The Pittsburgh Steelers ranked 31st int he NFL in both rushing attempts and rushing yards in 2018. On paper it seemed as if the Steelers really struggled to adjust to life without running back Le’Veon Bell. But the reality is very different.
Pittsburgh had a more-than-capable running back duo in James Conner and Jaylen Samuels. Conner rushed for 973 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in only 13 games. And Samuels filled in 256 rushing yards in his three starts including a 142-yard effort against the New England Patriots.
MMQB put out their rankings for the running back situations of all 32 teams in the NFL this week and to the surprise of some, the Steelers checked in at No. 11 despite the numbers from last season.
But perhaps more interesting is they have the New York Jets with Bell ranked at No. 14. The Jets gave Bell a huge contract this offseason to turn their franchise around but as the author points out, it is a risky experiment to go all in on a veteran running back to carry an offense.
Meanwhile, the Steelers rely on their franchise quarterback to keep things moving. Having said that, if this team wants to get back to the playoffs, they have to show more confidence in the run game this season and try to find more balance between the run game and the passing game.
