Steelers Starting RB?

Question

Could someone please enlighten a guy on who the Steelers are planning to start at RB this season?

Answer 1

Hmm...I think Willie Parker will definitely be the starting back...as for the short-yardage back, I believe it will be Najeh Davenport...he played that role last year, and is still on the team...so there is no reason to believe he won't do that again this year...it's interesting coz Rashard Mendenhall(the guy the Steelers drafted in the first round of this years draft) has a similar style to Willie Parker's...i basically see it going one of two ways...

1) The Steelers are goinga take the load of Parker's back and go to from a worsehorse back to a running back by committee, where Rashard Mendenhall (and maybe others) might absorb more of Willie Parkers carries to keep him healthy and fresh for the play-offs

2) The Steelers are going to go with the workshorse style and make Parker carry the load. They are then keeping Mendenhall as insurance. Giving how much the Steelers run the ball, Parker is bound to get hurt, and then Mendenhall can jump right in and the run game doesn't go south, like it did last year! I have my doubts though, as it's kinda silly to use a first-round pick as an insurance policy.

If your a Steelers fan, good luck, coz u guys have one h**l of a schedule!

Answer 2

Just moved from Pittsburgh, PA and never seen Willie Parker much in training camp footage on the local news. Guess still open till the first game of season

Answer 3

Willie Parker is slated to be the starting back but could pull a Thomas Jones by piling up yards without making the end zone. Rookie Rashard Mendenhall figures to fill Najeh Davenport's old role of red zone battering ram.

Answer 4

Willie Parker for sure, the only way Mendenhall starts is if Parker has an injury. Both are good. Parker has the experience. Mendenhall has the youth.

Answer 5

Fast Willie Parker will be the Steelers starting RB this season, however the Steelers like many teams in today's NFL implement a two running back system (the Steelers have always been a team to use a two back system though).  The Steelers use what's called a short yardage back (think T.J. Duckett in Atlanta and probably now in Seattle), and Rashard Mendenhall will be the short yardage back (if you're asking this question for fantasy football purposes Mendenhall will probably get more fantasy points then Parker this year as Parker doesn't get a lot of touches near the goal line).  Hope this helps.

EDIT - The Steelers released Davenport on the 28th of June