The Pittsburgh Steelers in recent years have abandoned what is synonymous with Steelers football and that is running the ball. The current NFL wants to see points, points, and more points put on the scoreboard. These days, receivers are having receiving yards in upwards of 1,000 yards and we are watching quarterbacks averaging 3 to 4,000 yards through the air. Big Ben Roethlisberger is fully capable of putting up impressive numbers, however he is at his best when his play action pass in dialed in. The Pittsburgh Steelers need to go back to old school football. A workhorse running back that can carry the ball 25-30 times throughout the game that has opposing defenses broken down and busted up.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are truly at their best when their scoring drives chew up the clock and wear down defenses. In the second round of the 2013 NFL draft, the Steelers selected, Le’Veon Bell. Bell is 6-foot-1 and 235 lbs and has the build of a bruising running back, but he is also a patient running back with great receiving skills coming out of the backfield. The Steelers are in dire need of a true workhorse running back. Last year, Jonathan Dwyer lead the team in rushing with 623 yards; the lowest total since Merrill Hoge rushed for 810 yards in 1991. Those types of numbers will simply not work for a team that has a rich history of great running backs. Furthermore, running the ball with consistent progress may be the best chance for the Steelers to win games in bunches again.
Bell is a colossal back with a muscular build, but for his size, he is an outstanding athlete. While Bell may not have breakaway speed, a 4.60 40-yard dash is still impressive for a man of his stature. Bell has tremendous balance and is also very elusive and light on his feet. He has good power running between the tackles, he can punish defenders and consistently falls forward for extra yards. Most importantly, Bell is a solid receiver with great hands and has a real opportunity to lead all backs this year in receptions.
Bell has definitely been turning heads at train camp over the last week as he continues to show off his skills as a complete back that the Steelers have been looking for since, Jerome Bettis. Bell continues to get work with the first team offense which is bad news for Dwyer and Isaac Redman, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise as Bell has been solid and consistent in his repetitions.
Bell, in my opinion, will be the starting running back for the Steelers in 2013. He has all the tools as well as the intangibles to be a every down back for the Steelers for years to come. Furthermore, for the Steelers to be successful in 2013, It is paramount for the Black and Gold to get back to its roots of, old school football and ball control.
