, but if protecting Ben is a priority (and it is) we need a back who is a threat and a running game that has to be accounted for making it harder to turn us into a one-dimensional offense.