Steelers Training Camp: Running Backs
August 12, 2009
By John DeWald
Editor’s note: Prior to training camp, we started a series previewing all of the positions. Our goal was to make fans familiar with all of the players who would be competing at training camp, and to give our best guess at who would actually make the 53-man roster. Unfortunately, we did not complete the series prior to the start of training camp like we had originally intended. We have decided to complete the series anyway. We hope that it will make fans more familiar with some of the names that you will hear us mention in our regular training camp updates.
Also, please note that this installment is being written by John DeWald. John is one of our regular readers who alway impressed me with the quality of the comments that he left. I wanted to share his insight with my readers, so I asked him to co-write this series with me. See what happens when you leave quality comments? Hint, hint.
This is Part 6 in a series. If you haven’t read the previous installments, please click below:
Last season the Steelers carried 3 running backs and a single fullback on the active roster (and kept 1 back on the practice squad). The incumbents are Willie Parker, Rashard Mendenhall, Mewelde Moore, and Carey Davis.
Early in the 2008 season, Mendenhall was placed on IR (compliments of Ray Lewis) and Gary Russell was activated from the practice squad. Russell is gone but the rest of them are still on the team along with four new backs. So, unless someone really shines on special teams (and is kept primarily for that purpose) we are looking at 8 players fighting for 4 spots on the 53-man roster.
The Steelers appear to be in very good shape with the top 3 RB’s returning. Of course, as we found out last year, injuries can change that outlook very quickly. So let’s take a look at the running backs who will be competing at Steelers training camp.
Willie Parker - Parker is a good (although limited) back with blazing speed and good vision but mediocre elusiveness (he’s not going to make people miss unless he can run away from them). He’s also not much of a pass catcher. Parker had an off year last season due to injuries and an inconsistent line. He expanded his off-season training regimen to try to avoid injuries this year. This is a contract year for Parker and he is playing with a chip on his shoulder so expect him to put everything on the line to earn a new contract.
Rashard Mendenhall- Behind Parker is last year’s #1 pick. Mendenhall is a more complete back than Parker but is very inexperienced after logging only 19 carries last year. The Steelers are very high on him and would like to see him shoulder a significant amount of the load to keep both he and Parker fresh for the postseason. Not to mention, to give them an idea of whether to give Parker a contract extension.
Mewelde Moore- Moore was signed last season as a 3rd down back/return specialist. Proving that you can never have too many good backs, he logged some heroic performances filling in for the injured Parker and Mendenhall. Over his 4 starts he carried 80 times for 360 Yards (4.5 YPC) and had 16 receptions for 89 yards. He is a much better pass catcher than the other RB’s, logging 40 receptions last year (tied for 5th on the team). His return game was not nearly as impressive but at least he was sure handed.
Parker, Mendenhall, and Moore are all locks to make the team.
Carey Davis- Unlike the other returning backs, Davis should probably brush off his resume. Davis began last year as the starting FB until it was discovered that Sean McHugh (the 3rd TE) was actually a better blocker. Given the de-emphasis of the FB in Bruce Arians’ offense, the competition from H-Back/TE players such as McHugh and Johnson, and the intriguing abilities of Summers and Logan, Davis will have an uphill battle to keep his job. This year the hill will prove too steep.
Those fighting for Davis’s spot:
Frank “The Tank” Summers - The Steelers’ second 5th round pick is quickly becoming a fan favorite before ever playing a down in the NFL. The Steelers have been noticeably weak in short yardage situations over the past few years and, given his size, many fans are having visions of the “Tank” being the first effective replacement to “the Bus”. Needless to say, this will be easier said than done. Bettis was a unique talent with rare size and agility. Frank has a lot of upside but, coming from a spread offense, it will take time for him to transition to the NFL. Lucky for him, the Steelers will not ask him to be anything other than a short yardage back this year - anything else will just be a bonus. Barring a horrendous camp, Frank is the front runner to take Davis’s spot.
Stefan “The Yugo” Logan- OK, the “Yugo” comment isn’t really fair but this guy is SMALL (5’7 and 185 - and that might be stretching it). Logan, however, offers some intriguing capabilities. While lacking the size of Mendenhall and Summers or the speed of Parker, he has great agility and elusiveness.
Logan walked on at South Dakota in 2003. Four years later, he was the best running back in school history with 15 school records to his credit. He was the 11th player in Division II history to rush for 5,000 yards (5,968) and surpass 7,000 all purpose yards (7,770). In his first and only year in the CFL he registered 122 carries for 889 yards (an awesome 7.3 YPC) and had 52 receptions for 477 yards. He was 6th in the league in combined yards from scrimmage as well as having a 10.5 average on punt returns and nearly a 30 yard average on kick returns. He is a good receiver, returns punts and kicks, and could be Pittsburgh’s version of Darren Sproles (who is only listed at 5’6 and 185). Logan has a good chance to make the team but it will be determined almost entirely by his special teams play.
Justin Vincent - Justin Vincent, a 4 year player at LSU, was first signed to the practice squad by Pittsburgh in 2007. He faced stiff competition for playing time at LSU and never really distinguished himself. He has spent parts of the last 2 years on the Steelers’ practice squad and has never been elevated to the active roster. In all likelihood, unless he sets training camp on fire, he is only competing for a place on the practice squad.
Isaac Redman- Redman was signed this year as an undrafted free agent. He ended his college career (Bowie State) as the school’s All-Time leading rusher with 3,300 yards and holds the school’s single season rushing (1,512) record. He has good size (230 lbs) and good overall skills, but is understandably a bit raw having played in Division II. Given his upside, I predict that he beats out Vincent for a spot on the practice squad.
So, in summary, Parker, Mendenhall, Moore, and Summers are in. Logan is a possibility as a return specialist. Redman makes the practice squad and Davis and Vincent are out. Agree? Disagree? Your comments are welcome.
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@ John - Not a bad start keep up the good work. I do want to add that even though I agree with everything you said the one thing that I disagree with is #39′s ability to see holes (vision) which is why he gets a ton 3 and 4 yard carries. I think someone for he his speed is possibly lined up too close to the line of scrimmage and could afford to just take a couple steps back before the play starts, which is why I think he runs into the offensive line a lot. Needless to say I think this is #39′s last season unless Mendenhall some how proves he is not ready to be a number one running back for the team. Now I do realize that our offensive line was pretty sad last year so I think if they improve and this being a contract year we may a pretty good season from #39, if he can stay healthy.
On a side note I the entire team, including #39, would benefit greatly from the use of a full time fullback. I know it is probably impossible to tell from training camp but has anyone noticed any offensive plays that are utilizing the fullback? Hopefully on the game on Thursday we might see something.
1I hope that you are correct about Davis. I never did see him do much.
2i agree that Davis shld be axed-he does nothing for the team. I do like the possibilities of Redman making this team or at least the practice squad. If this team stays healthy this cld be a another great season
3THERE ARE TOO MANY BACKS, WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE SITUATION WITH RUSSELL DAVIS, HE JUST UP AND DISAPPEARED, HE WAS THE GOAL LINE SPECIALIST, AND HE FELL OUT, PARKER , AND I HATE TO SAY THIS TO YOU PARKER FANS, IS A ME-ME PLAYER. I HATE TO SEE A PLAYER COMPLAIN AT MID SEASON WHEN A TEAM IS DOING GOOD, THE EXTRA BS IS NOT NEEDED, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR TEAM IS PLAYING A TOUGH SCHEDULE TO START, NO NEED IN BEATING YOURSELVES AND LOSE THE EDGE. MEWELDE MOORE IS GOOD, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM SUPLANT PARKER AS THE FEATURED BACK, WITH RASHARD COMING IN TO CHANGE THE PACE, BUT PARKER IS PLAYING FOR ANOTHER TEAM THIS YEAR, HE WON’T GET AN EXTENSION,,,,,
4MR. PARKER, I AM A STEELERS FAN THRU AND THRU, NO WAGON HERE, MY SADDLE IS SECURED TIGHT, I DON’T JUMP SHIP WHEN THE WATERS GET ROUGH, I PULL MY SAILS, AND WEATHER THE STORM, I DON’T DISLIKE YOU, BUT IF YOUR A COMPETITOR, YOU WILL USE MY LAST BLOG TO PROVE ME WRONG, I ” THE FAN ” CHALLENGES YOU FOR AN OVER ACHIEVING SEASON ON YOUR PART, AND GOD LUCK
5This is clearly Ben’s team. He is the undisputed leader. Not to take away from Santonio, Hines, Harrison, or Polamalu, but it is Ben’s team and that is a little bit hard for a defensive guy like myself to accept and or admit.
To the fans it is Ben’s team too. He came out to a standing ovation high fived everyone on the offense like he had just scored a touchdown and was very loose the whole practice. He cartwheeled towards the line of scrimmage when simulating defensive confusion…something I had never seen on a football field before.
Some other entertaining moments at camp this year were the “Hoke Chant” before warm ups where Chris Hoke proceeded to pose, dance and high step while the whole team chanted his name. I never really enjoyed the ballet, but I enjoyed this number, and the work of number 76. Hoke is a clear veteran that keeps training camp bearable. Anyone who has been through any kind of football training camp can probably think on a few teammates that kept the mood light, and made making it through camp a little easier.
Tomlin of course had on his head to toe black sweats, black hat, with only little bit of gold to break it up. As opposed to the picture I saw of Mangini at Clowns Camp where he looked like he spend the last year at the buffet line fattening up, Tomlin looked like he could play and that he meant business. In the division if it came down to a true coaches fight only Marvin Lewis could contend and Tomlin is younger so that would probably give him an edge. As we all know winning the division is the key to success in the NFL, so I doubt the rest of the AFC or even the NFC would give him a a problem. Maybe if he matched up against Singletary things could get rough.
Santonio is smooth as silk. When other players catch the ball you hear some noise off their hands pads, etc, with Santonio there is no noise, no disruption, just the continuation of movements that look meant to be. Like Fedder with a racket, Lance on a bike or Tiger swinging a golf club Santonio makes something very challenging look all too easy. He should have his best year ever, and be our top receiver in all categories.
One of the rookie dbacks dropped an interception so he dropped down on the field and did a set of pushups. Limus continues to drop his fair share in addition to a few others fair share of footballs. I hope something clicks and kicks in this year because we could us him. Mendenhall and Parker both looked good. Our special teams is back in tact with Spolvida and Warren back with matching (literally) knee braces. Reed is still goofy (and accurate) as ever, even with his hair all cut off. The tires of the golf cart that takes the lineman back to their dorms must be reinforced along with the suspension…probably not meant to hold that load. Harrison is a beast, jacked as ever, and poised to repeat as Defensive MVP. Hines smilled, joked, forced the returned out of bounds on an interception even though he wasn’t playing, and continues to make the game fun for all…except those that he hits on game day.
I am excited as ever for the season. We appear to be in a great position to repeat, with a loose team that is almost all in tact from last year, and Steeler Nation behind them every step of the way. Camp in an experience every Steelers fan should attend. It doesn’t cost anything to go to. You will never get a chance to be this close to the players at any other time of the year. It is where this defense and the defense of all 6 of the Super Bowls begins…and twice they repeated….could this be the third time!Len
6Benny,
I agree that Parker does not have great vision but it is better than most people seem to think. Patience (waiting for the hole to open) was also a problem in his early years but Bettis generally helped him improve. Last year, the cause of many of his 3-4 yard runs was simply that there were no holes to run through. And, if he waited too long behind the line, the defense would get penetration and tackle him for a loss. Sometimes there is nothing there and you just have to accept the 3-4 yards.
7David,
I think calling Parker a me-me player may be a bit too strong, especially when compared to the rest of the league. In general his complaints were more in line with “we need to run the ball more” and “I could really use a fullback”. The “run the ball more” complaint has been made by several players and coaches over the years (even Bettis on occasion) and the fullback complaint is one most of us agree with. I understand your sentiment, however, since it Parker has done it more than once recently and it stands in stark contrast to the “Steeler” way of doing things. For example, when have you heard unsung heroes like Aaron Smith or Heath Miller complain that they want the ball more.
8parker had a down season because the steelers never got a ground game going , the power I was not used much last season , it was the bread and butter for Bettis . with out a blocking full back it is exstreamly hard to run in the NFl inside . you almost can not . if the steelers are going more to a spread offense this yr in which many are saying they are , do not count on seeing Parker or Mendhall doing much . if there spread offense is not getting done then the steelers will go back to last yrs game planing . I do not think they will spread things out like the Pats or the cards not many teams have had superbowls with a spread attack seems like they always fall short
9This doesn’t really have anything to do with one particular RB, but wouldn’t it be great to see maybe 2-3 screen passes to a RB per game this season? That is another reason I’d like to see someone other than #39 take over the back field, because he’s got steel hands (a little pun intended).
@ DAVID - Not being selfish is probably one of the few good qualities about #39. Even though he said we should run more (he’d obviously like to be the one carrying the ball), I don’t think too many people will disagree that our offense could use a little more balance. Even though I don’t agree with the direction of the offense you have to be able to keep teams on they’re toes or be able to completely demoralize the other teams like Cowher did during his tenure with the running game. And don’t kill me but caps lock off please
.
10REDMAN…Take another look at redman… this guy is what we need now,..almost ten touchdowns in ten day in camp and that sb rematch stuff
11So far, Summers has done little to merit a spot with the final 53. I think Redman will be the short yardage back-he just seems to have a knack for that duty.
12BH,
13I agree. This article was written before the preseason games. Now that we’ve seen Redman turn into a touchdown machine, I think that he has leaped ahead of Frank Summers. Frank still has two preseason games left to redeem himself, but thus far, he is on the outside looking in.