Steelers/NFL
LATEST RUMORS ON STEELERS BACKFIELD
The Pittsburgh Steelers won’t publicly say it, but the organization has high hopes that second round pick Le’Veon Bell runs away with the starting running back job in training camp.
The Steelers envision Bell being somewhat of a do it all back with Larod Stephens-Howling being the primary change of pace back on third downs.
Where does Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman fall into the picture?
The feeling around the team continues to be that the Steelers will let things play out in camp and the preseason but the chances are unlikely that the Steelers keep both on the roster as backups with each making $1.32 million in 2013.
Who goes? The buzz has been on Dwyer being the odd-man out, as the Steelers shopped him around the league during the draft and the Steelers don’t trust Dwyer as the team was very disappointed with his conditioning late in the season when he ballooned to nearly 260 pounds.
That said, Dwyer is more talented than Redman and five years younger at age 23. Dwyer ended last season as the Steelers starting running back and rushed for 623 yards and 2 touchdowns, averaging 4.0 yards per carry. Dwyer had two 100 yard rushing games but averaged 3.1 yards or under per attempt in five of the Steelers last six games.
Redman, 28, turns 29 in November but is a player the Steelers seem to trust more on what they are going to get from him. The Steelers love Redman’s ability as a backup but the age factor will surely weigh on the Steelers brass when it comes to making a final decision.
